What to expect
Highlights
- The broad rock-face cascade set in coffee country.
- A short, easy walk from the road.
- A natural pairing with Nalknad Palace and Tadiandamol nearby.
Chelavara Falls
Chelavara Falls is a waterfall on a tributary of the Kaveri near Cheyyandane, close to Kakkabe in south Kodagu, where the stream slides and tumbles over a broad, sloping rock face into a pool.
C
Chelavara Falls
Place
Practical guide
Plan Chelavara Falls
Who's going?Tailor Chelavara Falls to your trip
Typewaterfall
Nearest baseKakkabe
DistrictKodagu
Best timeJuly to December for full flow
Time needed30 to 45 minutes
EntrySmall or no fee
Places to visit4→It is a short walk from the road and a quick stop on the Kakkabe circuit, though descending to the base is slippery and often restricted; the falls are strongest during and just after the monsoon.
Getting there
How to visit
- Near Cheyyandane close to Kakkabe, about 16 km from Virajpet; reached by car, then a short walk.
- The rocks near the base are dangerous and access may be restricted — view from the safe upper area.
Distance by road
- Mysuru120 km
- Bengaluru260 km
- Mangaluru135 km
- Kannur115 km
- Ooty210 km
Road km to Kodagu; ghat roads and traffic vary — allow extra.
Timing
Best time
July to December for full flow; it thins through late winter.
Weather in Chelavara FallsSeasonal guide
Live forecast loads in your browser.
Today at Chelavara Falls
Sunrise6:17 am
Sunset6:38 pm
Golden hour best light5:38 pm–6:38 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:38 pm–7:03 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 278°
Moon tonight🌖 Waning gibbous · 74%
South-west monsoon. June to September brings heavy rain to Karnataka. Trails, falls and ghat roads can be slippery, swollen or closed at short notice, and forest departments sometimes suspend access. Check locally on the day before you travel.
Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.
Visitor notes
- Small or no fee; the wet rocks are very slippery — do not attempt to climb near the water.
Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop
Stays, food & things to do near Chelavara Falls
Verified hotels, homestays, restaurants, experiences, sights, shops and rentals around Chelavara Falls — commission-free, with direct contact. Filter by what you need.
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Top experiences around Kakkabe
3 more places around Kakkabe, each worth a day of its own.
trekTadiandamol
7.2 km · ~18 min by auto
The highest peak in Kodagu at about 1,748 m, near Kakkabe, and one of the most popular treks in Coorg — a half-day climb through shola forest and rolling grassland to a summit with sweeping Western Ghats views; the historic Nalknad Palace lies at its base.
templePadi Igguthappa Temple
16.4 km · 20 min drive
The most important temple of the Kodava people, near Kakkabe, dedicated to Igguthappa (a form of Subramanya/Kartikeya); a Kerala-influenced shrine that is the focus of the community’s Kailpodh and other festivals.
heritageNalknad Palace
6.4 km · 10 min drive
A 1792 palace of the Kodagu (Haleri) kings tucked among coffee estates at the foot of Tadiandamol near Kakkabe, its wooden halls painted with faded murals; it was the last refuge of the Kodagu royals before the British annexation.
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Add a nearby businessBefore you go
Chelavara Falls — at a glance
TimingsDaylight hours
Best timeJuly to December for full flow
Entry: Small or no fee
Getting here
How to reach Chelavara Falls
Near Cheyyandane / Kakkabe, ~16 km from Virajpet
Getting back
Work out your return before you settle in for the sunset. Public transport here thins out sharply in the evening, and Chelavara Falls is easier to reach than to leave. We do not publish departure times: there is no official live feed we are permitted to republish, and a wrong time here would strand you. Check the operator directly on the day.
- KSRTC — the Karnataka state bus operator; route and schedule enquiries. Online booking.
- Indian Railways — live running and seat availability for the nearest railhead, named under “Getting here” above.
Ask at the bus stand for the time of the last service back, not the next one. If you miss it, an auto or app cab is the fallback — agree the fare before you get in.
Getting around Chelavara Falls
We have not assessed physical access at this place yet. Across India, step-free routes, handrails and accessible toilets are the exception rather than the rule, and pavements are often interrupted — if step-free access matters to you, contact the site or a local operator before committing to the trip.
If you need help at Chelavara Falls
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).100Police101Fire108Ambulance (emergency / EMS)1091Women’s helpline (distress)1098Child helpline1363Tourist helpline (India, 24×7, multilingual)
Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.
Nearby
What’s near Chelavara Falls
Walking and driving times are real routed distances, except the few marked “straight line”, which are direct-line estimates and will read short. Routing: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
On the map
Where Chelavara Falls is
Good to know
Chelavara Falls — frequently asked
When is the best time to visit Chelavara Falls?
July to December for full flow; it thins through late winter.
What are the entry fee and timings at Chelavara Falls?
Entry: Small or no fee. Timings: Daylight hours.
How do I reach Chelavara Falls?
Near Cheyyandane close to Kakkabe, about 16 km from Virajpet; reached by car, then a short walk. The rocks near the base are dangerous and access may be restricted — view from the safe upper area.
How much time do I need for Chelavara Falls?
30 to 45 minutes.
What else is near Chelavara Falls?
Nearby you can pair Nalknad Palace (6.4 km), Tadiandamol (7.2 km), Padi Igguthappa Temple (16.4 km), Madikeri Fort (34.2 km).
Read before you go
Chelavara Falls guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Chelavara Falls itself yet. These cover Kakkabe, the town it sits in, and the wider district.
Karnataka-wide guides & itineraries
Route-level itineraries and practical guides for the rest of Karnataka.
