Machkund is the river, the deep gorge below Duduma waterfall and the hydro-electric power house at its foot, on the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border in Koraput district. Google Maps places the power house 76 km (about 2 h 5 min) from Koraput town and 69 km (about 1 h 50 min) from Jeypore.
- From Koraput town
- 76 km (about 2 h 5 min)
- From Jeypore
- 69 km (about 1 h 50 min)
- Power house opened
- 19 August 1955
- Power house
- 120 MW, 6 units
The river
The Machkund is the upper course of the Sileru. Above Jalaput dam it forms the border between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and the Jalaput reservoir stores the water that drives the power house. Further down, at Duduma waterfall, the river drops 175 m into the gorge.
Matsya Tirtha
Machkund is also known as Matsya Tirtha. Folklore links the falls to Matsya, the fish avatar of Vishnu, leaping from the Machkund river, and the district calls it a tirtha of epic fame.
The power house
President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the Machkund power house on 19 August 1955. It is a joint scheme of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, with six units and 120 MW between them. On 21 December 2020, Odisha Hydro Power Corporation bought a further 20% share.
The winch
A rope incline, the winch, has linked the hilltop with the power house since 1948. It runs 0.9 km and carries up to 20 tonnes, or about 50 people, and the trip down takes about 20 minutes. It is for project staff only: as of January 2026, visitors can watch it from a distance but cannot ride it.
How far it is
Google Maps resolves Machkund to the Machkund Hydroelectric Project at Badigada and measures the drives below. Every other drive is on the Koraput distance chart.
| From | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| From Koraput town | 76 km | About 2 h 5 min |
| From Semiliguda | 88 km | About 2 h 15 min |
| From Jeypore | 69 km | About 1 h 50 min |
| From Jalaput dam | 34 km | About 1 h |
| From Duduma Waterfall | 9 km | About 20 min |
Google Maps driving directions, the default route by car, checked 25 October 2026. Drive times are Google's estimate and grow with traffic, rain and stops.
Combine it with
- Duduma waterfall, 9 km (about 20 min) from the power house.
- Jalaput dam, 34 km (about 1 h) away, where the river is held back.
- Onukadelli's Thursday market, if your day falls on a Thursday.
Adding Machkund to your trip
You travel in our own 17-seater AC Force Traveller, with a local driver; our support staff are on call by phone and WhatsApp for the whole trip. All 17 passenger seats are for your group, and big luggage goes on the roof carrier.
Send your dates, group size and where you arrive, and we send one written price for the whole vehicle. A booking advance of ₹3,000 per day of the trip holds your dates, and cancelling before the trip starts is free.
