The waterfalls are springs, but rather than
gushing up and flowing down they descend abruptly down the
steep crags offering strange and exhilarating beauty to
the onlookers. The important waterfalls in Orissa are –
Barehipani & Joranda Falls:
These picturesque falls (Barehipani
- 399 metres and Joranda - 150 metres) situated in the core
area of Simlipal National Park are perfectly complementary
to their surroundings and are a beautiful bonus to the visitors
of the sanctuary.
Badaghagra Falls:
The Badaghagra falls (about 60 metres)
situated around 10 km from Keonjhar is amongst the most
popular picnic sites in the region. One look at the beauty
and serenity of the place is enough to understand why visitors
make a beeline for it!
Sanaghagra Falls:
The Sanaghagra falls (about 30 metres)
situated around 5 km from Keonjhar is one of the most popular
picnic sites in the region. One look at the beauty and serenity
of the place is enough to understand why visitors make a
beeline for this place.
Khandadhar Falls:
One of the prettiest districts on the
tourist circuit is the Sundargarh region. Located amidst
its lush forests is Orissa's most famous waterfall, the
Khandadhar fall (about 244 metres). The beauty of this place
makes it a site not to be missed.
Duduma Falls:
Known as Matsya Tirtha, Duduma is famous
for its waterfall (157.5 metres), as well as for the Machhakund
Hydro-Electric Project.
Harishankar Falls:
On the southern slope of the Gandhamardan
hills, around 81 km from Balangir, stands Harishankar, a
place of pilgrimage, famous for its uncommon scenic charms
and the presence of Hari and Shankar, the dual deities of
the Vaishnav and Shaivite sects of Hinduism. A perennial
stream gushes forth onto its granite bed to form cascades
at different stages, the last fall providing a natural water
slide to bathers! As a cool resort in the lap of nature,
Harishankar is a panacea for the heat in the summer.