Jog Falls

For the town of the same name, see Jog Falls, Shimoga.

Jog Falls
Jog Falls during monsoon
Location	Sagara, Karnataka, Shivamogga District, Karnataka, India
Coordinates	14°13′44.36″N 74°48′43.99″E
Type	Cataract, Segmented
Elevation	1600ftMSL(488metres)
Total height	829 feet/253 meters
Number of drops	1
Longest drop	829 feet/253 meters
Watercourse	Sharavathi River
Average flow rate	5,387 cu ft/s or 153 m³/s

The Jog falls

Jog Falls (Kannada: ಜೋಗ ಜಲಪಾತ), created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft) is the second-highest (after the Nohkalikai Falls with a height of 1100 feet (335 metres) in Meghalaya) plunge waterfall in India Located in Sagara, Karnataka Shivamogga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.

There are many waterfalls in Asia - and also in India - which drop from a higher altitude. But, unlike most of such falls, Jog Falls is untiered, i.e., it drops directly and does not stream on to rocks. Thus, it can be described as the First-highest untiered waterfall in India. The waterfall database gives it 83 scenic points while Angel Falls is at 97.

ಜೋಗ ಜಲಪಾತ

Description

Jog Falls (Kannada:ಜೋಗ ಜಲಪಾತ), created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft) is the second-highest after the Nohkalikai Falls with a height of 1100 feet (335 metres) in Meghalaya) plunge waterfall in India Located in Sagara, Karnataka Shivamogga District of Karnataka state, these segmented falls are a major tourist attraction. It is also called by alternative names of Gerusoppe falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi.

Sharavati, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, near Nonabar, in the Tirthahalli taluk and takes the north-westerly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, and precipitating itself down the Falls of Gersoppa and passing that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is really some 29 Kilometres distant, discharges into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara. The name Sharavati, arrow-born, is in allusion to its flowing from the Ambutirtha, which was formed by a stroke of Rama's arrow. The stream is crossed by 70 anicuts, from which small channels are drawn having an aggregate length of 42 Kilometres. Jog Falls existence appears to have been unknown at the time of Buchanan's journey in 1900. The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 960 ft (290 m) in depth, and the water comes down in four distinct falls, presenting a scene of transcendent grandeur and sublimity, whose effect is greatly heightened by the wild and beautiful country around, covered with a wealth of luxuriant vegetation. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Half way 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 its famous compeer. A third fall, the Rocket shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, called the Rani (Dame Blanche), is an Undine-like cascade gliding quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam. The most favorable time for visiting is in the Monsoon season(June-September), during this time the rain is at its peak and river will be at its full potential. There are good bungalows on both sides of the falls. Close by the side of Bombay Bungalow is a slab of rock projecting over the verge of the gulf, by lying down on which and peering over, the best view is obtained of the appalling abyss from above, rendered more striking by the continual flight across it of myriads of rock pigeons, which find a congenial home in the face of the cliffs. The Tourism Department has built steps from the view point till the bottom of the hill where the waterfall can be seen at the opposite side. There are approximately 1500 steps built to reach the bottom of the hill. Watch Video of Jog Falls here (offseason)

http://www.weedioh.com/Video.aspx?VideoId=2495

Significance

Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganmakki Dam across river Sharavathi,. The power station has been operational since 1948, and is of 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydro-electric stations in India at that time and a small source of electric power for Karnataka now. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra hydro-electric project, after the King of Mysore at that time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi hydro-electric Project. It was served by Hirebhaskara dam until 1960. After 1960, due to the visions of Sir M. Visvesvarayya, Linganmakki Dam, built across river Sharavathi is being used for power generation.This new dam serves LDPH (55 MW), SGS(1035 MW) and Gerusoppa Tail race(240 MW)generating stations and the old Hirebhaskara dam got submerged in 'as was' condition.

Change in flow

Before the onset of the monsoon, when there is not much water in the Linganmakki dam, the Jog Falls are nearly unrecognizable. Instead of the roar and the spray and the massive flow of water, there are only a pair of thin streams of water trickling down the cliff as the water collected in the dam is exclusively for generation of electricity and during monsoons local rain-water is the source of water to the falls. If you happen to ask any of the local people what happened to the falls, they would tell you that the monsoon rain amount has changed, which is true. During the monsoon of 2007, due to heavy rains, the authorities at the falls had to open the dam. Due to this, the water falls was seen at its best. Unfortunately this also resulted in the flooding of many villages down the river, destroying crops and the fishing industry for weeks. Many of the pictures in the gallery and the picture displayed alongside show the falls during that time.

Transport Connectivity

• Nearest Railway Station (& distance to the location):
  • Talaguppa and SAGAR(SRF) : For Sagar 30km
• Nearest Bus Station:

  SAGAR

• Nearest Airport (& aerial distance to the location):
  • Domestic
    • Hubli Airport (HBX) : 130km
    • Bajpe Airport Mangalore (IXE) : 135km
    • Lohegaon Airport Pune (PNQ) : 500km
  • International
    • Bangalore International Airport (BLR) : 340km

Gallery

• 

  Jog Falls in early monsoon

• 

  Jog Falls in late monsoon

• 

  Jog Falls from bottom

• 

  Jog Falls from below

• 

  Jogfalls after good monsoon

• 

  Jogfalls sectional view

• 

  Canal Gates near Jogfalls

• 

  Jog Roarer

• 

  Jog Raja

See also

• List of waterfalls in India
• List of waterfalls in India by height

References

C.Hayavadana Rao, B.A.,B.L., Fellow, University of Mysore, Editor, Mysore Gazetteer, 1930 Edition, Government Press, Bangalore.

External links

• Jog Falls Package Tours
• Jog Falls on Karnataka.Com
• World Waterfall Database entry
• Jog Falls on ShimogaOnline.com
• Jog Falls in 1946 - A Letter
• Falls Jog Falls videos from ikarwar
• Pictures of the Falls