Joranda Falls is a single-drop waterfall hidden deep in the core of Simlipal National Park, in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. It is one of the two famous cascades of the reserve, the other being the much taller Barehipani. Because it sits inside a working tiger reserve, you cannot simply drive up to it on a whim; the visit is really a Simlipal visit, bound by the park’s gates, timings and rules. This guide gathers what is verified, and flags what is not.
Joranda Falls, in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, is a roughly 150-metre single-drop fall in the core of Simlipal National Park. You reach it only inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve, which opens for tourists for a limited season each year, usually from around November to mid-June.
Key takeaways
- Joranda Falls is a single-drop waterfall of about 150 m (490 ft) in the core of Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, per the Incredible India listing.
- You can see it only inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve, which runs a limited tourist season roughly November to mid-June; the 2025-26 season opened on 18 October 2025, per Odisha TV.
- The nearest town and railhead is Baripada (around 60 km away by park roads, indicative); the nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.
- A registered guide is compulsory and all vehicles must exit the reserve before 6 pm, per the reserve’s reopening rules as of October 2025.
- The far taller Barehipani Falls, about 399 m and described by Odisha Tourism as India’s second highest, lies in the same reserve.
- Monsoon and post-monsoon give the fullest flow, but the park itself closes during the peak monsoon when internal roads are cut.
About Joranda Falls
Joranda Falls is a plunge waterfall of about 150 metres (490 ft) that drops in a single fall within the core zone of Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The Incredible India page describes it plunging “from a height of around 150 metres,” and the Wikipedia entry gives the same 150 m (490 ft) as a single drop, placing the fall at about 21.94°N, 86.40°E.
A quick note on the name. Do not confuse this waterfall with Joranda Gadi in Dhenkanal district, which is the headquarters of the Mahima Dharma sect and a well-known pilgrimage site with its own Magha Mela. They are different places in different districts; the falls covered here are the Simlipal cascade in Mayurbhanj.
The falls share the reserve with Barehipani, a two-tiered cascade of about 399 metres (1,309 ft) that Odisha Tourism calls the second highest waterfall in India and the highest in Odisha. Simlipal itself is a Project Tiger reserve (notified in 1973), a national park, and a biosphere reserve added to the UNESCO list in 2009. You will hear local claims that Joranda is sacred; we could not verify that in any official or primary source this session, so treat it as unconfirmed rather than fact.
Best time to visit
The best window for Joranda Falls is the cooler, drier part of the tourist season, roughly November to February, when the park is open, roads are usable and wildlife is active. The fall carries the most water in and just after the monsoon, but the reserve closes during peak monsoon, so you rarely see it at full roar legally.
Simlipal’s tourist season runs only part of the year. The 2025-26 season reopened on 18 October 2025 after an extended monsoon, per Odisha TV; in other recent years the park has reopened in early-to-mid October or on 1 November. It usually closes again around mid-June.
| Period | Conditions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| November–February | Cool, dry, pleasant | Best for touring; park open; good wildlife activity |
| March–mid-June | Warm to hot | Park open; water flow thinner late in the dry spell |
| Mid-June–mid-October | Monsoon | Park usually closed; internal roads cut by rain |
How to reach Joranda Falls
You reach Joranda Falls by road through Simlipal Tiger Reserve, entering at one of the authorised gates, most commonly from Baripada or Jashipur. There is no direct public transport to the fall; access is by permitted private or hired vehicle with a guide, within the reserve’s entry hours.
By air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, the state capital, per the Incredible India listing. From there it is a long road transfer (indicative: around 250 km to Baripada — reconfirm) to the Simlipal belt.
By rail: The nearest railheads are Mayurbhanj Road station and Baripada. From Baripada you continue by road to a park gate.
By road: Baripada is the usual base town. Travel blogs put Joranda at roughly 60 km from Baripada along the reserve’s internal roads; treat that as an indicative distance, as figures vary by route and source. Inside the park a vehicle needs a minimum ground clearance of 180 mm, per the reserve’s 2024-25 rules.
| From | Mode | Distance / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baripada (base town / railhead) | Road, via park gate | ~60 km by internal roads (indicative) |
| Jashipur gate | Road, within reserve | Northern entry point; guide and permit required |
| Pithabata gate (near Baripada) | Road, within reserve | Baripada-side entry point |
| Bhubaneswar airport | Air + road | ~250 km to Baripada (indicative) |
What to see and do
The main draw is the single plunge of Joranda Falls itself, best framed from the forest viewpoint reached on foot after the drive in. Around it, the reserve offers the towering Barehipani Falls, wildlife safaris and sal-forest trekking, so most visitors treat Joranda as one stop on a Simlipal circuit rather than a standalone trip.
