My first visit to this breathtaking falls — the highest in India — was when I was hardly eight years old. It was in the seventh grade when I had just got my first two-wheeler, that  Jog Falls became a regular outing for my cousins and me. Hailing from a picturesque town of Bhatkal, we used to cruise through Honnavar and pass Kargal to reach Jog Falls. En route, the Sharavati river valley view is out of this world! Sometimes, we would also take the tough route via Hadwalli, where Jainism once flourished. From Bangalore, tourists come via Shimoga to savor the falls whereas tourists coming from Goa take the Honnavar route.

Sharavati at Gersoppa near Jog town gushes over a rocky chasm and takes a spectacular leap, in four vertical segments, from a height of more than a quarter of a kilometer (293 m). The first column is called the Raja, which chutes down unbroken to a depth of 253.15 meters. It is joined by the Roarer while the third one is the Rocket, which shoots downward in a series of jets. The fourth is called the Rani, and it glides down quietly. Surrounded by verdant forests, these waterfalls offer a visual delight. The sun and moon light over the gushing torrents during the day and night form a perpetual rainbow over the falls.

Tourists can reach the spot where the falls collect in a 40-meter deep pond by means of concrete steps amid dense growth of trees. Although going down is very tiresome, it is worth a try. I was brave enough to climb down the steps once. You can also swim in the pond and view the falls gushing out from the top.

The most popular viewing point is the central area of the town, but there are several points from where the falls can be seen. The playing effects of light and shade at different hours create extremely delightful scenes. Sometimes, however, an envelope of fog can block the view, forcing tourists to wait until the mist disappears. Another interesting point is from the other side of the central area where the PWD bungalow is located. A visit to the Linganamakki dam, six km from Jog town located amid verdant surroundings, is also recommended, although not always permitted. Another educative visit is to go to the base where the Mahatma Gandhi hydro-electric power station is located. You can go down in a trolley that charges a nominal fee. Here, you can see how the force of water is utilized to produce electricity, or hydro-electricity. In Karnataka, most of the electricity generated comes from water power.

Around Jog Falls, there is also plenty of wildlife, yet only wildlife enthusiasts can venture into the jungles to have a glimpse of it. There are some decent accommodation options but Jog is a very small town and facilities are not up to the mark. Sagar and Shimoga nearby are bigger towns.

A visit during rainy season or just after that is highly recommended to watch India’s highest waterfalls.