Chitrakote Falls

Chitrakote Falls lies in the forests of Bastar district, about 38 km from Jagdalpur, where the Indravati River drops some 30 metres over a curved rock edge. Its horseshoe outline has earned it the nickname of the Niagara of India. In the monsoon the falls widen to nearly 300 metres, making them the largest in Chhattisgarh and commonly described as the widest in the country. The name is thought to come from the herds of deer that once lived nearby, chitar being the Halbi word for deer.

The falls change through the year. From July to October the full width of the river pours over, the water turns reddish, mist rises off the pool and rainbows often form. In the dry months the flow shrinks to between three and seven separate streams, exposing the rock ledges, and on summer nights under the moon the water looks pure white.