Irpu Falls Travel Guide

Irpu Falls lie at the bottom of the Brahmagiri Range near Nagarhole National Park in southwest Karnataka, contiguous with Tholpetty Sanctuary in Kerala.

The swirling waters of the Lakshmana Teertha bounded over rocks like a frolicking mountain goa, overjoyed at having done with the 60 m leap that people knew as Irpu falls. It was such a shame. Most visitors to Irpu ventured past the Ishwara Temple only as far as the falls. During Shivratri streams of devotees vying to cleanse their souls replaced the flow of honeymooners and picnickers. The water had darkened perhaps just a shade after years of washing away people’s sins. Or may be it was the thick rainforest cover. No one could tell. The answers lay trapped high up in Brahmagiri and an ancient trail ached for the soft caress of fresh footprints.

Irpu acts as a gateway to the Brahmagiri Range and a climb though strenuous, ushers in a whole new point of view. Brahmagiri has been identified as one of the major hotspots of biodiversity in Coorg and the altitudinal variation unravels a myriad wonders with each step. The mountain teems with rare orchid’s medicinal herbs, butterflies of every hue and exotic birds like the Malabar trogon. The trail that passes through Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary fans out towards a range of peaks each with its own mythology. If you find the whole exercise too daunting you can park yourself in any of the home stays at Irpu and gaze at brahmagiri from the safe perch of your armchair. The Ishwara temple and Irpu Falls ought to be less taxing.

Ishwara Temple

The Ishwara Temple also known as the Rameshwar Temple since Lord Rama him-self consecrated the Shivling, is one of considerable importance. Its popularity ratings skyrocket during shivratri because of its power to redeem a person of his sins. It is customary to pay your respects here before you take a dip in the Lakshmana Teertha. Through the rest of the year the temple follows the rest of the year the temple follows its puja schedule with clinical precision. It is important to know this as the temple gates remain closed 1 pm to 6pm and if you land up at an odd hour you’ll be left sipping your tea very very slowly at the chaistall next to the temple. From there a trail leads on to Irpu Falls and beyond.

Irpu Falls

As with most waterfalls the beauty of Irpu Falls too is heightened after the rains, when the rainforest is glossy green and the 60 m drop is a raging torrent. If you go at any other time you are likely to be disappointed. Scarcely 1 km from the Ishwara Temple, the well marked out trail to the falls winds past a sacred banyan tree before disappearing into the forest. Technically, you would be within the outer limits of the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, but you don’t need permission to go to the falls. If you are planning to go any further, it makes sense to stop by at the Reserve Forest Office at Srimangala before you take the diversion to Irpu so that you don’t have to backtrack later.

Brahmagiri Sanctuary

Spread over 181 sq km the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary stretches in a wide arc from kutta to Makutta 5 km from Irpu Falls. The diverse habitat ranges from lowland rainforests in Makutta Wildlife Range to high altitude shoal grasslands in the Srimangala Wildlife Range. The sanctuary is contiguous with Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in kerala an da densely forested corridor punctuated by coffee plantations, connects it to wayanad an dnagarhole. The forests abound with gaur, sloth bear, elephants, barking deer, a host of felines like tigers, leopards, jungle cats, lepard cats an dprimates like the lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque an dNilgiri Iangur. Brahmagiri is also a great place for birdwarchers and if you are really into it you must follow the trail to pakshi pathalam. The best time to visit the sanctuary is between October and May.