Valara Waterfalls

Valara Waterfalls is a tall waterfall that drops through thick forest close to the Kochi to Munnar highway near Adimali, in the Idukki district of Kerala. Valara lies a short distance from Cheeyappara Waterfalls on the same stretch of road, and together they are the classic pair of stops on the drive up from Kochi to the tea country.

Valara Waterfalls is fed by streams off the Western Ghats and, unlike Cheeyappara, which spills down beside the road, it falls into a deep, forested gorge that you view from the roadside. The surrounding slopes are some of the greenest on the whole route, and the air starts to cool noticeably from here as the highway climbs. The falls are fullest just after the monsoon, from about August to November, when the water pours down the rock face in several streams; in the dry months from February to May the flow is much thinner.

What to see

• The main fall dropping into the forested gorge, seen from roadside viewpoints
• The multi-stream flow after the monsoon
• Dense evergreen forest and the Western Ghats scenery around the falls
• Spice gardens near Adimali, with cardamom, pepper and cocoa
• Tea stalls and fruit sellers along the highway

What to wear

At Valara Waterfalls, wear shoes or sandals with grip, since the roadside edges and rocks can be wet and slippery. A light rain jacket is useful from June to September, when showers are frequent. As you climb towards Munnar, the air turns cooler, so keep a light layer in the car. The traditional dress of Kerala is the off-white kasavu saree with a gold border and the white mundu for men.

Local food to try

The tea stalls near Valara serve chai, pazham pori (banana fritters), uzhunnu vada and fresh tender coconut. Adimali town, a short drive on, has Kerala restaurants for a proper meal: puttu with kadala curry, appam with stew, and parotta with chicken or beef fry. The spice gardens around Adimali sell cardamom, pepper and cloves, and some offer short guided walks. Vegetarian food is easy to find on this road.

Good to know

• Best time: August to November for the fullest flow; daylight only
• Open at all times, but visit in daylight
• Free
• Allow 15 to 20 minutes as a roadside stop
• Near Adimali on the Kochi to Munnar highway, about 30 km before Munnar
• Do not climb down into the gorge; keep to the roadside viewpoints

Nearby places

Valara Waterfalls is a few minutes from Cheeyappara Waterfalls, and most travellers see both on the way to Munnar, whose tea estates and Eravikulam National Park lie about an hour further up the road.