Athirappilly Falls
| Athirappilly Water Falls | |
|---|---|
| അതിരപ്പിള്ളി വെള്ളച്ചാട്ടം | |
| Location | Athirappilly, kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 10°17′5″N 76°34′7″E / 10.28472°N 76.56861°ECoordinates: 10°17′5″N 76°34′7″E / 10.28472°N 76.56861°E |
| Type | Segmented |
| Elevation | 120 m (390 ft) |
| Total height | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Number of drops | 4 |
| Total width | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Watercourse | Chalakkudi River |
| Average flow rate |
52 m3/s (1,836 cu ft/s) |
Athirappilly Falls is situated on the border of Athirappilly panchayath, Chalakudy Taluk of Thrissur district and Ayyampuzha panchayath, Aluva Taluk of Ernakulam district, Kerala on the southwest coast of India. Located on the west-flowing Chalakudy River near the Vazhachal Forest Division and the Sholayar ranges, this 24-metre (80 ft) waterfall and the nearby Vazhachal Falls are popular tourist destinations. There is another waterfall on the way from Athirappilly to Vazhachal Falls, in close proximity to the road and is locally called “Charpa Falls”. Athirappilly Falls is the largest waterfall in Kerala and is nicknamed "The Niagara of India". Controversy about a state-proposed hydroelectric dam on the Chalakudy River above the waterfalls began in the 1990s and has continued through 2011.
The 145 kilometres (90 mi) long Chalakudy River, originates in the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats and flows through the Vazhachal Forest toward the Arabian Sea. The river initially runs smoothly but becomes more turbulent as it nears Athirappilly. At Athirappilly Falls, the water surges around big rocks and cascades down in three separate plumes. Below the falls, the river remains turbulent for about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) until it reaches Kannamkuzhi. Then it calms and flows smoothly until reaching the dam at Thumburmuzhi.
Forest wildlife in the area includes the Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, sambar, and lion-tailed macaque. The unique 180 metres (590 ft) elevation riparian forest in the Athirappilly-Vazhachal area is the only location where all four South Indian species of hornbills — the great hornbill (the state bird of Kerala), Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar grey hornbill, and the Indian grey hornbill are found living together. If the proposed 163-MW Athirappilly hydroelectric project is built, these unique birds may vanish from these forests because it will submerge the hornbills' habitat.
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Wikipedia