Nuranang Falls
About a hundred metres of water dropping off a shelf near Jang, a short way off the Tawang road — the most substantial waterfall in the district and one very few people plan for.
Nuranang
A short distance off the road between the Sela Pass and Tawang, near the village of Jang, the Nuranang river drops about a hundred metres off a rock shelf in a single fall. It is by a distance the most substantial waterfall in the district and it is close enough to the road that stopping costs very little — though the descent to the viewing area is steep and the climb back is the harder half. It is sometimes called Jang Falls after the village. The volume varies considerably with the season, and it is at its most impressive from the end of the monsoon into the autumn. A small hydroelectric installation draws from the river, which is visible and which is worth knowing about rather than being surprised by. Very few itineraries name it and the one that comes this way does.
Explore Nuranang Falls on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
What to see
A hundred-metre fall and the gorge below it. Forty-five minutes including the steps.
The falls
- A single drop of about a hundred metres off a rock shelf into the gorge.
- The spray and the noise, which at full flow are considerable.
- The gorge below, thickly forested and steep-sided.
The approach
- A steep flight of steps down from the road to the viewing area, and the climb back up.
- Viewpoints at several levels on the way down, which are worth stopping at.
- The village of Jang just along the road, which is where the alternative name comes from.
What else is here
- A small hydroelectric installation drawing from the river, which is visible from the viewing area.
- Refreshment stalls at the top by the road.
- The road itself, which continues to Tawang.
Getting there
A roadside stop on the leg between Sela and Tawang, then a steep descent.
On the route
- Near Jang, off the road between the Sela Pass and Tawang town.
- Every vehicle on that road passes it and stopping adds under an hour.
- Usually paired with Jaswant Garh, which is a little further back toward the pass.
The descent
- A steep flight of steps from the roadside down to the viewing area.
- The climb back up is the harder direction, particularly at altitude.
- The steps are wet from spray near the bottom and are slippery.
Timing
- Forty-five minutes including the descent, the viewing and the climb back.
- Daylight only; the steps are not lit.
- It is a stop on a driving day rather than a destination in itself.
When to visit
The end of the monsoon into autumn, when there is most water and the road is open.
Time of year
- September to November has the fullest flow outside the monsoon and the clearest air.
- May to August is the monsoon itself — the most water and the worst road conditions.
- Spring flow is lower and the falls are correspondingly less impressive.
Time of day
- Whenever your vehicle passes; the gorge holds light for a limited part of the day.
- Late morning to early afternoon gives the best light into the gorge.
- It is a daylight stop in every case.
How long
- Forty-five minutes including both directions on the steps.
- Twenty minutes if you view from the top only.
- Longer if you are photographing, which the light makes difficult.
Visitor intelligence
A short stop with one genuinely demanding element: the climb back up.
The steps
- Steep going down and considerably harder coming up, at an altitude where that matters.
- Wet from spray near the bottom and slippery in every season.
- Take it slowly on the return and do not race anyone up.
Expectations
- A hydroelectric installation draws from the river and is visible from the viewing area. It is not hidden and it is not a surprise if you know.
- The flow varies a great deal by season; spring is modest and autumn is not.
- Very few itineraries name it, so it is often quiet.
Practicalities
- Warm layers; the gorge is cold and the spray makes it colder.
- Proper shoes for the steps rather than whatever you are travelling in.
- Stalls at the road but nothing at the bottom.
Access
- The falls can be seen from the roadside without descending, which is the partial visit.
- The steps have no alternative and are not manageable for anyone unsteady.
- At altitude the climb back is the limiting factor for a lot of visitors, regardless of general fitness.
Nearby
The same leg of road into Tawang.
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