page_title: Chitrakote Falls
section_title: Features
hierarchical_section_title: Chitrakote Falls / Features
caption_attribution_description: English: This is Panoramic View of Chitrakot Falls, Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh, India. Waterfall Discharge: Max - 184,500 Cusec Min - 52,600 Cusec
context_page_description: The Chitrakote Falls is a natural waterfall on the Indravati River, located approximately 38 kilometres to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
  The height of the falls is about 29 metres. It is the widest fall in India, reaching a width of nearly 300 metres during the monsoon season. Because of its width and its widespread horseshoe shape during the monsoon season, it is often called the "Niagara Falls of India".
context_section_description: The Chitrakote Falls, which spreads over three braids during the low-flow season, is a single sheet of flow over a free fall of about 30 metres (98 ft), forming a horseshoe-shaped gorge. However, during the monsoon season, when the Indravati River is in flood, the falls cover the entire stretch of the horseshoe from the left to the right bank, a width of about 300 metres (980 ft). Though it is about one-third less in width compared to Niagara Falls, its visual splendour has been described as equally impressive. Water flow conditions over the falls vary with the seasons. During the flood season or the monsoon season, the flow is filled with silt. It is India's widest waterfall.
  Local boat facilities operating below and under the falls in a misty atmosphere provide views of the falls under an early morning sun in reflected sunlight and in a blue hue. On the banks of the pond below the falls, many small Shiva Lingas (aniconic symbols of the god Shiva) are found in several niches, as are iron trishuls (the trident weapon of Shiva), mostly in a rusted state. On the left bank, there is a rock ledge and climbing down this cliff leads to a naturally formed niche which houses stone slabs carved with deities. In addition, there is a small hut made of straw where Shiva images and rusted images of his son, the god Ganesha, are seen. Many local people are involved in fishing in the area.
  The beauty of the falls can be seen throughout the year, particularly during sunset. As the fast-flowing water of the river flows over the sharp, near-vertical rock exposure at the widest reach of the river, it generates misty clouds and then hits into a pond formed in a semicircular shape at the bottom of the falls. Adventure sports enthusiasts use boats in the stormy part of this pond. Pilgrims bathe in the calmer part of the lake. In the low-flow season, paddle boats are used in pools formed in the upstream part of the falls. In the pool below the falls, swimming and paddle boats are permitted. Local boatmen can paddle their boats under the spray below the falls.
  Some terrorist activity by Maoists (anti-revisionist) has been reported in the area. In 2008, when then-President of India Pratibha Patil visited Chitrakote Falls, there was a violent attack on a police vehicle which was blown up.
caption: Panoramic view of downstream pond below the Chitrakote Falls
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