Barehipani Falls, in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, is a tiered waterfall deep inside Simlipal National Park, on the Budhabalanga River. It is among India’s tallest falls, and seeing it means a forest safari on the reserve’s own terms: a fixed open season, a permit, and a gate you must clear by a set hour. This guide covers how to plan that trip from first principles.
Barehipani Falls is a two-tier waterfall of about 399 m (1,309 ft) inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Mayurbhanj, Odisha. You reach it only on a day safari during the park’s open season (roughly November to mid-June), entering through the Pithabata or Jashipur gate with an online permit and a registered guide.
Key takeaways
- Barehipani Falls drops about 399 m (1,309 ft) in two tiers on the Budhabalanga River; the Government of India’s Incredible India site calls it the tallest waterfall in Odisha.
- The falls sit inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve, which shuts for the monsoon. The official Similipal site lists the tourist season as 1 November to 15 June, and press reports put the 2026–27 reopening at 1 November 2026.
- You see the falls only on a forest safari; Pithabata gate near Baripada is the usual entrance for Barehipani, and the reserve caps entries at 60 vehicles a day (about 35 via Jashipur, 25 via Pithabata) as of October 2026.
- Every vehicle needs a registered guide and at least 180 mm ground clearance; day permits are booked online at similipal.org and night stays at ecotourodisha.com.
- The official best-time window is November to February; plan a 2-day trip from Baripada (about 45 km from Jashipur) or Bhubaneswar (about 270 km by road).
About Barehipani Falls
Barehipani Falls is a two-tier waterfall on the Budhabalanga River, inside Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The Government of India’s Incredible India listing gives its height as about 399 m (1,309 ft) in two tiers and calls it the tallest waterfall in Odisha. The water drops over the Meghasuni hill of the Eastern Ghats.
Sources differ on how to count the height. Incredible India and the Similipal Tiger Reserve website cite about 399 m overall, while the World Waterfall Database records the tallest single drop at 259 m (850 ft). You will also see a lower figure of 217 m in some travel write-ups. For planning, treat 399 m as the commonly cited two-tier total and note the single-drop figure separately.
Do not confuse this Barehipani (the Simlipal waterfall) with the nature camp of the same name used for night halts inside the reserve. The falls are a viewpoint on a safari route, not a standalone ticketed monument; access depends entirely on the park being open.
| Location | Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha |
|---|---|
| River | Budhabalanga, over the Meghasuni hill (Eastern Ghats) |
| Height | About 399 m (1,309 ft), two tiers (Incredible India; Similipal site). Tallest single drop 259 m per World Waterfall Database |
| Access | Forest safari only, within park open hours |
| Usual gate | Pithabata (Baripada side); also reachable via Jashipur routes |
| Open season | 1 November – 15 June (official Similipal site) |
Best time to visit Barehipani Falls
The best time to visit Barehipani Falls is November to February, within the park’s open season of 1 November to 15 June, according to the official Similipal site. The reserve closes for the monsoon, so the heaviest-flow months are off-limits to tourists. Early in the open season the falls still run strong from recent rain; by April–May the flow thins and the forest is hot and dry.
| Period | Conditions | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov–Feb | Cool, pleasant days; falls flowing well early on; peak season | Best overall; book early |
| Mar–mid-Jun | Warm to hot; water flow drops; park still open till 15 Jun | Fewer crowds, wildlife near water |
| Mid-Jun–Oct | Monsoon; park closed to tourists | Not accessible |
Note the tension in the sources: a few photography blogs praise the monsoon for peak flow, but the official season bars monsoon tourist entry. Plan for the open window and accept that flow will be below its monsoon maximum.
How to reach Barehipani Falls
Reach Barehipani Falls by road to a Simlipal gate, then by forest vehicle on a safari route. The official Similipal site names Balasore (about 120 km), Baripada and Jashipur (about 20 km from the reserve) as the access towns, with Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar (about 270 km by road) as the nearest airport.
By rail, Balasore on the Howrah–Chennai line is the convenient junction; Baripada also has a station, placed about 45 km from Jashipur. From the gate you cannot self-drive to the falls at will: you travel the designated route with your guide, and the Pithabata gate near Baripada is the usual entrance for Barehipani.
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jashipur | ~20 km | Kaliani gate side (north) |
| Balasore | ~120 km | Nearest major railhead |
| Kolkata | ~240 km | Road via NH; nearest metro airport option too |
| Bhubaneswar | ~270 km | Nearest airport (Biju Patnaik Intl.) |
If you are building a wider Odisha trip, our Odisha travel guide helps you slot Simlipal alongside the coast and temple towns, and the Bhubaneswar travel guide covers the arrival city if you fly in.
