Jog Falls. Review on Jog Falls, Shimoga

The Jog falls also known as "jogada gundi" is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia.Jog falls is nestled in the Western ghats. The drive up the hill is glorious giving a birds eye view of the festile and magical western ghats. It is located in Shimoga District, Karnataka state, southern India.It is set in the wild and unspoilt surroundings.

Nature here has not been disturbed for the tourist tappings i.e unneussary constructions and falling of trees. The Sharavati river crashes nearly nine hundred feet down forming four main channels named king, queen ,rocket and roarer.

The four streams are named in accordance with their perceived trajectories:

Raja (King): Named so because of its apparently 'dignified' and 'serene' fall.It falls 250 m below forming a 40 m deep pool.

Rani (Queen), also called Lady: The stream has a winding, twisting trajectory, said to resemble the movements of a female dancer

Roarer: This stream appears out of a mass of rocks, making a tremendous amount of noise (hence the name).

Rocket: Consists of a large volume of water streaming out of a small opening at a very high speed.

Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganamakki dam across the Sharavati river, and the hydro-electric power station that it serves.The dam has led to a reduction of the amount of water reaching the falls during the summer months.

During the rainy season (June-October), the floodgates of the dam need to be opened and the waterfall runs full. This is also the main tourist season at the waterfall.Just after the monsoon season or rainy season the falls are a magnificient and awesome sight to see. At this time the falls are surrounded by mists.

The walk to the bottom of the falls for the hale and hearty is recommonded and one can take a dip in the pool created below by the falls, during the dry season. This venture would be impossible during the monsoons as the flow in the falls increase and the mist shrouds these falls. There is dampness everywhere and the vegetation becomes bright green with water drops dripping from the trees.

How to reach:

Jog is situated around 32 Km from a small town Sagara, and is 379 Km away from Bangalore.

Recommended way to reach:

Bangalore to Shimoga by train, Shimoga to Sagara by Non-stop bus and to Jog by bus from Sagar. For those who would like to travel by bus there are direct KSRTC busses from Banagalore to Jog (8.30 Hrs Travel).

Nearest Railway staion: Shimoga City

Nearest Towns: Sagara, Siddapura, Sirsi.

Climate: Jog falls are situated up the cool climes of the Western-Ghats.

Clothings: Light cool dresses for summer. During the monsoon season the nights are cool. Warm clothings will be required for the winter months i.e. December to February.

Language: Kannada is the principal language of this region. Few people also understand English and Hindi.

Best Time to visit: August-November is the best time to visit.

Places to Stay: There are facilities to stay in Jog.

(a) The government owned (Karnataka Tourism) "Sharavati Tourist Home" is comfortable clean and reasonble priced. It offers good view of the falls.

(b) Tunga Tourist Home : This is also a cheap and comfortable place to say.

(c) Inspection Bunglow at Jog falls : This is often heavily booked and its booking can be done at the District Commissioners at Shimaga.

(d) Guest-House near the falls : Reservations has to be done if one plans to stay here, through the Supt. Engineer (Elec.) Mahatma-Gandhi Mydro-electric works Jog Falls.

(e) Jog-falls Guest house : Maintained by the Tourist department. Reservation can be done through its resident manager.

(f) Woodlands : This is another place where one can stay at Jog Falls but is not upto the mark.

Other Places of interest: Honnemarudu, a water adventure centre, is few miles away