- Height
- About 253 m
- River
- Sharavathi
- Best time
- July to January
- Nearest railway station
- Talaguppa; Shivamogga for more trains
- Nearest airport
- Hubballi, about 130 km
The four streams
After crossing a wide rocky bed, the river breaks into four falls before it goes over the edge. Each has a local name that describes how it behaves.
- Raja, the broad, steady fall that drops straight down
- Rani, which winds over the rock in a lighter, curving stream
- Rocket, a narrow jet that forces a heavy flow through a tight gap in the rock
- Roarer, which crashes over boulders with a loud rumble
What to do
The main viewpoints near the car park give a full view of the gorge. For a closer look, a long flight of steps, well over a thousand of them, leads down towards the base; the climb back up is tiring, so go only if you are fit and the steps are dry. The name comes from the Kannada word joga, meaning falls.
The river is dammed upstream at Linganamakki, and its water is used for hydroelectric power, so the flow depends on the season and on releases from the dam. Downstream, the Sharavathi runs past Gerusoppa and reaches the Arabian Sea near Honnavar.
Around Jog
Honnemaradu, about 20 km away on the Sharavathi backwaters, is known for kayaking, coracle rides and camping under guides. Boating is also possible at Talakalale dam. The Chowdeshwari temple at Sigandur, reached by a ferry across the backwaters, draws many pilgrims.
Best time to visit
The falls are at their most powerful from July to September, when the monsoon fills the river, though mist can hide the view on heavy days. October to January is a good compromise, with a healthy flow, clear views and pleasant weather. By summer the falls can thin to a trickle.
How to reach
Talaguppa is the closest railway station, and Shivamogga is the nearest large rail junction, linked to Bengaluru. Hubballi airport is about 130 km away. Roads connect Jog with Shivamogga, Sagar and the coastal towns, and KSRTC buses run from Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
Also nearby
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