Hogenakkal Falls

Hogenakkal Falls is a waterfall in South India on the Kaveri river on the border between Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu and Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka. It is located from Bangalore, from Kollegal, from Kolar, from Kolar Gold Fields, , 181 km (112.46 mi) from Mysore, and 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri. It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara Falls of India," it is known for bathing areas and hired boat rides and as a major tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world. The Government of Tamil Nadu made a proposal to convert the falls into providing drinking water for the state.
Etymology.
The word Hogenakkal is formed of two Kannada words "hoge" and "kal". When the water falls on the rocks it appears as if "hoge" (smoke) is emanating from the top of the "kal" (rock) because of the force of the water, hence "Hogenakkal" (smoking rocks). It is also called as "Marikottayam" by the people of Tamil Nadu.
River.
The Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in the Western Ghats of south India and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as and is said to sound like continual thunder. The river carries sediment which makes the downriver land fertile.
At Hogenakkal the river spreads out over a wide area of sandy beaches, then flows south to the Mettur Dam and creates a . lake called Stanley Reservoir. Built in 1934, this project improved irrigation and provided hydropower.
Weather.
The best season to visit is soon after the monsoons, when the river is in full spate. But some tourists prefer to visit during off-season to skip the crowd. The water temperature in summer varies between while during the winter it ranges from .
Boating.
Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. This is the main source of income for boat operators. The coracles are about in diameter and can carry eight people at a time. These coracles are made of bamboo, and with all materials available takes about a day to build. The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic. Use of plastics in the Hogenakkal vicinity, not just for boats, has been criticised due to problems with pollution. These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making them unique. The coracles are locally called "parisal" in Tamil and "teppa" or in Kannada.
Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include , , , , , , and . After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.
Hogenakkal water project.
Hogenakal Falls is the location for the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government. The objective of this project is to provide safe drinking water to the urban and rural areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. In February 2008, The Japan Bank for International Cooperation agreed to fund the Rs 1,340-crore project.