- Joranda Falls viewpoint: a short forest walk from the vehicle point; mist forms on sunny days, per Incredible India. Allow about an hour.
- Barehipani Falls: the two-tiered ~399 m fall, India’s second highest per Odisha Tourism, in the same reserve.
- Jeep safari: morning safaris start around 5:30 am and run about five hours; afternoon safaris start around 2 pm for about four hours, per the 2025 reopening rules.
- Chahala and other meadows and salt-lick points inside the reserve, for wildlife watching with your guide.
| Spot / activity | Why go | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Joranda Falls viewpoint | The single ~150 m plunge; the main sight | ~1 hour |
| Barehipani Falls | ~399 m two-tiered fall nearby | 1–2 hours with drive |
| Jeep safari | Sal forest, birdlife, chance of wildlife | 4–5 hours |
| Forest trails near the falls | Birds and butterflies, per Incredible India | 1–2 hours |
Suggested itinerary
A two-day plan works best, because gate hours and the long drive in make a same-day round trip from outside the region rushed. Base yourself at Baripada or inside the reserve and enter early.
- Day 1: Reach Baripada; complete permits and arrange a guide and a park-cleared vehicle. If time and a night-halt booking allow, enter and stay at an eco-cottage inside the reserve.
- Day 2: Enter at the opening hour, drive to the core, see Joranda Falls and, if your permit covers it, Barehipani. Keep an eye on the exit deadline and leave the reserve before the required exit time.
If you only have a day, enter at the earliest gate hour, prioritise Joranda, and skip the farther points. Distances inside the reserve are long and roads are slow.
Where to stay
Your two realistic options are eco-cottages inside Simlipal (booked in advance online) or hotels in Baripada outside the reserve. There are no private hotels at the falls, so an in-park night halt is the way to be at the core for the early hours.
- Inside the reserve (government eco-cottages): camps such as Gudgudia, Kumari, Ramtirtha, Barehipani and Jamuani, bookable online via the Odisha ecotourism portal and similipal.org. The booking amount is reported to include food and lodging.
- Baripada (budget to mid-range): the main town for hotels and lodges; indicative ₹1,200–₹3,500 per night (planning estimate — reconfirm), useful if in-park cottages are full.
- Luxury: limited in the immediate area; the Belgadia Palace heritage stay near Baripada is an upper-end option (tariff varies — confirm directly).
In-park cottages are few and sell out in season, so book as early as you can. Rates were not verifiable to a single official figure this session; treat any number as indicative and confirm on the official portal.
Food to try
Expect simple Odia meals rather than a restaurant scene; inside the reserve, food usually comes with your eco-cottage booking. In Baripada you will find everyday Odia fare.
- Dalma (lentils cooked with vegetables) — a staple Odia dish.
- Pakhala (fermented rice in water, often with sides) — common in the warmer months.
- Chhena poda (baked cottage-cheese dessert) — a well-known Odia sweet.
- Carry your own water and snacks for the long drive in; shops are scarce inside the core.
Budget breakdown
A realistic Simlipal-with-Joranda trip is driven by vehicle hire, the compulsory guide and park charges rather than by food or stay. The figures below are planning estimates, not quoted official rates, because fees differed between sources this session.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Park entry | ~₹100 per tourist | Reported across recent seasons; older notices listed ₹40 — confirm at gate |
| Vehicle + fuel (shared) | ₹1,500–₹3,000 | Park-cleared vehicle; shared across the group |
| Guide | Shared, compulsory | A registered guide is mandatory per vehicle |
| Stay (one night) | ₹1,200–₹3,500 | Baripada hotel, or in-park cottage (booking includes meals) |
| Food | ₹300–₹600 | Simple local meals |
Assumptions: two people sharing a vehicle and room, self-drive transfers to Baripada excluded. Reconfirm all figures on similipal.org or at the gate counter before you travel.
Permits and rules
Yes, you need a permit: entry to Joranda Falls means entering Simlipal Tiger Reserve, which requires a gate permit, valid photo ID and a registered guide. There is no separate international permit (ILP) for this area, but the reserve’s own rules are strict and enforced under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Gates and caps: entry is through the Jashipur and Pithabata gates, with a daily cap of 60 vehicles (about 35 via Jashipur and 25 via Pithabata), per the 2025 reopening rules.
