Dhoni Waterfalls - 10 Things to Know Before Visiting

To reach Dhoni waterfall, it takes three hours of trekking through the reserve forest area from the base of the Dhoni Hills. The waterfall is not big, but rather a series of small falls at different levels cascading down the hills. It creates pools of water and goes downhill roaring over the subsequent level. Water from the fall ultimately gets collected in the Malampuzha reservoir further down.

The hike to the waterfall

To hike to the fall, one will need permission from the forest department which you will receive upon purchasing the ticket at the entry point. An out-of-use asphalt road built in the British era still stands here although it is not put to daily use. This road was constructed to connect five divisions of then Palakkad- Coimbatore, Manarkkad, Nilambur, Gudalur, and Silent Valley.

Wild animals on the trail

The trail to the falls is unpaved and it is suitable only for motorbikes and vehicles with four-wheel drive, although private vehicles are not allowed to go through the trail. Elephants, Tigers, King Cobras and other wild animals live in the forest surrounding the waterfall. Still, the place is considered to be safe as the chances of spotting them are extremely low. If there are any wild animals found on the trails, the authorities will stop entry to the waterfalls.

Exploring the pristine beauty of the falls

Once you reach the waterfall, you can see the lovely view of the fall nested in greenery, enjoy a cold dip in the water, and admire the beauty and peacefulness of the jungle. It is recommended to start the hike in the morning so that you will reach the falls before noon and have sufficient time to admire the beauty of the place. Climbing at noon makes the hike too exhausting.

Once you are at the falls, be mindful of the moss-covered slippery rocks. The depth of the stream may surpass normal expectations considering that the waterfall is quite small. Dhoni falls, with its long hike and silent yet breathtaking surroundings, is a great place to visit as long as you are careful while exploring the falls.

More adventures from Dhoni waterfall

There is a trekking trail from Dhoni Waterfalls to Malampuzha Dam, some 5 km away. This trail is completely through the forest and access is restricted. Trekking needs prior permission from the District Forest Officer, a local guide will lead you through this trail of danger and beauty. Do check with the authorities managing the place for more information.

There are many shortcuts in the trekking trail which reduces trek distance a lot. If you plan to take them, be prepared for steep inclines. There is an old colonial mansion constructed in the 1850s called Kavarakunnu Bungalow on the path towards the waterfall. This building was constructed by the British to oversee the orange and cardamom plantations in the region. The bungalow is abandoned for many years now.

The best time to visit Dhoni waterfalls is immediately after the monsoon, from September onwards. The heavy rains will be over by then, the trek path will be clear, and the waterfall will be filled. Although the water flows through the falls the whole year, the time right after the monsoon is considered the best. While visiting, carry your food and water but do not leave any waste behind. 

1. The authorities will stop entry to the waterfalls if they find any wild animals near the trail.
2. The waterfall has a lot of crevices filled with water. Watch out for them. Visitors have died by falling in and getting trapped in them.
3. Start the hike in the morning so that you will escape the scorching noon sun and can return on time. Entry is not permitted after 1.30 PM.
4. The moss-covered rocks can be very slippery and the depth of the small stream can be much higher than what you see with your eyes.
5. Bring food and water, there are no food stalls in the area.
6. The water will look calm but it is deceptive with chutes and whirlpools underneath. The stream flowing for years has created treacherous hollow deep wells inside the rocks and it will be impossible to detect them or to judge the depth of them when water is flowing over. If you take a dip thinking that it is a small pool, it could trap you inside taking you to its depths. The worse part of it is that if you are in danger there might not be many people around to help you escape from the waters.
7. A forest guard will assist you throughout the hike. Please obey his instructions.

1. Dhoni is named after a boat-shaped rock on one of its hills, boat in Malayalam is called "thoni".

It takes a full day to hike to the fall and explore it in full.

The village of Dhoni - where the waterfall is situated- is 15 kilometres from Palakkad town. There is public transportation available from Palakkad but they are infrequent. The easiest way to reach is by a private vehicle so that you can enjoy the views of lush green Western Ghats on the way as well. Palakkad railway station is just 9 km from Dhoni waterfalls but you will have to take a taxi from there as well.

It costs INR 120 per person to visit Dhoni Waterfalls.

Dhoni Waterfalls is open from 10.30 AM to 1.30 PM daily. The waterfall is closed on Mondays. The visits are split by batches in different timeslots. For accurate information, contact Forest Range Officer Olavakkode at  +91 491 2555815.