Permits, gates and park rules
You need an entry permit for Simlipal, booked online, before you can go anywhere near Barehipani Falls. The reserve issues day passes through its official portal, and night stays through the ecotourism portal. As of October 2026, the park caps entries at 60 vehicles a day across its gates.
Press reports for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons describe the following gate pattern: the Kaliani gate on the Jashipur side (north) and the Pithabata check gate near Baripada, with roughly 35 vehicles allowed through Jashipur and 25 through Pithabata. Reported entry windows are 5 am–9 am at Jashipur and 8 am–9 am at Pithabata, and all tourists must exit by 6 pm. Visitors heading to Barehipani and Joranda have been told to turn back from those points by early afternoon (reports cite 3 pm to 4 pm in different years), so start early.
- Booking: Day permits via similipal.org; wildlife safari and night-halt bookings via ecotourodisha.com (online only).
- Vehicle: Minimum ground clearance of 180 mm; heavy vehicles are barred. A registered guide is compulsory in each vehicle.
- Documents: Carry the government photo ID used in your booking; a written undertaking may be required at the gate.
- Eco rules: Plastic is banned, campfires are prohibited inside the protected forest, and violations can draw action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Drones are not allowed without permission.
Fees were not published in a single confirmed 2026 schedule at the time of writing. Older and undated references cite figures around ₹40 for Indians and ₹1,000 for foreigners plus a vehicle charge, and some reports quote ₹100 per tourist — treat all of these as indicative planning estimates and reconfirm the current tariff with the Field Director’s office or the official portal before you travel.
Things to see in and around Simlipal
Barehipani Falls is the headline sight, but a Simlipal day combines waterfalls, viewpoints and wildlife on one safari loop. Joranda Falls, a single-drop fall of roughly 150 m (490 ft) on the same river system, is the usual pairing with Barehipani. Open salt-lick meadows such as Chahala are where you are most likely to see elephants and deer.
| Spot | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Barehipani Falls | ~399 m two-tier waterfall viewpoint | Reach early; turn-back time enforced |
| Joranda Falls | ~150 m single-drop fall | Usually paired with Barehipani |
| Chahala | Meadow and salt licks | Good for elephants, deer |
| Gurguria / core ranges | Forest and grassland | Birding, landscape |
Simlipal is a tiger reserve, so tiger sightings are rare and not the point; most visitors come for the forest, the falls and the chance of elephants, gaur (Indian bison), deer and rich birdlife. Sightings depend on natural conditions, not on demand.
Suggested 2-day itinerary
Two days lets you reach the falls without a punishing single-day dash. A common plan from Baripada or Jashipur:
- Day 1: Drive to your base town (Baripada or Jashipur). Collect or confirm your online permit details, arrange a guide and a suitable vehicle, and rest early. If time allows, see a nearby town sight such as the Kichakeshwari Temple near Baripada.
- Day 2: Enter at your gate at the opening hour (early morning). Take the safari route to Barehipani and Joranda falls first, respecting the turn-back time, then stop at Chahala or a meadow for wildlife on the way out. Exit before 6 pm.
If you want a night inside the forest, book a nature camp (see below) and split the driving across the route over two park days instead of one.
Where to stay
You have two broad choices: nature camps and forest accommodation inside or at the edge of the reserve, booked online, or hotels in Baripada and Jashipur outside the park. Night halts inside Simlipal have been offered at camps including Gudgudia, Kumari, Ramtirtha, Barehipani and Jamuani, bookable through the ecotourism portal.
- Nature camps / eco cottages (inside): indicative ₹2,000–₹5,000 per night, often with meals included; limited and seasonal, so book well ahead. Reconfirm rates on ecotourodisha.com.
- Baripada / Jashipur hotels (outside): indicative ₹1,200–₹3,500 for budget to mid-range rooms; easiest base if camps are full.
All inside-forest stays are online-booking only and subject to the open season. These price bands are planning estimates as of October 2026 — reconfirm before booking.
Food to try
Expect simple Odia home-style meals rather than restaurants inside the forest; nature-camp packages usually include meals. In Baripada and Jashipur, look for everyday Odia dishes:
- Dalma (lentils cooked with vegetables, a staple one-pot dish).
- Pakhala (fermented or watered rice, often eaten in the warmer months with fried sides).
- Chhena poda (baked cottage-cheese dessert, an Odia signature).
- Local Mayurbhanj tribal-area produce such as seasonal greens and forest honey, where available and legal to buy.
Carry your own water and snacks for the safari itself; there are no food stalls on the forest routes.
