Kethanahalli Falls
Bengaluru → Devanahalli → Chikkaballapur → Kethanahalli Falls. ~78 km, a monsoon waterfall at the end of a rough rocky trail.
Kethanahalli Falls, also called Vivekananda Falls, is a seasonal two-tier waterfall of roughly 90 ft tucked among the hills north of Chikkaballapur. The ride up NH 44 is easy highway; the fun starts past Kethanahalli village, where farm tracks give way to a moderately tough off-road trail of loose rock, steep ruts and slick patches. The falls only really run during and after the monsoon — outside that window you may find a dry rock face.
Route idea: @trailson39t on Instagram
The route¶
Schematic map generated from waypoint coordinates — the shape follows the geography (compressed so long legs don't squash the loop), distances are labelled per leg. Not a navigation map. Download the graphic.
Leg by leg
| # | Leg | Dist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru → Devanahalli NH 44 (Bellary Road / airport road) | 38 km | City exit and the fast airport highway to Devanahalli. tarmac |
| 2 | Devanahalli → Chikkaballapur NH 44 | 22 km | Four-lane highway past the Nandi Hills turn-off to Chikkaballapur. tarmac |
| 3 | Chikkaballapur → Kethanahalli Falls Village roads via Kethanahalli, then trail | 18 km | ~17 km of rural roads to Kethanahalli village, then a rough trail of loose rock, steep ruts and slick ground; the last ~1 km to the falls is on foot. dirt |
Highlights
- Two-tier seasonal waterfall, ~90 ft, roaring in the monsoon
- Ringed by the Nandi group of hills — Brahmagiri, Skandagiri, Divyagiri and others
- A genuine off-road trail barely an hour and a half from the city
- Countryside to rock-garden transition makes it good ADV practice
Off-road & motorcycling notes
Moderately tough: loose rocks, steep rutted climbs and slick sections that get much harder when wet.
- Trail is unmarked; locals in Kethanahalli are the best guide to the way in
- Wet rock and mud in the monsoon — exactly when the falls flow — make it slippery
- The final stretch to the falls is not rideable; park and walk ~1 km
- Knobby or dual-sport tyres strongly recommended
Timings, permits & fuel
- Free entry; usually listed as ~7 am – 5 pm
- Falls flow only during and shortly after the monsoon (roughly Jun – Oct/Nov); can be dry otherwise
- Fuel up in Chikkaballapur — nothing beyond the town
- No food at the falls; eat in Chikkaballapur
Cautions
- Risky solo — ride with at least one other bike
- Leopards and sloth bears are reported in the surrounding hills; don't linger after dusk
- Flash flow after heavy rain — stay off the rocks at the lip of the falls
- Carry out all litter