- Timings (as of October 2025): Jashipur entry 5 am–9 am and Pithabata entry 8 am–9 am; all vehicles must exit before 6 pm. A 2021 notice additionally required leaving the Barehipani and Joranda points by 3 pm, so plan to turn back early.
- Vehicle: minimum 180 mm ground clearance; heavy vehicles barred.
- Prohibited: plastic bags and alcohol are banned; night driving and movement after sunset are not allowed.
- Booking: day permits are issued at gate counters; night halts must be booked online in advance via the Odisha ecotourism portal or similipal.org.
Drone use in a tiger reserve requires prior forest-department permission; assume it is not allowed without written clearance. Exact fees and the current season’s timings change each year, so confirm them before you go.
Practical tips
Treat Joranda as a remote-forest trip: plan around the gate clock, carry cash, and keep your documents ready. The core is a long, slow drive from the gate, with no services once you are inside.
- Connectivity: expect patchy to no mobile network inside the reserve; download maps and share your plan before entering.
- Cash and UPI: carry enough cash; ATMs and reliable UPI are in Baripada, not inside the park.
- Health and safety: the nearest sizeable hospital is at Baripada, the district town; there is no altitude concern here, as the fall sits in forested hills, not high mountains.
- Solo women travellers: the compulsory guide and vehicle system means you are not alone in the core; still, start early, keep to the exit deadline and prefer a reputable operator.
- Packing: sturdy shoes, layers for cool mornings in winter, rain protection near the season edges, water and snacks, and a power bank.
For planning the wider trip, see our Odisha travel guide, and if you are routing through the state capital, our Bhubaneswar travel guide covers the nearest airport city.
Nearby places
Joranda pairs naturally with Simlipal’s other sights and with the towns on the way in. The table lists the closest worthwhile stops; distances are indicative.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Barehipani Falls | Same reserve | India’s second highest fall, ~399 m, per Odisha Tourism |
| Chahala | Within reserve | Meadow and wildlife-watching point |
| Baripada | ~60 km (indicative) | Base town; hotels, ATMs, railhead |
| Simlipal core trails | Within reserve | Sal forest, birds and butterflies |
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Joranda Falls?
Joranda Falls is in the core of Simlipal National Park, in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, at roughly 21.94°N, 86.40°E. It is a single-drop waterfall of about 150 metres. The usual base town is Baripada, and the nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
How do I reach Joranda Falls?
You reach Joranda Falls by road inside Simlipal Tiger Reserve, entering at the Jashipur or Pithabata gate with a permit and a registered guide. There is no direct public transport; you travel by a park-cleared vehicle. From Baripada it is roughly 60 km on internal forest roads (indicative).
When is the best time to visit Joranda Falls?
The best time is November to February, when Simlipal is open, roads are usable and the weather is cool. Water flow is strongest in and just after the monsoon, but the reserve closes during peak monsoon, usually from around mid-June to October, so the fullest flow is rarely accessible.
Do I need a permit to see Joranda Falls?
Yes. Seeing Joranda Falls means entering Simlipal Tiger Reserve, which requires a gate permit, valid photo ID and a compulsory registered guide. Day permits are issued at the gate counters; night halts must be booked online in advance. No separate inner-line permit applies to this area.
How much does it cost to enter Simlipal for Joranda Falls?
Recent forest-department notices have reported an entry fee of around ₹100 per tourist (indicative — reconfirm), with vehicle and camera charges separate; older notices listed ₹40 per person. Figures differed by source and year this session, so confirm the current rate at the gate counter or on similipal.org before travelling.
Is Joranda Falls the same as Joranda in Dhenkanal?
No. Joranda Falls is the Simlipal waterfall in Mayurbhanj district. Joranda Gadi, in Dhenkanal district, is the pilgrimage headquarters of the Mahima Dharma sect, known for its Magha Mela. They are different places; this guide covers only the Mayurbhanj waterfall.
Last updated and sources
Joranda Falls suits travellers who want a quiet forest waterfall as part of a Simlipal wildlife trip, not a quick roadside stop. Go in the cool, dry months, book early, and build your day around the gate timings.
Last updated: 3 November 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Incredible India — Joranda Waterfall; Wikipedia — Joranda Falls (height, coordinates, citing the World Waterfall Database); Odisha Tourism — