Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Dudhsagar is a cascading 4-tiered waterfall in south Goa, close to the state’s border with Karnataka. It comes down more than a thousand feet cutting through the vertical face of the mountain into the thick forest cover, making it a scenic splendor. Dudhsagar is also the 5th tallest waterfall in India and one of the must-visit places in Goa. It will take you only about two hours from Vasco by road. From Margao, it is a little more than an hour away. You can also reach the waterfall by train and then trek from the station. It is a must-visit for nature lovers.

The monsoon season is the best time to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls because it will be full of water. However, the trekking route might be slushy. There will be many vantage points, offering stunning views. Dudhsagar is inside the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park. You have a chance to see wildlife too. Most people visit Dudhsagar on a day trip. There is a campsite for those who want to stay.

Dudhsagar Map & Location

Dudhsagar waterfall in Goa

In English, Dudhsagar would mean “sea of milk”. It’s an apt name because of the milky white water of the Mandovi River that comes down steeply from a height of 1020 feet or 310 meters. It is a four-tiered waterfall, but you can only see a couple of them. To see them all, you must reach the viewpoints.

Gallery

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Top Reasons for Visiting the Dudhsagar Falls

1. Scenic Beauty – The milky white water coming down from more than a 1000 feet will be a visual treat. The surrounding hill and thick forest add to the natural beauty of the waterfall.
2. Swimming – There is a natural pool at the base of Dudhsagar. A swim here in the heat of summer will be very relaxing.
3. Adventure – Trekking through the thick forest will be a trip to remember. You can also camp close to the waterfall and have it entirely to you in early morning.
4. Jeep safari through the forest – Dudhsagar is within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park. You can sit in your own vehicle for a safari ride through the park. You have the chance to see a lot of wildlife.
5. Devil’s Canyon – Also called Devcharacho Kond, it is a picturesque river gorge only a kilometer away from Dudhsagar. You can even come face-to-face with the rare Black Panther here. Make sure you are hiking with a forest guard.
6. Aromatic Spice Gardens – The Sahyadri farm is also close to Dudhsagar. See the plants here and enjoy the scent of natural spices. End your trip with some herbal tea and snacks.
7. Canopy Walk – There is a wonderful canopy walk through the forest if you walk into the neighboring state of Karnataka. It is very close. You will walk high up through the trees and get very close to the birds and monkeys.

Tallest Waterfalls in India

Dudhsagar also ranks as one of the tallest waterfalls in Asia.

5 Ways To Reach Dudhsagar Waterfalls

You can go on a daytrip from the beaches of Goa to see the waterfalls and come back on the same day, or you can also stay overnight at any of the nearby resorts or camping sites. A few of them have come up in recent years.

If you start from Panjim at 11 in the morning, you can return by 9 PM, but make sure that you do not stop too often on the road. It is best to carry packed food with you, because you will then be able to spend more time on the falls. Remember, you have to trek to reach the waterfall, so that will also take some time.

For the first two routes, you must first take a train to the Londa junction. From here, take a local train, bus or taxi to reach Castle Rock or Kulem, the starting points.

Of course, you can also drive all the way from the beach areas. By road, it will take about 2 hours to reach Kulem from Panjim. There is a car parking facility here where you can keep your vehicle parked securely for the entire day for 100 INR.

Here are 5 ways to reach the waterfall.

