Last updated:
Agaya Gangai, “the Ganga of the sky”, is the best-known waterfall in Kolli Hills in Namakkal district. The Aiyaru river slips off the edge of the plateau and falls about 300 feet (91 m) into a rocky gorge surrounded by forest. It is also called Peraruvi locally.
What makes it memorable is not just the drop but the way you reach it: a long stone stairway that starts near the Arapaleeswarar Temple and winds down the side of the valley to the foot of the falls. Going down is easy. Coming back up is the real workout.
On this page
The steps: how hard is it?
The stairway has more than a thousand steps. Wikipedia gives 1,196, and other counts vary, but the point is the same: it is long, steep in places and has no shortcut. Most people take around 45 minutes to an hour to go down and an hour or more to climb back, with rest stops.
The steps are sound and have railings in many sections, but they get slippery after rain and when spray from the falls drifts across. The climb back is hard for anyone with knee, heart or breathing problems, and for small children. If that is your group, enjoy the views from the upper section and visit the Arapaleeswarar Temple instead.
- Start early: aim to begin the descent in the morning. Entry to the stairway is stopped in the afternoon.
- Carry water: at least a litre per person; there are only a few vendors near the top.
- Shoes: wear shoes or sandals with grip, not smooth slippers.
- Monkeys: keep food packed away on the steps.
When the falls is flowing
Agaya Gangai is fed by rain on the Kolli plateau, so its flow depends on the season. It is at its fullest during and after the monsoons, roughly from August to January, and is often thin or nearly dry in the hot months before the rains. Visitor reports agree that it can be disappointing in a dry summer, so if the falls is the main reason for your trip, ask us about the current flow before you travel.
In very heavy rain the authorities may close the path and the pool for safety. That is a good thing: flash surges in narrow gorges are dangerous, and the rock at the base is wet and uneven.
Bathing and safety at the base
In normal flow many people stand in the spray at the edge of the pool. Treat it with caution. The water can rise quickly after rain upstream, the rocks are slippery, and the pool is not a swimming pool. Stay where other visitors and any staff are, keep away from the main force of the fall, and leave as soon as you see the water turn muddy or rise. Follow any closure notices at the top of the stairway; rules can change from season to season.
Arapaleeswarar Temple and nearby sights
The stairway begins near the Arapaleeswarar Temple, an old Shiva temple that many visitors combine with the falls. The forests around Agaya Gangai are also linked with the Siddhars, and caves associated with sages such as Korakkar and Kalanginathar lie nearby.
Kolli Hills has smaller falls too, such as Masila Falls, which is easier to reach and often busy with bathers. The plateau sits at about 1,200 m and is reached by a ghat road with a long series of hairpin bends, so allow time and choose a driver used to hill roads.
Visiting from Pondicherry
Kolli Hills is about 235 km from Pondicherry, around 5 to 6 hours by road including the climb up the ghat. Agaya Gangai fits into a two- or three-day stay. Our Kolli Hills getaway includes the falls, viewpoints and the temple with a car and driver from Pondicherry. For more trips like this, see our waterfalls and weekend getaways pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps are there to Agaya Gangai Falls?
More than a thousand. Wikipedia gives 1,196 steps, though counts quoted by visitors vary. Allow about an hour down and longer to climb back.
When is the best time to visit Agaya Gangai?
During and after the monsoons, roughly August to January, when the falls has water. In the dry summer months the flow can be very thin.
How high is Agaya Gangai Falls?
It falls about 300 feet (91 m) from the edge of the Kolli plateau into a rocky gorge.
Is Agaya Gangai suitable for elderly people or small children?
The climb back up is long and steep, so it is not suitable for people with knee, heart or breathing problems or for small children. They can visit the Arapaleeswarar Temple and viewpoints instead.