Talakona
Andhra Pradesh's tallest fall in a forest reserve
A Talakona waterfall trip reaches a 270 ft cascade, trek routes and a Shiva shrine inside Sri Venkateswara National Park in Tirupati district.
Overview
Talakona is a waterfall that drops about 270 feet, or 82 m, and is described as the tallest in Andhra Pradesh. It sits in Sri Venkateswara National Park, in Nerabailu village of Yerravaripalem mandal, Tirupati district, about 58 km from Tirupati. The trip suits walkers, birdwatchers and families who want a forest day away from the temples, and the cooler months after the rains from October to February make the easier time for a Talakona waterfall visit.
Everything here belongs to the forest. The park covers around 353 sq km of the Seshachalam hills in the Eastern Ghats, a belt that forms part of the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve. It has about 1,500 kinds of flowering plants, among them red sandalwood and sandalwood, along with Cycas beddomeii, a cycad found only in this region, and a variety of medicinal plants. Leopards, Asian elephants and sloth bears live in the reserve, and bird lists run to about 178 species. Gundalakona and Gunjana are two other falls in the same park, so the area is bigger than the one cascade it is named for.
At the foot of the falls, a natural pool collects the water, and visitors are described as swimming and sitting quietly beside it. Rules on bathing, safety and access are the forest department's to set and can change with the season, so ask on arrival rather than assuming the pool is open. Nearby stands the Siddheswara temple, a small Shiva shrine of roughly 140 years whose lingam was brought from a ruined temple in Rayavaripalli village.
Walking is the main activity. Several trekking routes lead through the forest at different levels of difficulty, and a long, demanding path climbs to the hilltop above the falls. Rock climbing, rappelling and birdwatching are also offered here. Temperatures through the year span roughly 15 C to 43.7 C, so an early start helps on warm days.
Tirupati is the practical base. Tirupati Airport (TIR) and Tirupati railway station (TPTY) are the nearest connections, and the drive of about 58 km can be paired with a temple day in the city. Check the forest department for current entry arrangements, trail access and any permits before you set out.
Known for
Described as the tallest in Andhra Pradesh, at about 82 m
Quick facts
Temperatures listed for the area run from about 15 C to 43.7 C over the year.
Tirupati Airport (TIR); distance from the falls (to be supplied)
Tirupati (TPTY), about 58 km from the falls by road (Wikipedia gives this as the distance from Tirupati)
The falls are about 58 km from Tirupati. Drive times (to be supplied).
Confirm with the forest department before you go that the falls, the pool and the trails are open, as access can change
Start early and carry water, because temperatures listed for the area reach above 40 C in the hottest months
Do not go in the pool unless the forest staff say bathing is allowed that day, and keep to marked paths
Packages that visit Talakona
All packages →Tirupati and Talakona Waterfall
A 3-day Tirupati Talakona tour: old city temples and Chandragiri Fort, then a night near Talakona's 270 ft waterfall in Sri Venkateswara National Park.
Tirupati (with Tirumala) → TalakonaHeritage & TemplesPlan a trip to Talakona
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