Kuntala Waterfalls – Weekend Getaway from Hyderabad

A refreshing break away from the busy lives and the cacophony of the city is much needed for everyone. Kuntala Waterfalls is one such place with a mesmerizing view where you can find solace in Mother Nature’s lap. It is situated in the middle of Sahyadri mountain range which is 12 km from Neredigonda, 43 km from Nirmal, 58 km from Adilabad & 270 km from Hyderabad. With a height at 200 feet, it is the highest waterfall in the state of Telangana. Kuntala waterfalls are formed by Kadam River, cascades down through two steps from a rocky platform. It is surrounded by dense forest, apart from the captivating view, the waterfalls present its visitors with exotic flora and rich fauna.

As per the popular local belief, the waterfalls has got its name after Shakuntala, the wife of Dushyanta. It is believed that both of them have fallen in love at the very site and even Shakuntala used to take bath in this waterfall. Till the entry point of waterfalls, there is a motorable road from where one has to trek down about 408 steps to reach the bottom of the falls. 408! yes, a little effort is needed, this may take you around 10 to 15 min from the entry point. After reaching the bottom, you then gaze the amazing waterfalls which gushing down through rocks from a height of nearly 200 feet.

Image Source: Kuntala Waterfalls Facebook Page

The best seasons to visit Kuntala Waterfalls is during monsoons and post-monsoons. The flow of these falls relies on the water release from the Kadam reservoir. The uncertainty of the release of water during the rainy season makes Kuntala falls a slightly dangerous place. Therefore it is cautioned to be very careful to get into the water when the flow is high due to sharp rocks and twists. You don’t find much water during the month of January and July. One can spend around 2-3 hours at the Kuntala Waterfalls. There are mini shops near the entrance point which sell the basic stuff like tea, coffee, water and snacks.

There is another waterfall called Pochera Waterfalls located 22km away from the Kuntala Waterfalls. This one descends into a big pool from about a height of 40 feet. The surroundings are well maintained by the tourism department. Two other waterfalls  Kanakai and Gayatri Waterfalls which are located at a distance of 35 km and 19 km respectively from the Kuntala falls. There is also a temple nearby the falls dedicated to Someshwara Swami which you can visit. This temple is visited by many during the festival of Mahashivaratri. It is advised to plan the trip in particular order so that you don’t get confused and waste your valuable time.

Finally coming to the mode of transport from Hyderabad to the Kuntala Waterfalls. It is one of the popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad which almost requires a full day for the round trip. Adilabad and Nirmal are considered as the base stations. Public transport is available from Hyderabad until Neredigonda, from here you can hire a private vehicle to the falls that pass through thick vegetation offering a wonderful experience. The nearest railway station to the falls is Adilabad, the direct trains linking from Hyderabad to Adilabad are Bhagyanagar Exp (17233) and Krishna Express (17405). For a hassle-free trip, you can also directly hire a private taxi and drive on the NH 44 from Hyderabad to Kuntala Waterfalls.

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