Hundru Falls

Hundru Falls is a waterfall on the Subarnarekha river about 45 km from Ranchi in Jharkhand, where the river drops roughly 98 metres over the edge of the Ranchi plateau. Hundru Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Jharkhand and the most visited around the state capital.

The Subarnarekha, whose name means streak of gold, rises near Ranchi and runs east to the Bay of Bengal. At Hundru it has cut the rock below the falls into smooth pools, ledges and potholes, which draw families and picnic groups on weekends. Hundru Falls runs at its fullest during and just after the monsoon, when spray rises high above the gorge, and thins to a few thin streams by April and May. The flight of steps down to the base is long and steep, and the wet rocks are genuinely dangerous: people drown here most years, usually by swimming outside the marked area or slipping near the edge.

What to see

• The viewpoint at the top, looking down the full height of the falls
• The steps to the base and the rock pools at the foot
• Rock formations and potholes carved by the river
• The Subarnarekha gorge below the falls
• Picnic areas and stalls around the car park

What to wear

Wear shoes with strong grip for the steps and rocks at Hundru Falls, not flip-flops, and bring a light rain jacket or a change of clothes in the monsoon when the spray soaks everything. Days from April to June are hot on the exposed steps, so bring water and a hat. Dress is casual, but modest clothing is usual among local visitors. Jharkhand's Adivasi women traditionally wear a white saree with a red border, and men a dhoti with a checked gamchha.

Local food to try

Ranchi's best-known breakfast is dhuska with ghugni: a crisp fried rice and lentil cake served with spicy pea curry. Look also for pitha, rice dumplings with sweet or savoury fillings, rugra mushrooms in the rainy season, and litti chokha. Stalls near the falls sell simple snacks and tea; for a proper meal, eat in Ranchi on Main Road or around Firayalal Chowk.

Good to know

• Best time: August to November for full flow; mornings are quieter
• Hours: open daily, roughly 6am to 6pm
• Entry: small entry and parking charges
• Allow 3 to 4 hours including the steps and the drive from Ranchi
• Getting there: about 45 km from Ranchi, on the road towards Purulia
• Swim only where permitted and never near the edge in high water

Nearby places

From Ranchi you can also reach Betla National Park, about 170 km west, and Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar, roughly 250 km north-east. The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata is about 400 km east by train or road.