About Barehipani Falls
Barehipani is Odisha’s — and India’s second — highest waterfall, plunging in two tiers for a total of 399 metres into the Budhabalanga River below. Located inside the Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, this extraordinary waterfall is accessible only through forest roads, making it one of the most exclusive natural wonders in India. The name ‘Barehipani’ comes from the Santali words meaning ‘one who falls from the rock.’
The Waterfall
The upper tier is the most dramatic — a 200-metre free-fall that generates tremendous mist and sound audible from a kilometre away. The combined 399-metre drop makes it taller than India’s more famous Jog Falls (253 m) and ranks second only to Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya (340 m when measured differently). During the monsoon, the cascade is at its most thunderous — the surrounding forest is drenched in spray and rainbows form in the afternoon.
The Journey There
Reaching Barehipani is an adventure in itself. From the Jashipur gate, a forest jeep takes visitors through 20 km of dense sal forest — with real possibility of elephant and deer sightings along the way. The falls are viewed from a dedicated observation platform built by the Forest Department.
Nearby Joranda Falls
Just 12 km from Barehipani within Simlipal is Joranda Falls — a single-tier, 150-metre waterfall that is equally spectacular, particularly in the monsoon. Most visitors combine both in a single forest day.
