Jog Falls

Jog Falls located near the Jog Village in Sagara Taluk, Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, India. The view from "Jog Falls View Point" is breathtaking and ashtonishing. Other view point located near the Kodakani village of Siddapura, Uttara Kannada is also extraordinary. Joga is a Kannada word meaning falls. The word Joga may be related to or a derivative of Kannada word javugu which means marsh (wet). Jog Falls is also called by the names such as Gerusoppe falls, Joga jalapatha and Jogada gundi in regional language 'Kannada'. Many Kannada speakers near Sahyadri Mountains such as in Yellapura region still use the word Joga to mean falls. It is the 2nd highest plunge waterfalls in India. It is a segmented waterfall which depends on rain and season becomes a plunge waterfall. The falls are major attractions for tourists and is ranked 13th in the world by the waterfall database.

The Western Ghats gives rise to the Sharavati river that plunges from a height of 829 feet in four magnificent cascades namely Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River dropping 253 m (830 ft). The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed, here reaches a tremendous chasm, the water comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Halfway down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet the Raja. A third fall, the Rocket, shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, the Rani, moves quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam.

Before the onset of monsoon season, when there is not much water in the Linganmakki dam, the Jog Falls are a pair of thin streams of water trickling down the cliff, as the water collected in the dam is exclusively for generation of electricity; during monsoons local rain water is the source of water to the falls.

The effect is greatly heightened by the wild and beautiful region around which is covered with a wealth of luxuriant vegetation. The steps cut into rocks will lead you to the very depths of the fall and shower you with vaporous spray that bounces off these rocks. During Monsoons the Jog falls voluminous creating a spectacular sight with rainbows every now and then. One can take an adventurous walk at the bottom of the gorge when the sluice gates of the Linganmakki dam are closed.

The best time to visit the Jog is in winter when the sky is clear of the mist.  The place is well connected by rail and road from Shimoga city and number of government & private buses ply between Shimoga and Jog Falls. August-December is considered the season of best flow and the best time to visit. Do visit this place you will really enjoy it!

How to Reach Jog Falls

• Nearest Railway Station: Thalaguppa, Shimoga district.
• Nearest Airport: Mangalore International Airport
• By Road: National Highway number 206, from Bangalore 378 kms (Bangalore-Shimoga-Sagar-Jog), from Sagar 45 kms, Siddapur 21 kms, Honnavar 56 kms.