Highest Waterfalls in India: Quick Answer
Kunchikal Falls in Karnataka is the highest waterfall in India, at 455 metres (1,493 ft), formed by the Varahi River in Shivamogga district. It is the answer SSC, banking and railway exams expect. The second highest is Barehipani Falls in Odisha (399 m), and the tallest plunge waterfall is Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya (340 m).
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Highest = Kunchikal, 455 m, Varahi River, Karnataka. Second = Barehipani, 399 m, Budhabalanga River, Odisha. Tallest plunge = Nohkalikai, 340 m, Meghalaya. Karnataka and Meghalaya have 3 falls each in the top 10. Jog Falls = 253 m, Sharavathi River, four cascades named Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket.
Why do some websites say Vajrai (560 m) is the highest? The World Waterfall Database lists Vajrai Falls in Satara, Maharashtra, at 560 m, and Wikipedia's height-ranked list repeats that figure. Indian exam sources do not use it: Indian compilations put Vajrai at 260 m on the Urmodi River, and a terrain check on the listing's own discussion page notes the drop cannot exceed about 500 m, because the Kas reservoir feeding it sits near 1,100 m above sea level while the plunge pool below sits near 700 m. In every SSC, banking and railway answer key, the highest waterfall in India is Kunchikal (455 m). This page is as of 7 November 2026.
How Waterfalls Are Measured (and the Five Types Exams Ask)
A waterfall's height is the total vertical drop from the lip to the plunge pool, counting every tier together. That is why a tall tiered fall can outrank a single-drop plunge fall, and why two lists sometimes disagree: they measure different things, or one of them estimates. Exams also ask the type of fall, so learn these five words before the table.
| Type | What happens | Indian example |
|---|---|---|
| Plunge | Water drops vertically, losing contact with the cliff face | Nohkalikai (340 m) |
| Tiered | Water falls in a series of steps or stages | Kunchikal, Dudhsagar |
| Segmented | The flow splits into two or more separate streams | Nohsngithiang (Seven Sisters), Jog |
| Horsetail | Water stays in contact with the rock, fanning out as it falls | Thalaiyar, Khandadhar |
| Cataract | A large, powerful fall with a very heavy volume of water | Chitrakote (width, not height) |
Do not confuse highest (vertical drop) with longest or widest. Jog Falls is sometimes wrongly called "the longest waterfall in India" in blogs; the exam-relevant fact about Jog is its height, 253 m, and its four cascades. Chitrakote is the widest fall in India at about 300 m across in the monsoon, but only 29 m high — it never appears in a highest list.
The Vajrai Question, Answered Fully
Vajrai Falls (also called Bhambavli Vajrai) sits near Bhambavali village by the Kas valley in Satara district, Maharashtra, on the Urmodi River. Indian sources — Jagran Josh, Guidely and Maharashtra travel guides — agree on 260 m (853 ft) in three tiers. On pure height that would edge past Barkana (259 m) into 9th place — but no standard exam compilation includes Vajrai in its top 10, its height being disputed, so this note follows the exam convention and treats Vajrai separately below.
The 560 m figure comes only from the World Waterfall Database, carried by Wikipedia's "List of waterfalls in India by height". No Indian survey, gazetteer or exam source supports it, and the elevation arithmetic argues against it: the Kas reservoir above the falls and the Urmodi project below it leave room for a drop of well under 500 m. Treat 560 m as an unverified database estimate, never as the exam answer. If a question asks "highest waterfall in India", answer Kunchikal. If a question asks about Vajrai itself, answer Satara, Maharashtra, Urmodi River, 260 m.
Highest Waterfalls in India: Top 10 List (Exam Convention)
Heights follow the convergent Indian lists (Vedantu, CareerPower, Jagran Josh, PracticeMock), cross-checked against the World Waterfall Database list. The ranking starts at Kunchikal, as every Indian exam key does. Feet figures are the published conversions of the metre heights.
