Jog Falls

Jog Falls (also known as Gerusoppa Falls, Joga Jalapata, Jogada Gundi) is a magnificent segmented waterfall on the Sharavati river located in Karnataka state of India, created by the river plunging approximately 253 metres (830 ft) and splitting into four distinct cascades (Raja, Rani, Roarer, Rocket). The water cascade is situated in the Siddapur taluk of the Uttara Kannada district.^[6] It features two primary viewpoints: The first one is British Bungalow viewpoint, located adjacent to the falls and within the same Siddapur taluk and the second is the front panoramic viewpoint located in the Kargal town of Sagara taluk in the Shivamogga district.^[7][8][9] Interestingly the location of the Jog Falls historically served as a physical boundary separating two distinct political territories of colonial India. The Sharavati River and the falls themselves marked the division between the Bombay Presidency (administered directly by British India, encompassing the modern Siddapur side) and the Mysore Kingdom (a Princely State under the Wodeyar dynasty, encompassing the modern Kargal side).^[10][11] This geographical partition continued until the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which led to the creation of the unified, linguistically based Mysore State (later renamed as Karnataka in 1973), thereby bringing both sides of the falls under a single state administration. Jog Falls is the second highest plunge waterfall in India.^[12] It is a segmented waterfall which depends on rain and season to become a plunge waterfall. The Jog falls is major attraction for tourists and is ranked 36th in the list of free-falling waterfalls, 490th in the world by list of waterfalls by total height, 128th in the list of single-drop waterfalls in the World by the waterfall database.^[13] The entire site's development and management are handled by the Jog Management Authority (JMA), it also acts as coordinator in between the Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga district administration, as well in between the Siddapur and Kargal Police.^[14] JMA also collaborates with the State Tourism Department and the Forest Department.

Jog Falls
Jog Falls
Interactive map of Jog Falls
Location	Jog Falls, Karnataka[1][2]
Type	Cataract, Segmented
Elevation	488 m (1,601 ft)
Total height	253 m (830 ft)[3]
Number of drops	4 (Raja (king), Rani (queen), Roarer, Rocket)[4]
Longest drop	254 m (833 ft)
Average width	472 m (1,549 ft)
Watercourse	Sharavati River[5]
Average flow rate	153 m3/s (5,400 cu ft/s)

Description

Jog Falls is created by the Sharavati river dropping 253 m (830 ft), making it the third-highest waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m (1,099 ft) in Meghalaya^[15] and the Dudhsagar Falls with a drop of 310 m (1,020 ft) in Goa.

Sharavathi, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, next to Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk, Shimoga district takes a northwesterly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. Then, it bends to the west, precipitates itself down the Jog Falls (aka Gersoppa Falls), and passes the village of Gersoppa (properly Geru-Sappe), which is some 30 kilometres (19 mi) away, discharging into the Arabian Sea at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada.

The Sharavathi, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards (230 m) wide, reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m (950 ft) deep, and the water comes down in four distinct falls, Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket.^[16] The Raja Fall comes down in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 250 m (830 ft). Halfway down, it is encountered by the Roarer, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards to meet the Raja. The Rocket shoots downwards in a series of jets. The Rani moves quietly over the mountainside in a sheet of foam. The Tourism Department has built steps from the viewpoint at the top, where the waterfall can be seen from across, to the bottom of the hill. There are approximately 1,400 steps made to reach the bottom of the hill.^[17]

Significances

2003 Indian stamp of Jog Falls

Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganamakki Dam across the Sharavati River.^[18] The water released from the dam adds to the beauty of the waterfalls in the monsoon season.^[19] The power station has been operational since 1948 and is of 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydroelectric stations in India at that time and a small source of electric power for Karnataka now. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra hydro-electric project, after the King of Mysore at that time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-electric Project. It was served by The Hirebhaskara dam until 1960. After 1960, due to the ideas of Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, Linganmakki Dam has been used for power generation.^[20]

Power

The hydro-electric project was conceived by the government of Mysore in mid-1943. A scheme to generate 64,000 horsepower at a cost of ₹358 lakh was designed.^[21] The Power House on the right bank of the Gerusoppa dam consists of four Francis-type turbines coupled to the generating units of 60 MW each. The units are configured to operate at a design head of 47.5 mtrs. An outdoor switchyard is located between the toe of the dam and the power house. Power from the outdoor yard is evacuated through a 220 KV double circuit transmission line connected to the state grid at Talaguppa.

The capacity was increased subsequently and currently generates 240 MW of power.^[22]

Transport connectivity

Jog Falls during the monsoon

Jog Falls is situated Near Siddapura And Sagara city.

• Nearest railway stations (distance to the location):
  • Talaguppa (13 km [8.1 mi])
  • Sagara (30 km [19 mi])
  • (68 km [42 mi]) on the Mangalore - Bombay Konkan Railway route
  • Bhatkal (90 km [56 mi]) also on the Mangalore - Bombay Konkan Railway route
• Nearest bus station:
  • Siddapura
  • Sagara
  • Jog Falls
• Nearest centre for private road transport is Siddapura.
• Nearest airport (aerial distance to the location):
  • Domestic
    • Hubli Airport (HBX):
    • Shivamogga Airport (RQY):100 km (62 mi)

133 km (83 mi)

• • International
    • Bengaluru International Airport (BLR): 422 km (262 mi)
    • Mangalore International Airport (India) (formerly Bajpe Airport) (IXE): 200 km (120 mi)
    • Goa Airport (GOI): 264 km (164 mi)

See also

• List of waterfalls in India
• Kodachadri
• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary