Dhoni Waterfalls, Dhoni Hills palakkad
Dhoni Waterfalls nestled in the Dhoni Hills Palakkad has been on my radar for quite a while and finally I got the opportunity to visit the place. The checkpost at the foothills is around 8 KM's from Palakkad Junction and can be reached in 20 mins. There are direct buses to the Dhoni every hour.
Reached there by 9.30 and got to know that they were letting in only by 10 a.m that day(25-Jun-2017). As soon as the forest guard on duty reached they started issuing tickets. At the ticket counter they check the bags for plastic bottles and covers, note down the count in the register and collect an additional 100 rs that will be returned only if the visitors brings back all the plastic. This seems to be working beautifully as i could hardly see any plastic or for that matter any litter thrown around. This is really worth emulating in all ecotourism centers.
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| Dhoni Waterfalls |
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| Dhoni waterfalls - Ticket Counter |
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| Dhoni Waterfalls - Entry gate |
The waterfalls is 4 KM's from the start. Trekking is the best attraction in Dhoni Hills, as the waterfalls itself is very small and can be disappointing for many, Forest Guard Radheesh (my guide) was quick to point out the above fact. Not everyone is accompanied by a guide as they have very few personnel and Dhoni hills attracts a few hundred visitors on a weekend, so they ensure that the first batch starts with a Guard, he is supposed to check if the path is clear or if there is any elephant trouble. The visitors are then warned over phone(numbers are recorded at the entry gate).
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| Dhoni Waterfalls Trek Route |
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| Dhoni Waterfalls Trek Route |
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| Dhoni Waterfalls Trek Route |
The trek starts very gently and then starts to climb. It's overall a very moderate climb and most people should cover it in a little over an hour. One can also skip the road and take short cuts to climb. The tree cover and easy gradient makes it very pleasurable.
The monsoon had not been good till date, so there was very little water and was easy to walk to the top of the falls and spend some time there. The water from the falls goes to Malampuzha Dam.(Dhoni hills is to the west of the dam) The backwaters can be seen from the trek path. Earlier they used to allow trekking in Dhoni Hills till Malampuzha dam, but now its restricted.
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| Dhoni hills - Stream above the waterfalls |
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| Dhoni hills - Stream above the waterfalls |
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| Dhoni hills - Stream above the waterfalls |
The falls and the pond below are off-limits for visitors as there have been many casualties before.
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| Dhoni Waterfalls |
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| Dhoni Waterfalls |
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| Tree Hut next to Dhoni Waterfalls |
I spent some 30 minutes enjoying the place and the view. As it started to drizzle and the cloud cover looked really ominous, I decided to return. When I was midway the downpour started and the monsoon looked like it wanted to make up for the poor performance till then. I was fully drenched by the time I boarded my bus back to Palakkad. Overall it was a superb trek and the rain made it even more memorable. Dhoni hills should be a delight for trekkers, but it is also a good place for a family outing as the climb is real easy. If one loves waterfalls a trip immediately after or atleast in the later parts of the monsoon ( Sep-Oct) should be ideal. I hope i get to visit dhoni hills again during a different season to enjoy the waterfalls.
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| Dhoni Waterfalls - Trek Route |
How to Reach: Dhoni is well connected by bus (once an hour) from palakkad or you can take a bus to railway colony and from there take a rickshaw. The bus journey itself is adventurous enough for those who have not boarded a kerala transport bus, so be prepared
Entry: The
Visiting time for the falls is
9 a.m to 3 p.m. and
Ticket plus guide charge came to
100 rs. No special permission is required (as mentioned in various websites).
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