Rest of Odisha · 244-metre horsetail waterfall
Khandadhar Falls
Odisha's second-highest waterfall drops like a sword (khanda) through dense forest in Sundargarh — a single white ribbon visible from kilometres away.
History & legend
The falls are sacred to the Paudi Bhuyan tribe, whose goddess Kanta Devi is believed to reside at the source; their oral epics describe the fall as the tears of the deity. The Bonai princely state controlled the area until its 1948 merger with Odisha. The surrounding hills hold some of India's richest iron-ore deposits, and a decade-long campaign by local tribes against mining leases to protect the falls' catchment culminated in a 2019 cancellation of the Khandadhar mining project.
Timings
Sunrise to sunset
Best time to visit
August–January (full flow after monsoon)
Entry fee
Free · parking ₹30
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹11,250 · 450 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- 244 m single drop
- Sal forest trek
- Korapani Nala pools
- Paudi Bhuyan tribal villages
Local tip: The last 3 km road is rough — a high-clearance car is best. Avoid swimming under the fall in monsoon.
On the map
