Jog Falls is created by the Sharavati dropping 253 m, making it the third-highest waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a drop of 335 m in Meghalaya and Dudhsagar Waterfalls with a drop of 310 m in Goa. Sharavathi, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, next to Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk and takes the northwesterly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, precipitates itself down the Falls of Gersoppa, and passes that village, which is some distant, discharging into the sea at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada. The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m deep, and the water comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft. Halfway down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet the Raja. A third fall, the Rocket, shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, the Rani, moves quietly over the mountainside in a sheet of foam. The Tourism Department has built steps from the viewpoint to the bottom of the hill where the waterfall can be seen at the opposite side. There are approximately 1400 steps built to reach the bottom of the hill.
Significance
Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganamakki Dam across the Sharavati River. The power station has been operational since 1948 and is of 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydroelectric stations in India at that time and a small source of electric power for Karnataka now. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra hydro-electric project, after the King of Mysore at that time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-electric Project. It was served by The Hirebhaskara dam until 1960. After 1960, due to the ideas of Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya, Linganmakki Dam has been used for power generation.
Power
The hydro-electric project was conceived by the government of Mysore in mid-1943. A scheme to generate 64,000 horsepower at a cost of 358 lakh was designed. The capacity was increased subsequently and currently generates 6.7 MW of power.
Nearest bus station: Sagara, Siddapura and Jogfalls bus stop. Nearest centre for private road transport is Sagara. While on the NH 66 northward one can take a right turn at Shamsuddin Circle, Bhatkal and when on southward journey one can take left Near Kamat Hotel, Honnavar to reach Jog Falls.
