Hogenakkal Falls and Melagiri Hike: A Weekend Trip
It’s not the destination; it’s the journey! That was our trip to Hogenakkal Falls. We didn’t spend as much time in the falls as we did exploring everything around. In this article, I will tell you all about the fantastic places we discovered around Hogenakkal. This includes 1) An impromptu hike of the Melagiri hills, 2) Discovering a local soft drink brand, and 3) A secluded spot on the Kaveri river bank.
Travel should never be about a destination. It shouldn’t be about reaching a place and crossing it off your list. It’s all about the journey! In fact, the BEST WAY TO TRAVEL is to not have an itinerary. Start driving to a place. Stop everywhere you want to stop. Try everything — new food, new language or dialect, talk to new people. Spend as much time as you like in that place. And then drive back home!😊
Hogenakkal is a waterfall on the Kaveri river. It is on the border between Karnataka (Chamrajnagar district) and Tamil Nadu (Dharmapuri district).
Yes, Hogenakkal Falls is a beautiful place but the drive to it — even more beautiful! Here’s how we drove to Hogenakkal Falls for a 2-day weekend trip and stopped at Melagiri for a short hike. Melagiri wasn’t actually a part of our itinerary. We liked the hill and decided to go for a hike!
Quick answers to commonly-asked questions:
- Best time to visit the falls: I would not recommend visiting the falls during monsoons. There are higher chances of water levels increasing during monsoons. And a lot of activities like boating will be closed. Make sure you reach the falls early. By 11 AM, the sun gets hotter, and it becomes harder to bear the sun.
- Timing: Entry to the Hogenakkal reserve forest opens at 5 AM and closes by 6 PM.
- Food: You don’t have to worry about food at all! There are several hotels, Redi Wallahs, and a rich food market. (More details in the blog 😊)
- Price ranges: The hanging bridge charges Rs.10 per person. Boating costs Rs.200 per person. Hogenakkal reserve forest entry costs Rs.30 per vehicle.
- Toll charges: For people driving from Bangalore, the on-road toll charges cost Rs.130 for a car for both ways.
- Toilets: There are two toilets near the falls — reasonably hygienic.
Here we go with the trip details!
Day 1: Drive from Bangalore
We started driving from Bangalore at 6 AM. We drove towards Electronic City and took Hosur Road until Attibele. From there, we left the highway and took a short route towards Dharampuri. Hogenakkal Falls is about 120 km from HSR Layout if you follow this route. There are longer alternate routes available.
Note: Entry to the Hogenakkal forest reserve opens at 5 AM and closes by 6 PM. So, plan your trip accordingly.
For directions and details of the route, check the maps here.
We have a strict rule against driving at night. Of course, driving during the day is safer than driving at night. But there’s another good reason! During the day, you come across so many beautiful places and unexpected scenic stops. Like the one below…
We were driving through beautiful villages and ghat roads. Each turn presented with a breathtaking view.
There was greenery everywhere we looked, and the weather was pleasant. There are monkeys on the way. So be careful with your food if you plan on taking a rest stop on the road. Please don’t feed the monkeys chips, chocolates, and other unhealthy food! I strongly suggest only fruits.
Secluded Kaveri River Bank
As we approach closer to the falls, the road passes next to the Kaveri river. On one side, you can see the majestic river, and on the other, the hill chain with lush green trees.
But the best part of the trip is, we found a secluded spot on the river bank and decided to stop there. I am not kidding you when I say there was no one around. We had the entire place to ourselves to take a swim, enjoy the view, and relax.
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The place was quiet, and the only sound you could hear was the rustling of the leaves and the waves. We spent about 2 hours sitting on the bank. Beware! There is a hell of a lot of lizards there!
Once you reach the Hogenakkal forest reserve, you have to take a toll ticket to enter the forest area. It costs 30 rupees per vehicle.
From here, it took us 30 min to reach our hotel. We booked a lodge near the falls. There are several hotels and lodges around the falls — suitable to every economic and aesthetic preference. We booked our room through MakeMyTrip. You can also check out the Hogenakkal tourism website for booking rooms, boating, and more.
Tip: Vehicles aren’t allowed near the gate of the falls. So take a hotel room closer to the falls. It will be easier to walk to and from the gate.
We reached the falls in the afternoon and decided to explore the place. We found some interesting local food here! One such is the local soft drink brand called Bovonto. I haven’t even heard of this brand before in my life! And to be honest, it’s not half bad!😄
The streets leading to the Hogenakkal Falls are full of Redi Wallahs, women selling sweets and snacks, and a rich food market. There are several fish stands with people selling fresh fish caught from the river. There are options in the kinds of fish as well. You could see the old-school ways of cooking here.
Depending on your choice, you can have the fish fried on wood or fish curry with a choice of rice or Parotas. It is surprisingly tasty!
Are you familiar with Obbattu, a popular South India sweet? If yes, you will find really tasty Obbattu here. And all these Redis are very hygienic.
But the best food I tried there is Fried Cakes! These are sweet, hot, crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside.
I have a sweet tooth, and my soul was satisfied by the end of the day!😄
That marks a happy ending to the day!
Day 2: Hogenakkal Falls
We woke up at 5 AM and decided to hit the falls early. The falls are open throughout the year for visitors. On days the water levels are high in the Kaveri river, some activities may be closed.
There are several things you can do in the falls. You can go for a swim in the water, but I advise you against it. There are too many people bathing and washing clothes with soap, and it’s not hygienic. Now that swimming is out of the question, here are your options:
- Walk up the hanging bridge: You can walk up to the hanging bridge and get a fantastic view of the falls on either side. There’s a 10 rupee per person entry fee for the bridge. On one side, you see the majestic falls. On the other side, you have the beautiful Kaveri river cutting through hills, forming a valley. Believe me, a stroll on the bridge is much more fun than cramping up against thousands to swim under the waterfalls. Beware of monkeys here! They try to snatch your phones.
- Boating: Definitely try boating! During monsoons, when the water flow is heavy, swimming and boating are not allowed. Confirm if boating is open in Hogenakkal falls before leaving.
- Explore the local food: Like I said before, there are many Redi Wallahs and hotels around the falls. You can gorge on the tasty fish dishes and local cuisine. Don’t worry about your health. The food here is totally hygienic.
After we ate to our fullest, we started back to Bangalore.
Note: I found plastic wrappers, shampoo bottles, and even mugs floating through the water. I can’t stress this enough: please don’t litter in or around the falls. Keep the garbage with you in a bag and throw it in dustbins.
Melagiri Hills
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On the way to Bangalore, we passed through some beautiful villages and hill ranges. We spoke to a few locals about what else we can do here, and they suggested the Melagiri hills.
Now, there is no trek trail, and the hill is covered with thorny bushes. But we decided to give it a try anyway. It was worth the effort!
If you are an amateur trekker looking for some adventure, then Melagiri is the hill for you! The peak is hardly 3 km from the base. You have to climb many boulders and dodge a LOT of thorny shrubs to trek your way to the peak. From here, you can see the entire village!
This is yet another excellent place to relax and enjoy the view.😄
After all these explorations and escapades, we reached Bangalore by 7 PM.
Random footnote:
Do you see the calf with its head stuck in a bucket? Yeah, that’s my spirit animal! 😜
