The waterfalls in India list is a consistently tested geography topic across UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams.
India’s waterfalls range from the thundering Kunchikal Falls in Karnataka — India’s highest — to the awe-inspiring Chitrakoot Falls in Chhattisgarh — India’s widest. Fed by monsoon rivers cascading over the Deccan Plateau edges, the Western Ghats, and the Eastern Ghats, this page gives you a complete, updated list of India’s most important waterfalls with heights, rivers, states, and exam-critical facts for confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- Kunchikal Falls (455 m) in Karnataka is the highest waterfall in India, formed by the Varahi River.
- Chitrakoot Falls in Chhattisgarh, on the Indravati River, is India’s widest waterfall — often called the “Niagara of India.”
- Jog Falls (253 m) in Karnataka is the highest plunge waterfall in India and one of the most famous.
- Nohkalikai Falls (340 m) in Meghalaya is the tallest plunge waterfall in India and the fourth highest in the world.
- Dudhsagar Falls (“Sea of Milk”) on the Goa–Karnataka border is one of India’s most scenic waterfalls, located on the Mandovi River.
Many students confuse Kunchikal Falls (India’s highest overall — 455 m, tiered) with Jog Falls (India’s highest plunge waterfall — 253 m). Both are in Karnataka. If the question asks “highest waterfall in India” without qualification, the answer is always Kunchikal. If it specifies “plunge waterfall,” the answer is Jog Falls. Also: multiple waterfalls are called “Niagara of India” — the standard exam answer is Chitrakoot Falls, Chhattisgarh.
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🗺️ Important Waterfalls in India — Complete List
| # ↕ | Waterfall ↕ | Height (m) ↕ | River | Type | State ↕ | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunchikal Falls | 455 | Varahi River | Tiered | Karnataka | Highest waterfall in India; Shimoga district; in dense forest |
| 2 | Barehipani Falls | 399 | Budhabalanga River | Tiered | Odisha | Second highest in India; inside Simlipal National Park |
| 3 | Nohkalikai Falls | 340 | Unnamed stream (near Cherrapunji) | Plunge | Meghalaya | Tallest plunge waterfall in India; 4th highest in world; near Cherrapunji |
| 4 | Langshiang Falls | 337 | Kynshi River | Plunge | Meghalaya | Third highest in India; in Khasi Hills |
| 5 | Nohsngithiang Falls (Seven Sisters Falls) | 315 | Nohsngithiang Stream | Segmented | Meghalaya | Near Cherrapunji; 7 segments; also called Mawsmai Falls |
| 6 | Dudhsagar Falls | 310 | Mandovi (Mahadayi) River | Tiered | Goa / Karnataka border | “Sea of Milk”; Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary; railway track crosses nearby |
| 7 | Kynrem Falls | 305 | Thangchi River | Tiered | Meghalaya | Near Cherrapunji; one of India’s tallest |
| 8 | Meenmutty Falls | 300 | Meenmutty River | Tiered | Kerala | In Wayanad; Western Ghats; accessible by trekking only |
| 9 | Thalaiyar Falls (Rat Tail Falls) | 297 | Thalaiyar River | Plunge | Tamil Nadu | In Dindigul district; also called “Rat Tail Falls” |
| 10 | Barkana Falls | 259 | Sauparnika River | Plunge | Karnataka | Agumbe area; Shimoga district |
| 11 | Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls) | 253 | Sharavathi River | Plunge | Karnataka | Highest plunge waterfall in India; 4 falls: Raja, Rani, Rover, Rocket |
| 12 | Khandadhar Falls | 244 | Khandadhar / Koraput stream | Plunge | Odisha | In Sundargarh district; remote location |
| 13 | Vantawng Falls | 229 | Vantawng River | Plunge | Mizoram | Highest waterfall in Northeast India |
| 14 | Magod Falls | 200 | Bedthi River | Tiered | Karnataka | Near Dandeli; Uttara Kannada district |
