Athirappilly Falls

The Chalakudy river drops around twenty-five metres at Athirappilly across a wide rock lip, spreading into a broad curtain in the monsoon and separating into channels when the flow drops. A path descends beside it to the base, where the spray reaches the pool. Upstream, Vazhachal falls runs over a shallower rock shelf. The riverine forest here is the only place in Kerala where all four hornbill species of the Western Ghats region occur together, which is one of the arguments that has been made against repeated proposals for a hydroelectric project on this stretch of river.

Background

The falls lie in Athirappilly Panchayat of Chalakudy Taluk in Thrissur District, on the Chalakudy River, which rises in the upper Western Ghats at the entrance to the Sholayar ranges and runs for 145 kilometres. They are the largest falls in Kerala, about 100 metres wide with four drops, and they are nicknamed the Niagara of South India. A state plan for a hydroelectric dam on the river above the falls was argued over from the 1990s until 2017.

Source: Wikipedia, "Athirappilly Falls"

What you'll find

• The main fall - a broad curtain dropping about twenty-five metres.
• The base path - a descent to the pool through spray.
• Vazhachal - the shallower fall upstream on the same river.
• The hornbill forest - riverine woodland holding all four regional species.

When to go

June to January; the falls run hardest from July into September after the monsoon, though the base path closes in high water. By March the flow reduces sharply.

Good to know

The base path closes without notice in high water. Swimming near the falls is prohibited. Weekend crowds are heavy and the viewing platforms congested.

Nearby

Chalakudy lies west; Thrissur is northwest.

Key facts