Budget breakdown
A no-frills 2-day trip for one person, basing outside the park and doing one full safari day, works out roughly as below. These are indicative planning estimates as of October 2026 and exclude long-distance travel to the region.
| Item | Estimate | Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night) | ₹1,500 | Budget/mid room in Baripada, shared |
| Park entry + vehicle + guide | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | Shared vehicle; tariff to reconfirm |
| Local transport to gate | ₹800–₹1,500 | Taxi share from base town |
| Food (2 days) | ₹600–₹1,000 | Local meals; carry safari snacks |
| Approx. total | ₹4,400–₹7,000 | Excludes travel to the region |
Practical tips
- Book first, drive later: permits and night stays are online; do not set out assuming you can buy a pass on the spot.
- Right vehicle: you need at least 180 mm ground clearance and a registered guide; arrange both before the gate.
- Start at opening: turn-back times for the falls are enforced in the early afternoon, so an early entry is the only way to reach Barehipani comfortably.
- Network and cash: mobile coverage is patchy inside the forest; carry cash as UPI and ATMs are unreliable near the gates.
- Health and safety: the nearest hospitals are in Baripada and other district towns, not in the forest; carry basic medicines, water and a first-aid kit.
- Solo women: travel with a registered guide (mandatory anyway) and prefer organised camp bookings; plan to be out of the forest by the 6 pm exit.
- Pack by season: light cottons plus a warm layer for Nov–Feb mornings; a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water for Mar–Jun. No plastic, no single-use bottles you must carry out.
Nearby places
Pair Barehipani Falls with other Mayurbhanj sights or a wider Odisha loop. Within and around Simlipal:
| Place | Roughly | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Joranda Falls | Same safari loop | Second major Simlipal waterfall |
| Kichakeshwari Temple | Near Baripada | Historic stone temple |
| Devkund / Bhimkund | Mayurbhanj area | Waterfall-and-pool spots (check access) |
| Bhubaneswar | ~270 km | Arrival city; temples — see our Bhubaneswar guide |
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Barehipani Falls?
Barehipani Falls is about 399 m (1,309 ft) high in two tiers, according to the Government of India’s Incredible India site and the Similipal Tiger Reserve website. The World Waterfall Database lists its tallest single drop at 259 m (850 ft). Incredible India calls it the tallest waterfall in Odisha.
Is Barehipani Falls open all year?
No. Barehipani Falls sits inside Simlipal, which closes for the monsoon. The official Similipal site lists the tourist season as 1 November to 15 June, and press reports put the 2026–27 reopening at 1 November 2026. The park is shut to visitors through the rainy months, so plan within the open window.
Do I need a permit to see Barehipani Falls?
Yes. You need an entry permit for Simlipal Tiger Reserve, booked online at similipal.org for day visits and via ecotourodisha.com for night stays. Every vehicle also needs a registered guide and at least 180 mm ground clearance. Carry the photo ID used in your booking to the gate.
Which gate is best for Barehipani Falls?
The Pithabata gate near Baripada is the usual entrance for Barehipani Falls. The Kaliani gate on the Jashipur side is the other main entry. Daily entries are capped (about 35 vehicles via Jashipur and 25 via Pithabata, 60 total as of October 2026), so book early and arrive at opening time.
How do I reach Barehipani Falls?
Drive to a Simlipal gate, then take a forest safari route to the falls. The access towns are Baripada and Jashipur (about 20 km from the reserve), with Balasore (about 120 km) the nearest major railhead and Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar (about 270 km) the nearest airport, per the official Similipal site.
Can I see tigers or elephants at Simlipal?
Possibly, but sightings are never guaranteed. Simlipal is a tiger reserve where tigers are elusive; visitors more often see elephants, gaur, deer and birds, especially around meadows and salt licks such as Chahala. Sightings depend on natural conditions, and the trip is best treated as a forest-and-waterfall experience.
Last updated and sources
Go if you want one of India’s tallest waterfalls set inside a working tiger reserve, and you are happy to travel on the forest’s schedule. The sweet spot is a 2-day trip from Baripada or Bhubaneswar between November and February, started early on your safari day.
Last updated: 30 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Incredible India — Barehipani Waterfall; Simlipal Tiger Reserve official site (plan your visit, how to reach, entry gates, waterfalls); Eco Tour Odisha — Similipal (stays and safari booking); Business News Week — Similipal to reopen 1 November, 60-vehicle cap; OdishaTV — revised timings and entry rules; Wikipedia — Barehipani Falls (for primary-source leads: World Waterfall Database, Similipal site). Accessed September 2026.
