Rahagir
Jog Falls in full flow

Destinations / Karnataka

Jog Falls

The Sharavathi drops 253 m in four strands, at its fullest when the Linganamakki dam spills.

FamousWaterfallTrekRiver

Jog is the waterfall most Indians picture when they think of one: the Sharavathi river arriving at a cliff edge and falling about 253 m in four separate streams, named Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer. It is not a year-round spectacle, because the Linganamakki dam upstream holds the water back, so the falls are at their best in and just after the monsoon. Come in February and you may find four thin ribbons on a bare rock face.

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Jog Falls in full flow
Jog Falls in full flow
The four cascades seen from the viewpoint
The four cascades seen from the viewpoint
Jog Falls after the monsoon
Jog Falls after the monsoon

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

WhenWhat to expect
August to NovemberThe season. The dam spills and all four cascades run, loudest in August and September. Expect mist, rain and crowds at weekends.
December to FebruaryDry and pleasant for walking, but the falls are much reduced, sometimes to thin streams. The steps to the base are at their safest now.
March to JuneHot, and the falls often nearly dry. Worth coming only if you are passing through for the valley rather than the water.

Sights and activities

1

The main viewpoint

The viewing deck opposite the falls, with all four cascades in a single frame. The state has rebuilt the approach with a plaza, lifts and galleries in recent years.

Distance
At the falls.
Entry
Entry and parking charges apply and have changed with the new development
Timings
Usually about 9 am to 6 pm
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

2

The steps to the base

About 1,400 steps down to the pool at the foot of the falls, and back up again. A hard climb in the wet, and sometimes closed in heavy monsoon.

Distance
From the viewpoint.
Entry
Free when open
Timings
Daylight hours, subject to closure
Time needed
2-3 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

3

Linganamakki Dam

The dam across the Sharavathi that decides how much water reaches the falls. A large reservoir with views across to the Western Ghats.

Distance
About 6 km from the falls.
Entry
Free
Timings
Daylight hours
Time needed
1 hour

MapWrong fee or timing?

4

Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Evergreen Ghat forest around the river valley, home to hornbills, langurs and the occasional lion-tailed macaque. Roads through it make the drive to Jog a pleasure in itself.

Distance
Surrounds the falls.
Timings
Daylight hours
Time needed
Along the way

MapWrong fee or timing?

5

Honnemaradu

A backwater of the Linganamakki reservoir, known for kayaking, coracle rides and camping on the shore.

Distance
About 20 km from Jog.
Entry
Activities charged individually
Timings
Daylight hours
Time needed
Half a day

MapWrong fee or timing?

6

Sigandur Chowdeshwari Temple

A temple across the reservoir, reached by a ferry that takes vehicles, or now by the new bridge. Busy with pilgrims at weekends.

Distance
About 35 km from Jog.
Entry
Free
Timings
Temple hours
Time needed
Half a day

MapWrong fee or timing?

7

Tunga Anicut and Sagara town

The market town that serves the area, with the bus stand, lodges and the local Ikkeri and Keladi temples a short drive away.

Distance
About 30 km from the falls.
Entry
Free
Timings
Daytime
Time needed
2 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

8

Keladi and Ikkeri temples

Two sixteenth-century temples from the Keladi Nayaka period near Sagara, in a mix of Hoysala, Dravidian and Kadamba styles, with a fine stone Nandi at Ikkeri.

Distance
About 6 to 10 km from Sagara.
Entry
Free
Timings
Daylight hours
Time needed
1.5 hours

MapWrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus
State buses run from Shivamogga and Sagara to Jog through the day, and overnight services come up from Bengaluru. Sagara, 30 km away, is the local hub for buses.
By train
Talaguppa (TLGP), about 15 km away, is the nearest station and the end of the branch line from Shivamogga; some trains from Bengaluru run through to it. Shivamogga Town (SMET), about 100 km, has the better service, with trains from Bengaluru in about 4 to 5.5 hours.
By air
Mangaluru, about 180 km, and Hubballi, about 190 km, are the nearest airports. Bengaluru is about 380 km away.
Where to base yourself
There is little at the falls themselves beyond a state tourism property and a few lodges. Sagara, 30 km away, is the usual base and has the bus stand and more rooms; Shivamogga, about 100 km, has the full range.

Getting around

  • The viewpoint and the head of the steps are within walking distance of the car park.
  • Buses run between Jog and Sagara through the day; the last ones back leave in the early evening.
  • Linganamakki, Honnemaradu and Sigandur all need a hired car or a scooter.
  • Scooters can be hired in Sagara and suit the quiet Ghat roads in dry weather.

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Where to stay

Budget levelTypePrice per night
BudgetSimple lodges in Sagara and basic rooms near the falls₹700 to ₹1,600
Mid-rangeState tourism rooms at Jog and homestays in the valley₹2,000 to ₹4,000
LuxuryResorts around Sagara and the Sharavathi valley₹5,000 to ₹10,000

Food

Eating at the falls is limited to canteens and stalls at the viewpoint. Sagara has proper restaurants and is the place to eat before or after.

Try these

  • Neer dosa with coconut chutney
  • Kundapura-style chicken, where non-vegetarian food is served
  • Akki rotti, a rice-flour flatbread
  • Fresh pineapple and jackfruit from the Ghat villages in season
  • Filter coffee, grown not far from here

Vegetarian food is the default across coastal and Malnad Karnataka and is easy to find.

Daily costs

Budget levelStay per roomFood per personLocal transport
Budget₹900₹350₹250 per person
Mid-range₹2,800₹800₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury₹6,500₹1,500₹3,000 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

No permits are needed. Entry and parking are charged at the falls. The steps to the base are closed by the authorities when the flow or the weather makes them unsafe.

Safety

By day
The rock around the falls is wet and slippery for much of the season, and people have died going past the barriers for photographs. Stay on the marked decks and do not climb down to the lip.
At night
The viewpoint closes in the evening and the Ghat roads are unlit. Do not attempt the steps late in the day.
Solo women
No specific safety information was found. The site is busy in season; usual care applies on the quieter valley roads and at the base of the steps.
Roads
Ghat roads with tight bends, heavy rain and leeches in the monsoon. Fog is common in the early morning. Drive slowly and avoid night driving in the wet.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies), 108 (ambulance)

Practical

Mobile network
Coverage at the falls is reported as reasonable and patchy in the valley.
ATMs and cash
At the falls. Withdraw in Sagara or Shivamogga.
Fuel
At Jog. Fill up in Sagara.
Medical
Basic care at Sagara; the main hospitals are in Shivamogga, about two hours away.

Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem

Accessibility

Seniors
The rebuilt viewpoint area is reachable by road and has lifts, so the main view is manageable. The steps to the base are not.
Children
Fine at the viewpoint with close supervision near the railings. The climb to the base is too much for small children.
Wheelchair users
The new viewpoint development improved access to the main deck. The base of the falls is not accessible.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

  • Leeches are a fact of the monsoon here; salt or tobacco in your socks is the local answer.
  • Carry your rubbish out, and do not wash in the pool at the base.
  • Remove shoes at the Keladi, Ikkeri and Sigandur temples.
  • Weekends in the monsoon are very busy, with queues on the access road; weekdays are far better.
  • Kannada is the language; English is understood at the tourism properties.

What to pack

  • Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
  • Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
  • A rain jacket or umbrella and quick-dry clothes
  • Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
  • Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

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