Gokak Falls is one of the beautiful waterfalls nestled in the Karnataka state of India. The general characteristics of the fall, height, shape and speed appear to be a lot like Niagara Falls. Only there is a noticeable difference in the width and colour of the water. The Gokak Falls is in the shape of a horse shoe at the crest, with a flood breadth of 177 metres (581 ft). During rainy season, the thick reddish brown water sweeps over the brink of the cliff with a dull roar that can be heard from some distance. The view of this waterfall is a treat to the eyes. Every year, it draws a number of crowds from distant places.
Location of Gokak Falls
It is located on the Ghataprabha River in Belgaum district of Karnataka. The waterfall is six kilometres away from Gokak, a nearby town. The Ghataprabha River takes a leap of 52 metres over the sand-stone cliff amidst a gorge of the rugged valley.
Attractions of Gokak Falls
There are various attractive points in the vicinity of Gokak Falls that are worth visiting. There is a hanging bridge across the river that measures about 201 metres. Its height above the rock bed is 14 metres. It also has an old electricity generation station and electricity was generated here for the first time.
The monuments from the Chalukya era that are found on either bank of the gorge are the other highlights of the place. Another attraction is the very old river-front temple established in the honour of Lord Mahalingeshwara. It is designed in the Later Chalukyan style of architecture.
Connectivity of Gokak Falls
The ideal time to visit Gokak falls is around July - October. It is well connected via air, railhead and road. Gokak falls can be reached via various airports that are situated in places like Belgaum, Pune, Bangalore, Goa and Hubli. Miraj junction railway station is the closest railway junction which is well connected to most of the important cities of India. The other nearby railway stations comprise of Gokak-Road Railway station, Ghataprabha railway station, and Belgaum railway station. Buses regularly ply from Gokak and Belgaum to the falls. One can also avail a private car from Belgaum or Sangli to reach Gokak Falls.
