Khandadhar Falls
A 244 m horsetail fall in the Bonai hills near Rourkela
Best time to visit Khandadhar Falls
- Jan, shoulder season
- Feb, shoulder season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, best avoided
- May, best avoided
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, best avoided
- Aug, best avoided
- Sep, shoulder season
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: October to December
- Shoulder: January to March and September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: April to August
Khandadhar Falls season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
December still runs well; by Jan-Feb the flow thins but the pool is clear and the 2 km walk in is cool.
Summer March to May Shoulder
By March to May the Korapani stream is a thin ribbon and the sal forest hits 42 C; not worth the drive.
Monsoon June to September Shoulder
Jun-Aug the fall is enormous and the last fair-weather stretch turns to red slush and slip-prone rock.
Autumn October to November Prime time
October is the payoff: full flow, clean air and the forest still green after the rain pulls back.
What Khandadhar Falls is actually like
Forest-department cottages and tents at the base; local picnic parties at weekends, tourists almost never
Getting to Khandadhar Falls
104 km from Rourkela via Bonaigarh, the last stretch rough forest road, then 2 km on foot
Practical ways in: road
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 1 day
- Budget
- Mid-range
- How busy
- Quiet at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 677 m
- State
- Odisha
- Coordinates
- 21.7613, 85.1172
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Khandadhar Falls?
October to December is peak season in Khandadhar Falls. January to March and September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to August. October is the payoff: full flow, clean air and the forest still green after the rain pulls back.
How many days do you need in Khandadhar Falls?
1 day is the usual stay. Forest-department cottages and tents at the base; local picnic parties at weekends, tourists almost never.
How do you get to Khandadhar Falls?
104 km from Rourkela via Bonaigarh, the last stretch rough forest road, then 2 km on foot. Practical ways in: road.
Is Khandadhar Falls expensive, and does it get crowded?
Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Satkosia Gorge (Tikarpada)
Odisha
Mahanadi squeezed into a 22 km gorge of mugger and gharial
170 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Simlipal National Park (Baripada)
Odisha
Sal forest tiger reserve with the 400 m Barehipani falls
200 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 5 h by road
-
Debrigarh (Hirakud Reservoir)
Odisha
Gaur and leopard on the Hirakud reservoir shoreline
210 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Dassam Falls
Jharkhand
The Kanchi river's clean 44 m curtain drop near Taimara village
210 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary
Jharkhand
900 m elephant-country summit looking over the Subarnarekha valley
250 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 6 h by road
-
Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri (Diamond Triangle)
Odisha
Odisha's Buddhist diamond triangle of hilltop monasteries
230 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Bhubaneswar
Odisha
Temple city of 700 shrines plus the Khandagiri Jain caves
240 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 5 h by road
-
Ajodhya Hills (Purulia)
West Bengal
Purulia plateau of palash red, Chhau masks and stone falls
250 km from Khandadhar Falls, roughly about 5 h by road
More places to visit in Odisha
- Bhitarkanika National Park Odisha
- Bhubaneswar Odisha
- Chandipur (Balasore) Odisha
- Chilika Lake (Satapada) Odisha
- Daringbadi Odisha
- Debrigarh (Hirakud Reservoir) Odisha
- Deomali Odisha
- Duduma Falls (Machkund) Odisha
- Gopalpur Odisha
- Gupteswar Caves (Koraput) Odisha
- Konark Odisha
- Koraput Odisha
- Mangalajodi (Chilika Wetlands) Odisha
- Puri Odisha
- Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri (Diamond Triangle) Odisha
- Satkosia Gorge (Tikarpada) Odisha
- Simlipal National Park (Baripada) Odisha
- Taptapani Odisha