A jewel in the valley

Check out the lesser-known jewel of Aghanashini river valley, Unchalli Falls

The panoramic cascading beauty of Unchalli Falls in Aghanashini river valley in Siddapur taluk in Uttara Kannada district is unparalleled. The falls look like a jewel set amidst a green-clad valley in the Sahyadri mountain ranges of the Western Ghats. One of the major rivers of the district, Aghanashini leaps 116 metres down into a valley, forming beautiful falls here. Due to the deafening sound it creates,the falls is locally called ‘Keppa Joga’. The falls look majestic and glorious in the rainy season.

Unchalli Falls was first spotted in 1845 AD by the then British collector J D Lushington. Hence, this falls is also called Lushington Falls. The specialty of this falls is that it is an ‘all season’ falls. But the best tourism months are from October to March. However, there are no food stalls here. Tourists have to arrange their own food when they travel here. The condition of the roads leading to the falls is quite good. But tourists have to walk for almost a kilometre from the forest department gate to reach the spot. Iron barricades and concrete steps have been established for the safety of the tourists by the tourism department. For senior citizens, there’s a watchtower from where they could view the charming falls. For young enthusiasts and adventurists, there is a kilometre-long strenuous path to reach the bottom of the falls. But great care is needed while crossing slippery rocks near the falls.