| Rank | Waterfall | State | River | Height | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunchikal Falls | Karnataka (Shivamogga) | Varahi | 455 m (1,493 ft) | Tiered, 4 drops |
| 2 | Barehipani Falls | Odisha (Mayurbhanj, Simlipal) | Budhabalanga | 399 m (1,309 ft) | Tiered, 2 drops |
| 3 | Nohkalikai Falls | Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills) | Rain-fed streams | 340 m (1,120 ft) | Plunge, single drop |
| 4 | Nohsngithiang Falls | Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills) | Rain-fed streams | 315 m (1,033 ft) | Segmented, 7 streams |
| 5 | Dudhsagar Falls | Goa (Goa–Karnataka border) | Mandovi | 310 m (1,020 ft) | Tiered, 4 tiers |
| 6 | Kynrem Falls | Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills) | Rain-fed streams | 305 m (1,001 ft) | Tiered, 3 tiers |
| 7 | Meenmutty Falls | Kerala (Wayanad) | Hill stream* | 300 m (984 ft) | Tiered, 3 tiers |
| 8 | Thalaiyar Falls | Tamil Nadu (Dindigul) | Manjalar | 297 m (974 ft) | Horsetail, single drop |
| 9 | Barkana Falls | Karnataka (Shivamogga) | Seetha | 259 m (850 ft) | Tiered, seasonal |
| 10 | Jog Falls | Karnataka (Shivamogga) | Sharavathi | 253 m (830 ft) | Segmented plunge, 4 cascades |
* Meenmutty's feeder stream is assigned to different river systems by different compilations (Chaliyar and Kabini are both claimed), and no single river is settled in the sources. The falls sit on the Banasura hills above Padinjarathara in Wayanad. Exams ask Meenmutty's height (300 m) and state (Kerala), not its river — do not guess one.
Three falls in the table have no single parent river because they are rain-fed: the three Meghalaya falls are fed by rainwater collected on the Sohra (Cherrapunji) plateau, one of the wettest places on Earth, and they run full only in the monsoon. Nohsngithiang is also called the Seven Sisters Falls or Mawsmai Falls, after its seven parallel streams, said to stand for the seven north-eastern states. Nohkalikai is named in Khasi legend for Ka Likai, who leapt from the cliff — Noh means "jump of".
Which State Has the Most Tall Waterfalls?
| State | Top-10 falls | Names |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 3 | Kunchikal (455 m), Barkana (259 m), Jog (253 m) |
| Meghalaya | 3 | Nohkalikai (340 m), Nohsngithiang (315 m), Kynrem (305 m) |
| Odisha | 1 | Barehipani (399 m) |
| Goa | 1 | Dudhsagar (310 m) |
| Kerala | 1 | Meenmutty (300 m) |
| Tamil Nadu | 1 | Thalaiyar (297 m) |
Karnataka and Meghalaya tie at three each. The geography behind the tie is simple: both sit where heavy monsoon rain meets steep escarpments — the Western Ghats in Karnataka, the Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. Dudhsagar is counted for Goa: it stands in South Goa district on the Mandovi, on the border with Karnataka, and every Indian list places it under Goa.
Just Outside the Top 10
These five are the next names down the height list, and the first two are asked often enough to learn.
- Khandadhar Falls, Odisha — 244 m (801 ft). Second highest in Odisha after Barehipani. The Korapani Nala stream drops in a single horsetail fall at Bonaigarh, Sundargarh district. Its name means "sword stream", from the blade-like shape of the fall.
- Vantawng Falls, Mizoram — 229 m (751 ft). The highest waterfall in Mizoram, near Thenzawl in Serchhip district, in two tiers.
- Kune Falls, Maharashtra — 200 m (660 ft). Near Lonavala in Pune district, three tiers.
- Thoseghar Waterfalls, Maharashtra — 200 m (660 ft). Near Satara, a segmented cataract, best in the monsoon.
- Soochipara Falls, Kerala — 200 m (660 ft). Three tiers at Vellarimala in Wayanad, on a stream of the Chaliyar system.
Famous Waterfalls That Are Not the Tallest
Height is only one exam angle. These five are asked for width, fame, power projects or film locations, and none of them belongs in the top 10.
| Waterfall | State | River | Height | Why exams ask it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitrakote Falls | Chhattisgarh (Bastar) | Indravati | 29 m (95 ft) | Widest waterfall in India (about 300 m across in the monsoon); "Niagara of India"; horseshoe shape |
| Athirappilly Falls | Kerala (Thrissur) | Chalakudy | 25 m (82 ft) | Largest waterfall in Kerala; "Niagara of Kerala"; filmed in many Indian movies |
| Hogenakkal Falls | Tamil Nadu–Karnataka border | Kaveri | 20 m (66 ft) | Coracle rides; carbonatite rocks; water believed locally to have medicinal properties |
| Dhuandhar Falls | Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur) | Narmada | 30 m (98 ft) | Plunges through the marble rocks of Bhedaghat; the spray looks like smoke (dhuan = smoke) |
| Shivanasamudra Falls | Karnataka (Mandya / Chamarajanagar) | Kaveri | 98 m (322 ft) | Segmented fall; site of one of Asia's earliest hydroelectric plants (1902), which powered the Kolar Gold Fields |
Highest Waterfalls in India: Records and Unique Facts
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| Highest waterfall in India | Kunchikal Falls, 455 m, Varahi River, Karnataka |
| Second highest | Barehipani Falls, 399 m, Budhabalanga River, Odisha |
| Tallest plunge waterfall | Nohkalikai Falls, 340 m, Meghalaya (single vertical drop) |
| Highest in Kerala | Meenmutty Falls, 300 m, Wayanad |
| Highest in Tamil Nadu | Thalaiyar Falls, 297 m, Manjalar River, Dindigul |
| Highest in Odisha | Barehipani Falls, 399 m |
| Highest in Maharashtra (Indian sources) | Vajrai Falls, 260 m, Urmodi River, Satara |
| Widest waterfall in India | Chitrakote Falls, about 300 m across in the monsoon |
| Most top-10 falls (tie) | Karnataka and Meghalaya, 3 each |
| Fall with named cascades | Jog Falls — Raja, Rani, Roarer, Rocket |
| Fall named "Sea of Milk" | Dudhsagar Falls (dudh = milk, sagar = sea), for its white, foaming water |
| Fall named "Rat Tail" | Thalaiyar Falls, for its thin, long shape |
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Answering Vajrai. The 560 m figure comes from one international database and is not used in Indian exam keys. The exam answer is always Kunchikal, 455 m.
