HOGENAKKAL / HOGENAKKAL FALLS / CORACLE RIDE / NAYAGARA FALLS OF INDIA / SMOKING ROCK-TAMILNADU

       Hogenakkal is a riverside, busy and noisy village, with plenty of vegetation and little habitation in Tamil Nadu. This place is famous for waterfalls. Hogenakkal Falls is a quiet and beautiful waterfall and is a good picnic spot. Its water is supposed to have curative powers as the Kaveri flows through a forest of herbs on its journey to Hogenakkal.

Hogenakkal Waterfalls, known as the 'Niagara' falls of India, are not a single waterfall but a series of falls and they offer a promising holiday destination for nature lovers from within and outside the country.
Hogenakkal is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the state. The broad stream of the River Kaveri gets forked at this point, forming an island from where one stream continues on while the other plunges into a deep chasm to create one of the loveliest waterfall giving these rocks the name Hogenakkal which means "smoking rock".

          This riverside spa is famous for coracles, masseurs and roaring waters. The sound of the Kaveri river, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri river enters the plains and the river dashing against the rocks is a great sight. The river, here flows through a wooded valley, splitting and merging and splitting again around rocks, and little islands with towering trees, and boulder-strewn out crops, which are covered only when the river is in spate with the rains of the monsoon.

Another attraction is the diving skills of local kids, who can show their diving skills for a fee. They can dive for you from a height of around 30 feet into the water and climb straight up back on the rocks in no time, all for mere Rs 5/- from the spectator.
Once in Hogenakkal, one can take a coracle ride ( kottathoni) across the river. The coracles or circular basket boats are covered with black plastic sheets and carry the ferry tourists across the shimmering, rippling river. The ride will take to the foot the majestic waterfalls – an exhilarating yet intimidating experience. The water here surges under the coracle, tossing it around, raging and hissing as though it might flood and capsize the boat any moment. The sight of Hogenakkal up close is as spellbinding, imposing and even a bit frightening. This white waterfall is particularly impressive soon after the monsoon months when the river is brimming.
hogenakkal is famous for film shooting.
coracle ride ticket- 250 Rupees/ head

One can try getting a massage from the famed Hogenakkal masseurs. The local malishkarans or the mystic masseurs are armed with oils, powders and esoteric knowledge about the different massage points in the human body. There are also a few women masseurs. The massage offered here is a nice experience for the visitors.
     Hogenakkal offers long treks in the surrounding Melagiri Hills and one can explore the lush, rugged, landscape.
Hogenakkal is unique as it is the only natural, traditional river spa in the land. It also offers a thrilling experience, and as an added bonus, one can visit the giant terra-cotta village guardians, the Aiyanars, on the way to Hogenakkal.

HOW TO REACH THERE

BY AIR
         Bangalore International Airport is the nearest airport, which is at distance of about 133 km from Hogenakkal. Taxi charges about Rs 2000 from Bangalore to Hogenakkal. Bangalore is well connected to most of the major airports in India and abroad

Bengaluru International Airport (BLR)
Peelamedu Airport, Coimbatore (CJB) ----119KM
Tiruchirappalli Airport (TRZ)----146 KM
Chennai International Airport (MAA)----285 KM BY RAIL             Nearest major railway junction is Salem, which is about 114 km from Hogenakkal. Salem to Hogenakkal taxi charge is about Rs 1500. Other two railheads nearby are Dharmapuri to go to Bangalore and Morappur to go to ChennaI. Dharmapuri (DPJ)---42 KM Salem Junction (SA)---64 KM Morappur (MAP)-----69 KM BY BUS            Hogenakkal is well connected to all major cities in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Deluxe bus services are available from Bangalore to Hogenakkal (133 km) and Salem to Hogenakkal (114 km). Bus charge is about Rs 3 per kilometer.