Sightseeing
Gandahati Waterfall
The Mahendratanaya river drops through forest near Mohana, inside a small deer park. A short, easy trail leads to the pools — a favourite half-day trip.
Falls in a deer sanctuary
About Gandahati Waterfall
Gandahati sits on the edge of a reserve forest in the Mohana block of Gajapati. The falls are fed by the Mahendratanaya, which rises on Mahendragiri, and run strongest from July to November; by late spring they can slow to a trickle.
A fenced enclosure beside the falls shelters spotted deer, and the surrounding sal forest is good for butterflies and small birds. Simple steps and a viewing platform make the main pool accessible for most visitors.
What you can do
- Waterfall trail
- Deer park
- Riverside picnic
- Butterfly watching
Plan the trip
How to reach
- About 38 km from the campus (1 hr 20 min) on the Mohana road; a metalled road runs almost to the site, then a flight of steps leads down to the pool.
- Best as a half-day trip — reception arranges a car and a packed breakfast.
- Flow is heaviest August–December. In the dry months the falls are gentle but the deer park and forest walk are still worthwhile.
Photographs
Gandahati Waterfall
Photographs: Dream is ToExplore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Soumyajyoti1997, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.