Chitrakoot Falls

Chitrakote Falls
चित्रकोट प्रपात
Chitrakote waterfall at night
Location	Jagdalpur, India
Coordinates	19°12′23″N 81°42′00″E / 19.206496°N 81.699979°E / 19.206496; 81.699979
Type	Cataract
Total height	29 metres (95 ft)
Number of drops	Three
Watercourse	Indravati River

The Chitrakote Falls (alternative spellings Chitrakoot; Chitrakot; Hindi: चित्रकोट जलप्रपात) is a natural waterfall located to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on the Indravati River. It is located at a distance of 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the west of Jagdalpur.

The height of the falls is about 29 metres (95 ft). It is the widest fall in India, Because of its width and wide spread during the monsoon season, it is often called the Niagara Falls of India.

The Chitrakote Falls is located on the Indravati River. The river originates in the kalahandi region of Orissa, in the Vindhya Range of hills, flows westward and then forms a fall at Chitrakote, enters Andhra Pradesh and finally flows into the Godavari River, after traversing 240 miles (390 km) in the state, at Bhadrakali. The free drop of the falls is a sheer height of about 30 metres (98 ft). Because of its horseshoe shape, it is compared with the Niagara Falls and is given in the sobriquet ‘the Small Niagara Falls’. During the rainy season, from July and October, rainbows are created with sun rays reflecting on mist from the waterfall.

On the left bank of the Chitakoot Falls, a small Hindu shrine dedicated to the god Shiva and several naturally created grottos named "Parvati caves" (named after Shiva's wife Parvati) are located. The weather in the area is generally pleasant except in the summer season when it is hot due to absence of vegetation in the area. The river flows sluggishly on the upstream side of the falls due to its meandering nature as it drains through the plains of Jagadalpur. This reach of the river valley has very little forest cover. Below the falls the river traverses the Bodhghat forested area and the river regime undergoes drastic change in its flow conditions. Aeration process and the forest in the downstream area filters the silt in the river.