My first ever visit to the Indian State of Chattisgarh was turning
out pretty interesting so far. The tribal region of Bastar was a complete
surprise package. The region is blessed with many beautiful waterfalls. I could
visit two waterfalls located near Jagdalpur town. One was Chitrakote Waterfall
and the other was Tirathgarh Waterfall. I have already written about my visit
to Chitrakote Waterfall.
Here is the article link:
https://thehaflonggirl.blogspot.com/2020/07/in-land-of-bastar-and-majestic.html
Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls can be easily clubbed
together for a single day visit provided one had their own personal vehicle. It
is difficult to visit these two waterfalls on the same day if one is using
public transport since the waterfalls are located in two different directions. Read on about the day visit to the beautiful Tirathgarh
Waterfall.
The breathtaking Tirathgarh Waterfall is around 35 kms from
Jagdalpur town. I took a public bus from the main bus stand. There is actually
no direct bus from the town to the waterfall. It was a long journey on the
state highway. The bus dropped me at the entry gate of Kanger Valley National
Park. When one is coming from Jagdalpur side, the road leading to the waterfall
is on the right side of the road and entry to Kanger Valley National Park is
on the left side. Getting down from the bus, I crossed the road and waited at the check
post. A small outpost with a tin roof acted as the check post. There was a sitting bench as well. A man manning the check post called me to come and sit on the bench. It was again very far, around 6 kms, from the
check post to Tirathgarh Waterfall.
I waited at the check post with the hope to
get a lift from a passing vehicle to the waterfall. During my waiting time at
the check post, I struck up a conversation with the man. He stopped a guy
coming on a bike and requested him to drop me near the waterfall. I hopped onto
the guy’s bike. The bike vroomed vroomed on the smooth tarmac road with dense
forest on both sides. It was just us on the solitary forest road. The biker safely dropped me at the
entrance of the waterfall.
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| check post for Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| entry fee for vehicles from check post to Tirathgarh waterfall |
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| one for the memories at the check post |
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| the forested road from the check post to Tirathgarh Waterfall |
The white water cascaded down a series of rocky outcrops
giving the effect of many waterfalls rather than just one. You will forget your
tiredness once you reach the bottom after climbing down the many steps and
behold this natural beauty. The multiple falls created pools that was a good
opportunity to take a dip or two in the cold water. As always be careful while
swimming and taking a dip. There are viewing decks from where you can safely
watch this waterfall. The surrounding landscape of Kanger Valley added to the
overall beauty of the place. There is a small temple on a huge rock opposite to
the waterfall. The top of this tiny hill offered a very good view of the
waterfall. Do be carefull because monkeys are frequent visitors since the
waterfall lies within the national park.
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| many monkey visitors |
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| temple on a huge rock opp. to the waterfall |
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| Tirathgarh waterfall |
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| one for the memories with Tirathgarh Waterfall |
You can find series of isolated spots if you venture further down
the levels and probably can have your own oasis of peace and calm away from the
maddening crowd. I climbed down till the second level. Many visitors thronged
the place that day. Families, couples, young boys and girls were frolicking
near the water spots, taking a dip, and most of them were in the mood to get
drenched under the cascading waterfall. I was also in the mood to do exactly
that, but alas I didn’t bring along any spare clothes. So what I did was simply
lazing around the water spots, feeling the breeze caressing my face, listening
to the sound of birds chirping, and soaking in the tranquillity of the place.
The roar of the cascading waterfall was therapeutic to the ears…the ears that
were so overburdened with the city noises. When I was at the second level of
the waterfall, ofcourse one needs to take the steep stairs to reach there, I
stood under the waterfall for a few minutes without getting drenched wholly.
The platform was slippery. The overhead rock acted as a cosy shelter. It was
pure unadultered fun to be right under a cascading waterfall. The waterfall
felt like a milky white curtain. The cold spray hits you and you try your best
to balance yourself on the slippery platform lest you don’t slip and fall. There
is a huge boulder in the pool nearby; a series of smaller boulders led to the
huge boulder. I gingerly hopped and skipped over the smaller boulders to reach
the bigger one. Once I reached the bigger boulder, I sat there for a long time.
I was literally sitting in the middle of the pool created by the waterfall. My
phone camera was busy in happily clicking countless pictures of the waterfall.
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| the second level of Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| water of the waterfall flows further down |
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| rocky landscape |
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| Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| visitors at the wtaerfall |
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| the rocky bed |
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| children having fun at the pool created by the waterfall |
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| Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| one for the memories with Tirathgrah Waterfall |
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| a temple at Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| steps that lead from the first level to the second level |
After spending my two hours of happy time with the magnificent
waterfall, that served as an ideal spot for relaxation, picnic, and adventure I left the place. The makeshift shops near the parking spot sold bhajiyas, biscuits, chips, tea, cold
drinks, water bottles, etc. Some stalls even served you rice, dal either veg or
non-veg for lunch. I gulped down some hot cup of tea and freshly prepared bhajiyas at a stall. Since this particular
stall wasn’t serving lunch, and so I proceeded to another nearby stall to have a
late veg lunch. The lunch was simple, but freshly prepared right on the spot on
a traditional chulha (stove). It
costed 50 rupees.
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| shops and eateries near Tirathgarh Waterfall |
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| food being cooked on a traditional chulha (stove) |
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| veg lunch for 50 rupees |
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| the lady at her shop where I had lunch |
It was 3:00 p.m. I waited at the parking spot hoping to get a
lift till the check post. It was a long wait. A few local village folks were
sitting on the ground near me. They told me, “No need to worry. You will get
some vehicle.” After a long wait, I saw a white car coming. I signalled them to
stop. I requested the middle-aged couple inside the car if they could drop me
till the check post. They immediately agreed. I hopped onto the front seat and
was safely dropped at the requested spot. I thanked the couple.
The entry gate
to Kanger Valley National Park was right opposite to the check post on the state
highway, the state highway that connects Jagdalpur nad Sukma. I knew it was already late, still asked the lady at the ticket counter. She informed me it was already too late for entry. I realized I should have come early in the morning instead. Nevermind…there is always the
next time. With nothing much to do, I kept walking up and down, waiting for the
return bus to Jagdalpur town. I got occupied in admiring the tall trees and
serenity of the place. It was 4:00 p.m. The state highway cuts through the dense
forest of the Kanger Valley National Park. One could listen to the forest noise
when no vehicle was passing by. It was hush all around. The silence got sadly broken
by the overbearing noise of random passing vehicle. I soaked in the stillness
and silence at that spot in the middle of the state highway near the entry gate
of Kanger Valley National Park. My reverie was broken when I saw a bus
approaching from around a bend. The bus stopped and I boarded it for the return
journey to Jagdalpur town. Since the state highway cuts through Kanger Valley
National Park, half of the journey was truly scenic with hairpin bends at a few
places. By 5:00 p.m. I was back at Jagdalpur town.
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| the state highway that connects Jagdalpur and Sukma |
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| the entry gate to Kanger Valley National Park |
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| ticket counter for entry to Kanger Valley Ntaional Park |
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| the state highway passing through Kanger Valley National Park |
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| on my way to Jagdalpur |
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| Jagdalpur Bus Station |
Suffice to say, it was an unparalled joy to witness and experience this beautiful marvel of nature. I had a happy day!
Thank you for stopping by!
Happy travelling feet!
Travelled on: 16 January 2020
© The content and pictures are copyright of Hema Hazarika
(thehaflonggirl).
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