| 15 | Sivasamudram Falls | 98 | Kaveri River | Segmented | Karnataka | India’s first hydroelectric power station (1902); power sent to Kolar Gold Fields |
| 16 | Hundru Falls | 98 | Subarnarekha River | Plunge | Jharkhand | Near Ranchi; largest waterfall in Jharkhand |
| 17 | Shivanasamudra Falls | 90 | Kaveri River | Segmented | Karnataka | First hydroelectric project in Asia (1902); near Mysuru |
| 18 | Dassam Falls | 44 | Kanchi River | Plunge | Jharkhand | Near Ranchi; popular picnic spot |
| 19 | Kempty Falls | 40 | Aglar River | Tiered | Uttarakhand | Near Mussoorie; popular hill-station waterfall |
| 20 | Dhuandhar Falls | 30 | Narmada River | Plunge | Madhya Pradesh | “Smoke Cascade”; at Bhedaghat, near Jabalpur; marble rocks gorge |
| 21 | Kapildhara Falls | 30 | Narmada River | Plunge | Madhya Pradesh | First major waterfall of the Narmada River; near Amarkantak |
| 22 | Elephant Falls | 30 | Unnamed stream | Tiered | Meghalaya | Near Shillong; three-tiered; major tourist site |
| 23 | Chitrakoot Falls | 29 | Indravati River | Segmented | Chhattisgarh | India’s widest waterfall (~300 m wide); most commonly called “Niagara of India” |
| 24 | Athirappilly Falls | 24 | Chalakudy River | Tiered | Kerala | Largest waterfall in Kerala; also called “Niagara of India”; popular film location |
| 25 | Hogenakkal Falls | 20 | Kaveri River | Segmented | Tamil Nadu | Carbonate rock formations; boat rides; on TN–Karnataka border; also called “Niagara of India” |
⚖️ Compare Two Waterfalls
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
- Highest waterfall in India: Kunchikal Falls (455 m), Varahi River, Karnataka
- Highest plunge waterfall in India: Jog Falls (253 m), Sharavathi River, Karnataka
- Tallest plunge waterfall in India / 4th highest in world: Nohkalikai Falls (340 m), Meghalaya
- Widest waterfall in India: Chitrakoot Falls (~300 m wide), Indravati River, Chhattisgarh
- Second highest in India: Barehipani Falls (399 m), Odisha — inside Simlipal NP
- Highest waterfall in Northeast India: Vantawng Falls (229 m), Mizoram
- Highest waterfall in Kerala: Athirappilly Falls, Chalakudy River
Chitrakoot Falls (Chhattisgarh) — most commonly called “Niagara of India” due to its extraordinary width (~300 m) and horseshoe shape on the Indravati River. Hogenakkal Falls (Tamil Nadu) — also called this. Athirappilly Falls (Kerala) — sometimes called this.
In exams, if asked “which waterfall is called the Niagara of India” — the standard answer is Chitrakoot Falls (Chhattisgarh). Always go with Chitrakoot unless the question specifies a state.
- Located on the Sharavathi River in Shimoga (Shivamogga) district, Karnataka
- Four distinct sections: Raja, Rani, Rover, and Rocket
- India’s highest plunge waterfall (253 m) — water falls in a single unbroken plunge
- NOT India’s highest waterfall overall — Kunchikal Falls (455 m) is higher but is a tiered/stepped waterfall
- The Jog vs Kunchikal distinction is a very common exam trap
Sivasamudram (Shivanasamudra) Falls on the Kaveri River in Karnataka is the site of India’s first hydroelectric power station (1902). Power generated here was transmitted to the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) — making it one of the world’s first long-distance power transmission projects. This waterfall–industrial history link is a unique and frequently tested fact.
Meghalaya has Nohkalikai (4th in world), Langshiang (3rd in India), Nohsngithiang/Seven Sisters Falls, Kynrem Falls, and Elephant Falls — all fed by the world’s highest rainfall in the Cherrapunji/Mawsynram region. The name “Nohkalikai” comes from a tragic local legend — a woman named Ka Likai who jumped off the cliff.