- Writing 276 m for Jog Falls. One Testbook Q&A page uses 276 m, but Karnataka Tourism, Wikipedia and every other list use 253 m (830 ft). Trust 253 m.
- Calling Jog the "longest" waterfall. Height and length are different things. Jog is one of the highest; "longest" is a wrong category for it.
- Placing Dudhsagar in Karnataka. The falls stand in Goa, on the Goa–Karnataka border, on the Mandovi River. Lists count it under Goa.
- Mixing up the two Meghalaya giants. Nohkalikai (340 m) is the single plunge fall; Nohsngithiang (315 m) is the seven-stream segmented fall. Both are near Sohra, but they are different waterfalls.
- Writing "Rover" for Jog's fourth cascade. The four cascades are Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. "Rover" appears only in one travel review; the official Karnataka Tourism names use Roarer.
- Putting Thalaiyar in Theni district. Several blogs list Theni, but the falls stand in Dindigul district in the Palani Hills, near the Theni border, on the Manjalar River.
- Guessing a river for Meenmutty. Sources disagree (Chaliyar and Kabini are both claimed). The safe answer is height 300 m, Wayanad, Kerala — never invent a river for it.
- Quoting "second highest in Asia" for Kunchikal. The claim appears in some Indian guides but rests on no settled survey, so this page does not use it. Learn 455 m and the Varahi River instead.
- Treating the 260 m and 560 m Vajrai figures as two different waterfalls. They are the same falls in Satara: 260 m is the Indian-source figure, 560 m the database estimate. One waterfall, two disputed numbers.
How to Remember the Top 10 (Study Method)
- Learn the anchors first: 455 = Kunchikal, 340 = Nohkalikai (plunge), 253 = Jog. Most ordering questions are answered from these three alone.
- Learn the ladder in two halves. First five: Kunchikal 455, Barehipani 399, Nohkalikai 340, Nohsngithiang 315, Dudhsagar 310. Second five: Kynrem 305, Meenmutty 300, Thalaiyar 297, Barkana 259, Jog 253. Notice the second half stays above 250 — no top-10 fall is shorter than 253 m.
- Learn the 3–3 split. Karnataka 3 (Kunchikal, Barkana, Jog — all in Shivamogga district) and Meghalaya 3 (all three rain-fed, all in East Khasi Hills). The other four states have one each.
- Attach one river to each river-fed fall: Varahi–Kunchikal, Budhabalanga–Barehipani, Mandovi–Dudhsagar, Manjalar–Thalaiyar, Seetha–Barkana, Sharavathi–Jog. The three Meghalaya falls need no river — remember "rain-fed" instead.
- Learn Jog's four names as two pairs: Raja–Rani (king and queen) and Roarer–Rocket (the noisy ones). Roarer meets Raja halfway down; Rocket shoots out in jets.
Highest Waterfalls in India MCQs with Answers
Q1. Which is the highest waterfall in India? (a) Jog Falls (b) Kunchikal Falls (c) Barehipani Falls (d) Dudhsagar Falls Answer: (b) Kunchikal Falls, 455 m, on the Varahi River in Karnataka.
Q2. Barehipani Falls, the second highest waterfall in India, is on which river? (a) Mahanadi (b) Brahmani (c) Budhabalanga (d) Subarnarekha Answer: (c) Budhabalanga. Barehipani (399 m) stands in Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj, Odisha.
Q3. Which waterfall is the tallest plunge waterfall in India? (a) Jog Falls (b) Nohsngithiang Falls (c) Nohkalikai Falls (d) Kynrem Falls Answer: (c) Nohkalikai Falls, 340 m, near Sohra in Meghalaya. Its water drops vertically without touching the cliff face.