1. Trek from Castle Rock railway station – A 14 kilometer trek that takes about 5-6 hours. You will have picturesque views of the valleys and Ghats. The terrain is rough as you have to cross hills and forests. But this is the most popular trekking route to the waterfall.
2. Trek from Kulem – This route is also very scenic but it is less popular in high season. Start your trek from the Kulem rail station. Dudhsagar is 11 kilometers away, but it can feel like a lot more, because you have to walk on rail road. There will sometimes be big stones. You will see many slippers and shoes, which the other trekkers have lost. So make sure that you wear good sport shoes for walking. You can take photos of trains passing from the front of the falls in this route. Around half way, you have to go down from the railroad to the jeep road. This road is closed for vehicles during the monsoon, but you can walk. You will see the Dudhsagar Devi Temple. Cross the river, walk through the forest, and you will reach the top. It will take you around 3 hours to walk one-way. You will see many people coming down from the waterfall if you are doing this trek in late morning or afternoon. So there will be fewer people at Dudhsagar. However, remember, it gets dark by 6.30 PM.
3. Trek from Kuveshi – This is the most difficult and adventurous route. You start from the Kuveshi village, which is 10 kilometers from the Castle Rock station. You can take a car from Castle Rock to the village. You have to trek through thick forest. You cannot take this route in the monsoon, and you will also have to cross the Mandovi River, which is swollen and rough in the rains.
4. Trek from Dudhsagar rail station – Walk for 1 kilometer from the railway station passing through a 200 meter tunnel, which is totally dark. Many trains make an unscheduled stop here for 1-2 minutes. But there is no platform, so you have to get down a steep ladder and then walk. The Indian Railway has now banned walking on rail tracks, so officially, this route is disallowed.
5. Transport and trekking route – Hire a 4-wheel drive at Kulem’s Dudhsagar Taxi stand, which will take you to the foot of the waterfalls. It is just a 1 kilometer trek from here. This is a popular route for large groups with families and kids.

For route #5, only jeeps registered with the Goa Forest department can do this trip. No private vehicles are allowed as it is a national park. Trips are allowed between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM. A maximum of 7 adults are allowed in each jeep. You have to walk for about a kilometer in this route. The jeep costs 2000 INR, but the price may vary depending on the season.

Remember, jeep services are not available in the rainy season. You can ride a bike, but the ride will be bumpy. Four wheel jeeps can drive through the Mandovi in the dry season, but there will be less water in the waterfall. In the rainy season, you can only trek to reach Dudhsagar. Vehicle passage is almost impossible.

Note:

1. Indian Railways has recently issued a notification, banning people from getting down from trains at the Dudhsagar station and walking on the rail track as it is deemed too risky.
2. There is no drinking water at the waterfalls. So you have to carry your own supply. There are no rest room facilities as well. Cellular signal can also be very erratic and weak.
3. You can swim at the pool, formed in the lower half of the Dudhsagar falls. But you must wear a life jacket. Entering the falls without life jackets is prohibited.

Train Connections to Dudhsagar Waterfalls

You can see the waterfalls from the Londa-Margao railway route. Any train that travels East or West, from or to Margao, will pass through Dudhsagar. Here are some trains from which you can see the waterfall –

• Delhi-Goa Express (12780)
• Howrah-Vasco Amaravathi Express (18047)
• Pune-Ernakulam Express (11098)
• Chennai-VascodaGama Express (17311)

You can find the schedules and prices for each of these trains on the official Indian Railways website — http://www.indianrail.gov.in/.

Monsoon Gallery

Best Time to Visit the Dudhsagar Falls

The monsoon or rainy season is the best time to visit Dudhsagar as there is a lot more water this time of the year, making it wilder and more visually appealing. You will hear a thunderous roar as you approach the main falls and the pool. The river will also look more beautiful along the hiking trail.

Monsoon in Goa is between the middle of June to the end of August. There are only a few rainy days in September. July is in the middle of the monsoon season. This is the best month to visit Dudhsagar Waterfalls. However, do keep in mind that the trekking route will be much more slippery this time of the year because of all the rain.

November to January is also a good time to visit the Dudhsagar falls. There is still a lot of water in the falls and the forest is also lush after the monsoon. But walking along the trail will be more comfortable.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park

Dudhsagar Waterfall is a part of this 240 square kilometer thick forest, on the Goa-Karnataka border. It is a protected area in the Western Ghats. This is virgin forest and one of the greenest areas in south India. The core area of the forest covers 107 square kilometers. It is rich in flora and fauna. You have the chance to see the Black Panther, Bengal tiger, leopard, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar, wild dogs, pangolins, porcupine, gaur, flying squirrel, mouse deer, civet, and the Indian Gaur. The forest also has many species of birds, butterflies, and reptiles.

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park have some other attractions too like the Tambdi falls, Vajrapoha falls, and the Vazara falls. Head to the Sunset Point for a scenic view of the park and the mountains.