Travel guide to Kuntala Waterfalls - the highest waterfalls in Andhra Pradesh
Are you a nature lover and want to visit various beautiful spots in Andhra Pradesh? Then you are in the right place, as this article gives you a complete travel guide to the famous Kuntala Waterfalls near Hyderabad.
Introduction
The state of Andhra Pradesh which is popularly known as the Kohinoor of India is full of tourist attractions and of course pilgrim places as well. If you are a religious person and want to visit the pilgrim places of the state, you can visit the famous Shiva temples of the state and also the important Vaishnavite temples at Bhadrachalam and also Simhachalam near Visakhapatnam. In addition to these you can also visit the famous Basara temple which is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and one of its in the country.
You can also enjoy and have fun at the famous Haailand - the theme park which is on the Vijayawada-Guntur mainline. At the same time if you happen to be a nature lover, you can enjoy the beautiful waterfalls near Hyderabad called the Kuntala waterfalls.About the waterfalls
Image courtesy: wikipedia.org
Kuntala Waterfalls is located in a small place called Kuntala in the Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. This place is located on River Kadem in Neredigonda mandal and the waterfalls which is formed by River Kadem is set amidst the beauty of Sahayadri Mountain range where Mother Nature is at her best. When the water from this river cascades down through two steps after heavy rains in the rainy season, Kuntala Waterfalls is seen as two separate falls adjacent to one another. The water falls from a height of 147 feet / 45 meters, thus making it the highest waterfalls for the state.
Kuntala Waterfalls is one of the best monsoon spot where you can enjoy seeing the waters of River Kadem flowing through dense forests and then gushing down with great force from a height of 45 meters. The forceful fall of water from such a great height forms a cloudy mist and eventually the water whirls after the fall.History
The place Kuntala is named after the legendary character Shakuntala - the wife of King Dushyant. As per the legends both Shakuntala and Dushyant fell in deep love with each other in this beautiful place. There is a belief by the local people that Shakuntala used to bathe in the cascading waters of the Kuntala Waterfalls.Other attraction of the place
There is a Shiva temple by name Someswara Swami near waterfalls. Local people and the tourists as well visit the temple and worship Lord Shiva in this temple. The way to this temple is through the passage between two hills where you can see the naturally slit hills which is really magnificent to look.
On the festive occasions like Maha Sivaratri day, the temple is beautifully decorated and is visited by good number of devotees from the nearby hamlets and places in the district.How to reach
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in the city of Hyderabad is the nearest airport to this waterfalls and it is at a distance of around 280 Km. If you take a private cab from Hyderabad, you have to drive on National Highway # 7 and the waterfalls is on the Adilabad-Nagpur line.
Adilabad Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Kuntala Waterfalls and it is at a distance of around 57 Km. From Adilabad Railway Station you can take public transport or Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses till another place called Neredikonda. And from this place you can hire a private cab or private vehicle to Kuntala Waterfalls which is at a distance of around 13 Km from Neredikonda. If you directly go in a private cab from Hyderabad, its around a 6 hours journey to this monsoon spot. The travel through the twisting roads that pass through the dense forests makes your trip more enjoyable and thrilling too. On your way to Kuntala Waterfalls during monsoon season, you can enjoy a number of small and medium waterfalls that come across in the habitated hamlets of the region which makes your trip a much more memorable one. You can have a look at the tribal culture of the region where the people live harmonious with Mother Nature without disturbing Her beauty.
After reaching the spot, you need to park the vehicle and then walk down the steps which are around 600 -800 in number to reach the waterfalls. It will take around 20 minutes to reach the falls from the parking place. Best time to visit the waterfalls
Kunatala and Pochera Waterfalls are the prominent waterfalls in this region and these are located amidst the dense forests in the Sahayadri Mountain range is a wonderful monsoon spot which gives a feast to the eyes to the nature lovers. During heavy rains in the monsoon / rainy season, the beauty of the waterfalls is enhanced with the wonderful vista of the gushing waters.
The beauty of this place is doubled in the rainy season when the rivers are rich in water. The cloudy weather in the rainy season and sometimes a light drizzle with a cool breeze fill the environment with the fragrance of the rich flora of the place. In addition to the fragrance, the beauty of the water splashes and the gushing sound made by the waterfalls is sure to give you a wonderful feeling and make you spell bounding with the beauty of Mother Nature.
For maximum enjoyment of the nature and for a thrilling experience, you can plan your trip to Kuntala Waterfalls from the months July to September when River Nadem is enriched with water. Where to stay
Though the waterfalls is located near Neredikonda, you don't find decent accommodation in this place. However, the best place for a night hall or to stay is Nirmal where you will find good number of decent hotels for staying and this place is at a distance of around 45 Km from Kuntala Waterfalls.What / where to eat
If you are going for a day's trip, you can carry your own food and water. However, if you are looking for a change, you can enjoy local food in small highway dhabas in Neredigonda village which is not up to the mark. If you stay in Nirmal, you can carry food packs from the hotels at Nirmal.Few important tips to follow for the trip
There are few important tips to be followed while you plan your trip to Kuntala Waterfalls. If you follow the safety measures, you can make your trip the most enjoyable one. Here are some of the important safety tips to be followed:
Other precautionary measures:
Do not try to get into the water when it falls down as the water falls with great force. As Mother Nature is at her best, try to maintain her beauty and try to keep the surroundings neat and clean. Avoid disposing trash like left over food items, wrappers of food packs, empty bottles and cans. Keep Mother Nature beautiful and enjoy the beauty of the nature.Conclusion
Kuntala Waterfall one of the most important waterfalls in Andhra Pradesh and is the icon of Telangana Tourism. This is one of the famous monsoon spot which is visited as a one day outing from Hyderabad. Make a trip to this beautiful hot spot of the state and enjoy a day in the lap of Mother Nature for a relax from the routine life and there get refreshed for a healthy living.