Q4. Which of these is NOT one of the four cascades of Jog Falls? (a) Raja (b) Rani (c) Roarer (d) Rover Answer: (d) Rover. The four cascades are Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket.
Q5. Dudhsagar Falls is formed by which river? (a) Zuari (b) Mandovi (c) Terekhol (d) Netravati Answer: (b) Mandovi. Dudhsagar (310 m) stands on the Goa–Karnataka border.
Q6. The World Waterfall Database ranks a Maharashtra waterfall at 560 m, above Kunchikal. Which waterfall is it? (a) Kune Falls (b) Thoseghar Falls (c) Vajrai Falls (d) Pandavgad Falls Answer: (c) Vajrai Falls, Satara. Indian sources put it at 260 m on the Urmodi River, and exam keys treat Kunchikal (455 m) as the highest.
Q7. Thalaiyar Falls, the highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu, is also known as: (a) Rat Tail Falls (b) Silver Cascade (c) Monkey Falls (d) Catherine Falls Answer: (a) Rat Tail Falls, for its thin, long shape. It is 297 m high on the Manjalar River.
Q8. Khandadhar Falls (244 m), the second highest waterfall in Odisha, is formed by: (a) Budhabalanga (b) Korapani Nala (c) Baitarani (d) Brahmani Answer: (b) Korapani Nala, a small stream at Bonaigarh in Sundargarh district.
Q9. Which two states have three waterfalls each in India's top 10? (a) Karnataka and Odisha (b) Meghalaya and Kerala (c) Karnataka and Meghalaya (d) Odisha and Goa Answer: (c) Karnataka and Meghalaya. Karnataka: Kunchikal, Barkana, Jog. Meghalaya: Nohkalikai, Nohsngithiang, Kynrem.
Q10. Which is the widest waterfall in India? (a) Athirappilly Falls (b) Chitrakote Falls (c) Hogenakkal Falls (d) Dhuandhar Falls Answer: (b) Chitrakote Falls, on the Indravati River in Chhattisgarh — about 300 m wide in the monsoon, though only 29 m high.
Highest Waterfalls in India FAQs
Which is the highest waterfall in India?
Kunchikal Falls in Karnataka, at 455 metres (1,493 ft), formed by the Varahi River in Shivamogga district. It is the answer in SSC, banking and railway exams.
Why do some lists call Vajrai Falls the highest at 560 m?
The 560 m figure comes from the World Waterfall Database and is repeated by Wikipedia's height-ranked list. Indian sources put Vajrai at 260 m on the Urmodi River in Satara, Maharashtra, and the elevation of the Kas reservoir above it and the Urmodi project below it leaves room for a drop well under 500 m. Exam keys use Kunchikal (455 m).
Which is the second highest waterfall in India?
Barehipani Falls in Odisha, at 399 metres (1,309 ft), on the Budhabalanga River in Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj district.
Which is the tallest plunge waterfall in India?
Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya, at 340 metres. Unlike tiered falls, its water drops in one vertical plunge without touching the cliff, into a blue-green pool near Sohra (Cherrapunji).
What is the height of Jog Falls, and what are its four parts?
Jog Falls is 253 metres (830 ft) high on the Sharavathi River in Sagara taluk, Shivamogga district, Karnataka. Its four cascades are Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. The 276 m figure seen on one Q&A page is an outlier; Karnataka Tourism confirms 253 m.
Which state has the most waterfalls in the top 10?
Karnataka and Meghalaya tie with three each. Karnataka has Kunchikal, Barkana and Jog; Meghalaya has Nohkalikai, Nohsngithiang and Kynrem.
Which are the highest waterfalls in Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
Meenmutty Falls (300 m) in Wayanad is the highest in Kerala, and Thalaiyar Falls (297 m) on the Manjalar River is the highest in Tamil Nadu. Odisha's highest is Barehipani (399 m).
Related topics: revise Indian rivers origin and end list, major dams of India, national parks in India list 2026, GI tags in India 2026 and states and capitals of India 2026 next.
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Sources: World Waterfall Database list as carried by Wikipedia's "List of waterfalls in India by height"; Vedantu "Top 10 Highest Waterfalls in India" (updated 27 October 2026); CareerPower "Top 10 Highest Waterfalls in India" (October 2026); Karnataka Tourism, Jog Falls page (253 m, four cascades); Jagran Josh "List of Waterfalls in India"; PracticeMock "Waterfalls in India 2026"; Guidely "List of Highest Waterfalls in India 2026". Heights cross-checked across at least two compilations; conflicts stated in the text. As of 7 November 2026.