“Kunchikal Barehipani Nohkalikai Langshiang Nohsngithiang”
K = Kunchikal (455 m) | B = Barehipani (399 m) | N = Nohkalikai (340 m) | L = Langshiang (337 m) | N = Nohsngithiang (315 m)
Rivers Mnemonic — “VSIMK”:
V = Varahi (Kunchikal) | S = Sharavathi (Jog) | I = Indravati (Chitrakoot) | M = Mandovi (Dudhsagar) | K = Kaveri (Sivasamudram / Hogenakkal)
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🧩 Practice Quiz
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Kunchikal Falls (455 m) on the Varahi River in Shimoga district, Karnataka, is the highest waterfall in India. It is a tiered waterfall in dense forest. Jog Falls (253 m) is India’s highest plunge waterfall but is not the tallest overall — Kunchikal is nearly twice as tall.
Chitrakoot Falls in Chhattisgarh, on the Indravati River, is most commonly called the “Niagara of India” because of its extraordinary width of approximately 300 metres and horseshoe shape. It is India’s widest waterfall and is particularly spectacular during monsoon season.
Jog Falls (253 m), also known as Gersoppa Falls, is formed by the Sharavathi River in Shimoga (Shivamogga) district, Karnataka. It is India’s highest plunge waterfall with four sections named Raja, Rani, Rover, and Rocket. It is NOT India’s highest waterfall overall — that is Kunchikal Falls (455 m).
Sivasamudram Falls (also called Shivanasamudra) on the Kaveri River in Karnataka was the site of India’s first hydroelectric power station, established in 1902. The electricity generated was transmitted to the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) — making it one of the world’s first long-distance power transmission projects.
Nohkalikai Falls (340 m) near Cherrapunji (Sohra) in Meghalaya is the fourth tallest plunge waterfall in the world, and the tallest plunge waterfall in India. The name “Nohkalikai” comes from a local legend about a woman named Ka Likai who jumped from the cliff.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Kunchikal Falls (455 m), formed by the Varahi River in Shimoga district of Karnataka, is the highest waterfall in India. It is a tiered (stepped) waterfall in dense forest. Distinguish it from Jog Falls (253 m), also in Karnataka, which is India’s highest plunge waterfall — meaning water falls in a single unbroken vertical drop. Kunchikal is nearly twice as tall as Jog but is less famous because it is harder to access and is submerged during operation of the Mani Dam.
The title “Niagara of India” is most commonly applied to Chitrakoot Falls in Chhattisgarh, on the Indravati River. It is India’s widest waterfall at approximately 300 metres wide, with a horseshoe shape closely resembling the Niagara Falls. Hogenakkal Falls in Tamil Nadu (Kaveri River) and Athirappilly Falls in Kerala are also sometimes called by this name, but Chitrakoot is the standard answer in competitive exams.
Both Meghalaya and Karnataka are standouts. Meghalaya dominates height rankings — Nohkalikai Falls (340 m, 4th highest plunge waterfall in the world), Langshiang Falls (337 m), Nohsngithiang/Seven Sisters Falls (315 m), and Kynrem Falls (305 m) are all in Meghalaya, fed by the extraordinary rainfall of the Cherrapunji–Mawsynram region. Karnataka holds the top overall height record (Kunchikal Falls, 455 m), the most famous waterfall (Jog Falls), the historically important Sivasamudram Falls, and Dudhsagar Falls on its Goa border.
Waterfalls are a reliable source of geography questions in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking General Awareness, and State PSC exams. Key tested facts include India’s highest waterfall (Kunchikal Falls, Karnataka), India’s highest plunge waterfall (Jog Falls — the Kunchikal vs Jog trap), India’s widest waterfall (Chitrakoot, Chhattisgarh), the world-record plunge waterfall (Nohkalikai, Meghalaya — 4th in world), Dudhsagar Falls (Goa–Karnataka border, Mandovi River), the historically significant Sivasamudram Falls (India’s first hydroelectric station, 1902), and state-wise associations. The multiple “Niagara of India” claimants is one of the most commonly set trap questions in this topic.
