Leech waterfall

24 August 2013

It takes about an hour of Jeep ride from the main road to reach near this waterfall. The day was perfect; clouded sky with no rains. The first part of the Jeep ride was comfortable as Kumar, our Jeep driver drove on the tarred road with jiffy. The streams were flowing full which added to the beauty of the area.


The tar road ended and the roller coaster journey began. The path as filled with slush and stones. At some places, Jeep just skidded. On the way, Kumar stopped to show us the place in the valley. The stream flowing down had formed a waterfall. But the stream and the waterfall were completely hidden. “It is not the time to see this falls, come after monsoon” were the words of the villagers.


We dropped the villagers who had hitch hiked with us in the Jeep.  They lead a tough life being situated in the remote corner. Electricity, which we have taken for granted hasn't yet reached the villages here. We see electric poles without wires.


We had to cross a stream coming from the waterfall. During heavy rains, Jeeps cannot cross this stream and the remaining journey had to done by walking. There is a small bamboo bridge to help the crossing. We did not have to use it as the water level was within ‘navigable’ limits.


Once we cross the stream, it was an uphill climb for about a km. By then, we had reached the point where the walking trail to waterfall diverted.


The falls makes its appearance behind the canopy of trees as we walked down.


The final walk is about 10 minutes from the place the Jeep was stopped. It is a single step waterfall that might be about 100 feet in height.


Unlike many waterfalls, this does not have a pool at the base!!



Later, when we were having snacks at a roadside hotel, we came to know that several hundred/thousands of acres of estate lie above the falls. It was owned by British before they left India in 1947. I was surprised to hear the names of the current owners. The length and breadth of some people’s reach is surprising. 


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