Enchanting Elaneer Falls!

Elaneer falls is relatively unknown and one of the main reasons why I decided to visit it!

We stayed at Thangaali homestay and the person there said that there is a short route (different from the Kalasa-Samse route) available to the falls and he will even provide a Jeep with the guide. After thinking should we go on our own or take the jeep and guide, friends decided it would be better to take the guide as we don't know the terrain.

Jeep which took us to falls

Scenic tea plantation on the way

After some half hour drive where the path went through some scenic tea plantations and inside a jungle we finally reached the house of the person who was supposed to take us to the falls. Falls was visible from his house and looked quite high. We kept our clothes and other items at his house and started off. Guide was fully prepared with Wellies and full body rain coat! My friend got worried looking at his attire and asked should we also had come like that?! (we had worn chappals! yes!) He said not required as the trek is a short one and we should be able to manage.

We liberally applied the Dettol he gave us on our legs to keep away the leeches and folded our pants and got ready for the trek. After some 5 min of walk at a cross where a board which says Didupe- 8kms and Dharmasthala-30 kms we took the turn. Though God only knows who goes to Dharmasthala in that jungle road. After what looked like a small waterfall on the road we started climbing.

We started climbing up at this point

Climb was steep and very slippery and soon we realised that we won't be able to climb in our chappals and kept it aside and started climbing barefoot. Thankfully leeches didn't bother us much and I removed one or two the moment they were on my legs! Somehow managing to find a foot hold we finally reached the falls and behold! what a sight!

Way to the falls

Climbing barefoot!

Water was white as milk and coming down like white diamonds! We just plunged in to the water! Guide was very knowledgeable and clearly instructed us where to keep our foot. Water was gushing like milk and Ohh! what a relaxation to the muscles.

Side view of the falls

We could go to the other side of the falls where we could see the top from where the water was flowing but we were already so wet that we decided not to climb further. Clicking pics was difficult other than from the side as we had to pass through the falls to get a full view. We just skipped the photo and happily settled in the water.

Elaneer falls cascades through multiple layers and the uppermost is what is suitable to bathe. We sat in the water for almost an hour and by the end of it we still did not want to get out! Beautiful colorful flowers had bloomed everywhere and rainbow was playing hide and seek. It was one of the best falls I've been in recent times.

View of the falls from below

Slowly we descended and spent another 10 minutes playing in the water at the foot of the fall and headed back.
Guide informed that the falls comes under Forest Department and you need permission to visit (which I'm not sure of actually!). He said he personally takes whoever comes to visit and makes sure that they don't litter or ruin the place which I felt was good. We did not find a single bottle or plastic anywhere and wished it remains so for the times to come.

We reached the guide's house (he has an areca plantation right infront of the falls) and took a hot water bath and changed. Filling our hearts with the spectacular views of the falls for the last time we slowly headed back.