Barehipani Falls — India's Second-Highest Waterfall in Simlipal

Plunging an astonishing 399 meters (1,309 feet) in two thunderous tiers over sheer basalt cliffs in the core of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve, Barehipani Falls is India's second-highest waterfall—a primordial spectacle where the Budhabalanga River cascades into an emerald canyon ruled by wild elephants and melanistic black tigers.

The Primordial Roar of India's Second-Highest Waterfall

Cradled deep within the mist-veiled core zone of the Simlipal Tiger Reserve and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in northern Mayurbhanj district, Barehipani Falls is one of the most sublime and dramatic natural wonders in Asia. With a staggering total vertical drop of 399 meters (1,309 feet), it is officially classified as the second-highest waterfall in India (surpassed only by Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya) and the highest waterfall in the state of Odisha.

The waterfall is formed by the perennial Budhabalanga River (anciently known as *Bura Balanga*), which takes its origin high in the cloud-draped Meghasani ('Seat of Clouds') peak at an altitude of 1,165 meters. As the river courses through the upland plateaus of central Simlipal, it encounters a monumental geological fault-line—a colossal escarpment of hard Precambrian basalt, quartzite, and Banded Iron Formation (BIF). With ferocious kinetic power, the entire river hurtles over this vertical abyss, dropping in two majestic, uninterrupted tiers into a deep, amphitheater-like plunge pool carved into the canyon floor.

The Etymology of Barehipani: Twisted Ropes of Water

The name Barehipani holds deep linguistic and cultural resonance in the local Odia and indigenous Santhali languages. It is a compound of two words: Barehi (meaning a heavy, two-stranded rope hand-twisted from tough wild grass fibers or hemp) and Pani (meaning water). Local tribal lore poetically observes that as the immense volume of water plummets through the air over the 399-meter precipice, wind turbulence and aerodynamic resistance cause the torrent to twist and braid into what looks exactly like two colossal, gleaming white ropes of churning foam suspended against the dark red basalt face of the cliff.

The visual drama is accompanied by a continuous, low-frequency acoustic rumble that reverberates across the canyon for kilometers, known locally as the 'Voice of Simlipal'. In the early morning hours, the descending spray interacts with the rising tropical sun to cast luminous permanent rainbows across the gorge, creating an ethereal spectacle that has enchanted travelers and tribal poets for centuries.

Precambrian Geology & The Simlipal Volcanic Caldera

Geologically, Barehipani Falls owes its existence to one of the most remarkable volcanic structures on the Indian craton: the Simlipal Volcanic Caldera. Formed over 1.6 billion years ago during the Proterozoic Era, Simlipal consists of concentric volcanic basins comprising thick spilitic basalt lava flows interbedded with quartzites and banded hematite jasper. These alternating rock strata formed concentric circular ring-dykes and steep cuesta escarpments.

As the Budhabalanga River carved its way outward from the central highland caldera, it cut deeply into the softer interbedded sedimentaries until encountering a vertical wall of hard, columnar basalt. Unable to erode the basalt barrier at the same rate, the river carved a sheer vertical drop. During peak monsoon floods in July and August, water discharge over Barehipani exceeds 10,000 cusecs, turning the twin ribbons of water into a colossal, earth-shaking wall of roaring amber foam that sends spray plumes hundreds of feet into the forest canopy above.

Deep Biosphere Ecology & The Melanistic Tiger Realm

What elevates Barehipani above other famous waterfalls in India is its pristine, wild wilderness setting. Unlike commercialized waterfalls surrounded by concrete souvenir shops and vehicular noise, Barehipani lies isolated inside one of peninsular India's most strictly guarded protected biospheres. There are no motor roads leading to the bottom of the gorge; human access is restricted exclusively to an elevated stone observation pavilion situated on the opposite canyon rim, preserving the delicate ecological integrity of the gorge below.

The deep canyon abyss supports a unique microclimate characterized by perpetual moisture, high humidity, and dense shade. Here flourish ancient moist peninsular sal trees (*Shorea robusta*), towering white cedar (*Dysoxylum binectariferum*), giant wild tree ferns (*Cyathea gigantea*), and over 93 species of wild orchids that cling to the rock faces and tree trunks. The forested valleys surrounding Barehipani are the undisputed territory of Simlipal's wild melanistic tigers (pseudo-melanistic Royal Bengal Tigers exhibiting unique broad, coalescing black stripes found nowhere else on earth), as well as Asian elephants, leopards, dholes, sambar deer, and giant Malabar flying squirrels.

Indigenous Honey Gathering & Riparian Ethnobotany

The sheer rock faces flanking Barehipani have been the traditional realm of the Khadia and Mankirdia indigenous tribes of Mayurbhanj. For generations, brave tribal honey-hunters have practiced the perilous art of wild cliff honey harvesting (*Mahua Madhu*). Scaling the vertical precipices using hand-plaited ropes made of wild forest climbers (*Siali lata*, *Bauhinia vahlii*), they harvest wild combs of the giant rock bee (*Apis dorsata*) using smoke torches at dusk, a sustainable traditional forest practice protected under community rights.

The constant mist cloud generated by the 399-meter waterfall supports a lush micro-ecological niche known as the spray zone. Epiphytic ferns, liverworts, and club mosses coat every boulder and tree branch, accompanied by wild ginger (*Zingiber roseum*), indigenous medicinal shrubs, and rare terrestrial ground orchids that bloom in vibrant shades of magenta and gold immediately following the monsoon rains.

Visiting Barehipani: Safari Routing & The Viewpoint

Visiting Barehipani requires entering Simlipal Tiger Reserve through one of its official entry gates—either the Pithabata Gate (near Baripada in the east) or the Jashipur Gate (near Joshipur in the west). From Jashipur, the scenic 55-kilometer safari route winds through dense forest checkpoints at Chahala and Nawana before arriving at the Barehipani viewpoint.

The Odisha Forest Department has constructed a well-fortified, multi-tiered stone viewing terrace and solar-powered interpretation desk directly facing the falls. From this vantage point across the canyon, visitors enjoy an unobstructed, panoramic view of both drop tiers, the deep forested chasm below, and the rolling blue ridges of the Meghasani range stretching to the horizon. High-powered binoculars allow travelers to spot birds of prey—such as Crested Serpent Eagles and Peregrine Falcons—nesting in the cliff crags directly adjacent to the cascading water.

Visitor Logistics & Travel Blueprint

Nearby Attractions & Explorations

• Simlipal Tiger Reserve & Biosphere: Odisha's premier northern tiger reserve home to rare melanistic black tigers.
• Joranda Falls Simlipal: 150-meter single-drop plunge waterfall inside Simlipal Biosphere.
• Mayurbhanj District & Royal Baripada: Royal Chhau dance traditions, Haripur Garh palace ruins, and tribal crafts.
• Mayurbhanj Tribal Heritage: Santhal, Ho, and Bhumij tribal cultures and sacred groves.
• Chhau Dance Heritage: UNESCO-recognized martial masked dance form of Mayurbhanj.
• Balasore District Travel Directory: Coastal neighbor with Chandipur beach and maritime heritage.
• Odisha State Portal: Complete master directory of destinations, districts, and travel guides across Odisha.