Chitrakote is the Indravati river dropping over a long, curved cliff in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, 138 km (about 3 h 20 min) from Koraput by road. In the monsoon it is a wall of brown water; after dark it is lit. It pairs well with Tirathgarh, 67 km (about 1 h 45 min) away.
- From Koraput
- 138 km (about 3 h 20 min)
- River
- Indravati
- Fullest
- July to October
- Where
- Bastar, Chhattisgarh
The falls
The Indravati spreads across a horseshoe of rock and falls in one plunge. Bastar district gives the drop as 90 feet, and India's tourism ministry as 30 metres. At the height of the monsoon the falls spread to nearly 300 metres across; Incredible India calls it the widest waterfall in India, and its shape has earned it the name "the Niagara of India".
When to go
- July to October: the monsoon months, when Bastar district says the falls are at their best and the river is at its widest and brownest.
- After the rains: less water, clearer, and the season for boating on the Indravati below the falls.
- At night: the falls are lit after dark, as in our photo and video.
Getting there from Koraput
Chitrakote is 138 km (about 3 h 20 min) from Koraput town by Google Maps; Bastar district puts it 40 km from Jagdalpur. Tirathgarh waterfall is 67 km (about 1 h 45 min) from Chitrakote, so the two make one long day from Koraput, or an easier two with a night in Jagdalpur.
Around the falls
- Temples: a Shiva temple stands near the falls, with small Hanuman and Durga shrines.
- Boating: boats run on the Indravati below the falls in the dry season.
- Food: there are dhabas on the Bastar roads; we stopped at the one below on our trip.
Safety
Keep behind the railings at the viewpoints: the rock is wet and slippery, and in the monsoon the river is fast and strong. Stay out of the water above the falls.
