Guidebook
Lonely Planet South India & Kerala
Lonely Planet · 2023
More depth on the Western Ghats states than the all-India guide, including transport to Jog, Dudhsagar and Athirappilly.
India · Kerala
Athirappilly Falls
Kerala's largest waterfall spreads wide across a horseshoe of black rock at the edge of the Sholayar forest range, a frequent backdrop in South Indian cinema for decades. Rare hornbills and other endangered wildlife inhabit the surrounding rainforest, which conservationists have long fought to protect from a proposed hydroelectric project.
Kerala's largest waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Athirappilly Falls drops 24 metres (79 ft) across a face roughly 100 metres wide on the Chalakudy. It is a block-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Chalakudy, with COK the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a block waterfall, a wide sheet of water falling from a broad river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Athirappilly Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Chalakudy are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Monsoon months (Jun-Oct) give maximum width and volume across the broad rock face.
Entry: Entry fee ~₹30-50
Getting there
- Base town Chalakudy
- Airport COK
- Country India
- Region Kerala, South Asia, Asia
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Athirappilly Falls
India
Height24 mWidth100 m
Most similar
Harajiri Falls
Japan
Height20 mWidth120 m
Also a block waterfall, of similar height and similar width
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
20 m
24 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Harajiri FallsAthirappilly FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Harajiri Falls
120 m
Athirappilly Falls
100 m
Angel Falls is 41× taller than Athirappilly Falls. Victoria Falls is 4.5× taller and 17× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 108× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Athirappilly Falls
13:14
10:27
9:19
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Guidebook
Lonely Planet India
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 20th edition covers every state with a fall on this site, from Goa and Karnataka to Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh.
On the map
10.285, 76.5697
Quick answers
Where is Athirappilly Falls?
Athirappilly Falls is in India (Kerala). The nearest base is Chalakudy and the closest airport is COK. Its coordinates are 10.2850, 76.5697.
How tall is Athirappilly Falls?
Athirappilly Falls drops 24 metres (79 feet), across a face about 100 metres wide. It is a block-type waterfall on the Chalakudy.
When is the best time to visit Athirappilly Falls?
Peak flow is June to October. Monsoon months (Jun-Oct) give maximum width and volume across the broad rock face.
What can you do at Athirappilly Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Athirappilly Falls?
The usual base is Chalakudy, and the closest airport is COK. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Entry fee ~₹30-50.
Nearby
Closest to Athirappilly Falls
Vazhachal Falls
India · 3 km away
Vazhachal Falls is situated in Athirappilly Panchayath of Thrissur district in Kerala on the southwest coast…
Cheeyappara Waterfalls
India · 40 km away
The Cheeyappara Waterfalls is a waterfall in the Idukki district, Kerala, India. It is located alongside the…
Monkey Falls
India · 50 km away
Monkey Falls are natural waterfalls located near the uphill ghat road Valparai on the Pollachi-Valparai road…
Pathampuzha
India · 60 km away
Pathampuzha is a waterfall in India.