Attraction · Jim Corbett
Corbett Falls
A single drop of about twenty-five metres into a pool in dense sal forest, reached by a short walk off the Kaladhungi road — and the standard afternoon when the morning has been a safari.
Time needed1 hour
DropAbout 25 m
WhereOff the Kaladhungi road
Walk in10 minutes through forest
Best timeJust after the monsoon
Pairs withGarjia Devi temple
About
Corbett Falls
Corbett Falls is a single fall of about twenty-five metres dropping into a pool in thick sal forest, a short distance off the road between Ramnagar and Kaladhungi. It is reached by a walk of ten minutes or so from the road through the trees, which is a good part of why it is worth doing — the forest here is dense, quiet and full of birds, and the fall arrives suddenly. It is the standard afternoon stop for itineraries whose morning has been a jeep safari, and it pairs almost universally with the Garjia Devi temple a short drive away. The volume of water varies enormously with the season: after the monsoon it is a genuine waterfall, and by late spring it can be modest. It is a pleasant hour rather than a spectacle, and the packages that include it treat it as exactly that.
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What to See
What to see
A fall, a pool and ten minutes of forest at each end. An hour is ample.
The falls
- A single drop of roughly twenty-five metres into a pool, in a natural amphitheatre of rock and forest.
- The pool at the base, which is shallow at the edges and where most visitors stand.
- The volume, which is genuinely seasonal — full after the monsoon and modest by late spring.
The walk in
- Ten minutes or so from the road through dense sal forest on a made path.
- The birdlife, which is substantial and is the reason to walk slowly rather than quickly.
- The quiet, which is the main difference between this and almost any other waterfall in the hills.
Around it
- The Kaladhungi road itself, which runs through forest for much of its length.
- Jim Corbett’s house at Kaladhungi, now a small museum, further along the same road.
- The Garjia Devi temple, which is the other half of this afternoon in every itinerary.
Getting There
Getting there
A short drive from the Ramnagar side of the reserve, then a walk.
From the reserve
- Off the road between Ramnagar and Kaladhungi, about half an hour from most lodges on the Ramnagar side.
- A taxi or the lodge vehicle is the normal arrangement; there is no public transport that helps.
- Parking is at the roadside and the walk in begins there.
The approach
- A made path of about ten minutes through forest, with some gradient and steps near the fall.
- It is ticketed at the entrance, modestly.
- The last section down to the pool is rock and is slippery when wet.
Combining it
- With Garjia Devi temple, which is the standard pairing and is a short drive away.
- With Corbett’s house at Kaladhungi if there is time, which few itineraries allow.
- With an afternoon after a morning safari, which is exactly what the packages do.
Best Time
When to visit
The months just after the monsoon, when there is water and the forest is at its best.
Time of year
- September to November has the most water outside the monsoon itself and the cleanest air.
- December to February is cold, quiet and the flow is reduced but reliable.
- March to June the flow drops steadily; by May it can be modest.
Time of day
- Afternoon, which is when itineraries schedule it and when the light reaches into the gorge.
- Morning is quieter but is usually spoken for by the safari.
- It is a daylight visit; the forest path is not lit.
How long
- An hour including the walk in and out.
- Ninety minutes if you are birdwatching on the path, which is worth doing.
- Half an hour if you are only looking at the fall.
Visitor Intelligence
Visitor intelligence
A modest, pleasant stop, and it is best approached as one.
Expectations
- It is a twenty-five metre fall in a forest, not a major cataract. Visitors who arrive expecting the latter are the ones who leave unimpressed.
- The season decides the volume more than anything else does.
- The walk through the sal forest is at least half of what makes the stop worthwhile.
On the path
- Go quietly. The birdlife on the walk in is the unadvertised part of the visit.
- The rock near the pool is slippery in every season and more so after rain.
- Stay off the wet rock above the pool; people are injured there regularly.
Practicalities
- There is a small entry charge at the gate.
- Facilities are minimal; there is nothing beyond a tea stall at the road.
- It is forest — carry water and use insect repellent in the warmer months.
Access
- The path in has gradient and the final descent to the pool involves steps and rock.
- It is not suitable for wheelchairs and is difficult for anyone unsteady.
- The fall can be seen from a viewpoint above the pool, which is the easier partial visit.
Nearby
Nearby
The standard Corbett afternoon.
Garjia Devi Temple
The other half of this afternoon — a temple on a rock in the middle of the Kosi.
Jim Corbett
The reserve itself, and the safari zones the morning belongs to.
Nainital
Three hours up into the hills, and where most Corbett itineraries come from.
Corbett’s house at Kaladhungi
A small museum in the house Jim Corbett lived in, further along the same road. No page of its own.
Good to Know
Frequently asked
A single drop of about twenty-five metres into a pool, set in a natural amphitheatre of rock and dense sal forest. It is a pleasant waterfall rather than a spectacular one, and the volume varies enormously with the season — genuinely full after the monsoon and modest by late spring. Visitors who arrive expecting a major cataract are the ones who leave unimpressed; those who come for an hour in quiet forest generally do not.
It sits off the road between Ramnagar and Kaladhungi, about half an hour by vehicle from most lodges on the Ramnagar side of the reserve, and there is no public transport that usefully serves it — a taxi or the lodge vehicle is the normal arrangement. Parking is at the roadside and the fall is reached by a made forest path of about ten minutes, with some gradient and steps near the end.
September to November, which combines the best flow outside the monsoon itself with the cleanest air of the year. December to February is cold and quiet with reduced but reliable flow. From March the volume drops steadily and by May it can be genuinely modest, which is worth knowing since that is when a good many Corbett itineraries run. The monsoon has the most water and the worst access.
The Garjia Devi temple, which is the standard pairing and is a short drive away — a temple on an isolated rock in the middle of the Kosi river. Further along the same road at Kaladhungi is Jim Corbett’s own house, now a small museum, which very few itineraries make time for and which is worth asking about if you have an unhurried afternoon. The road itself runs through forest for much of its length.
Yes, and that is precisely how every package that includes it schedules the day: jeep safari at first light, falls and Garjia Devi in the afternoon. It asks very little — an hour, a short walk, no early start — which after a dawn safari is the right shape. The walk in through dense sal forest is at least half of the value, and going quietly along it is rewarded with a considerable amount of birdlife.
Not really. The path in carries gradient throughout and the final descent to the pool involves steps and rock that is slippery in every season. It is not suitable for wheelchairs and is difficult for anyone unsteady on their feet. There is a viewpoint above the pool that can be reached without the last descent, which makes a reasonable partial visit, but the approach from the road is unavoidable in any case.
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