# Jog Falls

Jog Falls is a waterfall on the Sharavati river located in Siddapur taluk of Uttara Kannada district and its view point in Kargal town of Shimoga district, Karnataka, India. It is the second highest plunge waterfall in India (after Nohkalikai Falls). It is a segmented waterfall which depends on rain and season to become a plunge waterfall. The falls are major attractions for tourists and is ranked 36th in the list of free-falling waterfalls, 490th in the world by list of waterfalls by total height, 128th in the list of single-drop waterfalls in the World by the waterfall database.

## Description

Jog Falls is created by the Sharavati river dropping 253 m (830 ft), making it the second highest plunge falls in India. If only the total drop is counted, it is the 10th highest waterfall in India after the Kunchikal Falls, Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m (1,099 ft) in Meghalaya
Sharavathi, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, next to Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk, Shivamogga district takes a northwesterly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. Then, it bends to the west, precipitates itself down the Jog Falls (aka Gersoppa Falls), and passes the village of Gersoppa (properly Geru-Sappe), which is some 30 kilometres (19 mi) away, discharging into the Arabian Sea at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada.
The Sharavathi, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards (230 m) wide, reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m (950 ft) deep, and the water comes down in four distinct falls, Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. The Raja Fall comes down in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 250 m (830 ft). Halfway down, it is encountered by the Roarer, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards to meet the Raja. The Rocket shoots downwards in a series of jets. The Rani moves quietly over the mountainside in a sheet of foam. The Tourism Department has built steps from the viewpoint at the top, where the waterfall can be seen from across, to the bottom of the hill. There are approximately 1,400 steps made to reach the bottom of the hill.

## Significances

Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganamakki Dam across the Sharavati River. The water released from the dam adds to the beauty of the waterfalls in the monsoon season. The power station has been operational since 1948 and is of 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydroelectric stations in India at that time and a small source of electric power for Karnataka now. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra hydro-electric project, after the King of Mysore at that time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-electric Project. It was served by The Hirebhaskara dam until 1960. After 1960, due to the ideas of Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, Linganmakki Dam has been used for power generation.

## Power

The hydro-electric project was conceived by the government of Mysore in mid-1943. A scheme to generate 64,000 horsepower at a cost of ₹358 lakh was designed. The Power House on the right bank of the Gerusoppa dam consists of four Francis-type turbines coupled to the generating units of 60 MW each. The units are configured to operate at a design head of 47.5 mtrs. An outdoor switchyard is located between the toe of the dam and the power house. Power from the outdoor yard is evacuated through a 220 KV double circuit transmission line connected to the state grid at Talaguppa.
The capacity was increased subsequently and currently generates 240 MW of power.

## Transport connectivity

Jog Falls is situated Near Siddapura And Sagara city.
* Nearest railway stations (distance to the location):
** Talaguppa (13 km [8.1 mi])
** Sagara (30 km [19 mi])
** (68 km [42 mi]) on the Mangalore - Bombay Konkan Railway route
** Bhatkal (90 km [56 mi]) also on the Mangalore - Bombay Konkan Railway route
* Nearest bus station:
** Siddapura
** Sagara
** Jog Falls
* Nearest centre for private road transport is Siddapura.
* Nearest airport (aerial distance to the location):
** Domestic
*** Hubli Airport (HBX):
*** Shivamogga Airport (RQY):100 km (62 mi)
133 km (83 mi)
** International
*** Bengaluru International Airport (BLR): 422 km (262 mi)
*** Mangalore International Airport (India) (formerly Bajpe Airport) (IXE): 200 km (120 mi)
*** Goa Airport (GOI): 264 km (164 mi)