Hogenakkal Falls

Hogenakkal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the Kaveri river on the border between Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu and Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It is located 127 km (79 mi) from Bangalore, 165 km (103 mi) from Kollegal, 147 km (91 mi) from Kolar, 152 km (94 mi) from Kolar Gold Fields and 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri.[7] Sometimes referred to as the "Niagara Falls of India," it is known for bathing areas and hired boat rides and as a major tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.[8] The Government of Tamil Nadu made a proposal to convert the falls into providing drinking water for the state.

Hogenakkal Falls
Marikottayam
Hogenakkal Falls
LocationKarnataka and Tamil Nadu
Elevation700 m (2,300 ft)
Longest drop20 m (66 ft)

Etymology

The word Hogenakkal is formed of two Kannada words hoge and kal. When the water falls on the rocks it appears as if hoge (smoke) is emanating from the top of the kal (rock) because of the force of the water, hence Hogenakkal (smoking rocks).[9] It is also called as Marikottayam by the people of Tamil Nadu.

River

The Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in the Western Ghats of south India and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down.[2] At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as 20 m (66 ft) and is said to sound like continual thunder. The river carries sediment which makes the downriver land fertile. At Hogenakkal the river spreads out over a wide area of sandy beaches, then flows south to the Mettur Dam and creates a 60 sq mi (160 km2). lake called Stanley Reservoir. Built in 1934, this project improved irrigation and provided hydropower.[10]

Weather

The best season to visit is soon after the monsoons, when the river is in full spate. But some tourists prefer to visit during off-season to skip the crowd. The water temperature in summer varies between 23–34 °C (73–93 °F) while during the winter it ranges from 13–27 °C (55–81 °F).[11]

Boating
Parisal Boating in Hogenakkal falls in Tamil Nadu

Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. This is the main source of income for boat operators. The coracles are about 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) in diameter and can carry eight people at a time.[12] These coracles are made of bamboo, and with all materials available takes about a day to build. The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic.[13] Use of plastics in the Hogenakkal vicinity, not just for boats, has been criticised due to problems with pollution.[14] These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making them unique. The coracles are locally called parisal in Tamil and teppa or harigolu in Kannada.[15]

Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include katla, robu, kendai, keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby. After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.


Hogenakkal water project
Main article: Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project

Hogenakal Falls[16] is the location for the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government.[17] The objective of this project is to provide safe drinking water to the urban and rural areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.[18] In February 2008, The Japan Bank for International Cooperation agreed to fund the Rs 1,340-crore project.[19]

Gallery
  • Mountain near the hogenakkal falls
  • Whirlpool damaged mountain portion in Hogenakkal Falls in Tamil Nadu
  • Area near Hogenakkal falls with the coracles beached for picnics
  • Hogenakkal Falls bathing area
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See also
  • List of waterfalls in India

References
  1. Upon entering Tamil Nadu, the Kaveri continues through a series of twisted wild gorges until it reaches Hogenakal Falls and flows through a straight, narrow gorge.... "Kaveri River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  2. ARTICLE 262 AND INTER-STATE DISPUTES RELATING TO WATER Archived 9 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine Ministry of Law, Government of India
  3. "Taluk Information". Tnmaps.tn.nic.in. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  4. Station Details Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "National Portal of India : Know India : State and UTs". India.gov.in. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  6. Dharmapuri district Tamil Nadu Tourism development corporation
  7. Tamil Nadu tourism
  8. Natarajana, M; Bhaskar Rao, B; Parthasarathy, R; Kumar, Anil; Gopalan, K (1994). "2.0 Ga old pyroxenite-carbonatite complex of Hogenakal, Tamil Nadu, South India". Precambrian Research. 65 (1–4): 167–81. doi:10.1016/0301-9268(94)90104-X. INIST:3910799.
  9. "Dharmapuri district - places of interest". tamilnadutorism.org. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  10. "Cauvery River in Southern India". cauvery.com. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  11. "Overview - Visit India Travel Guide Hogenakkal Adventure". Hogenakkal.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  12. The Hindu - Row, row, row your boat
  13. Palmer, Colin; Blue, Lucy; McGrail, Sean (2001). "Hide Boats at Hogenakal on the River Kaveri, Tamil Nadu". South Asian Studies. 17 (1): 199–207. doi:10.1080/02666030.2001.9628601. INIST:13550447.
  14. Garbage ruining Hogenakkal's beauty - The Hindu
  15. "Hogenakkal Waterfalls, Hogenakkal Falls, Activities at Hogenakkal, Tour to Hogenakkal Waterfalls India". www.ecoindia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  16. "Hogenakkal Falls". dharmapuri.nic.in. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  17. The Hindu - The 1998 story of Hogenakkal
  18. Times of India - Hogenakkal project: Water of hope
  19. Business Line - Japan Bank agrees to fund Hogenakkal water project

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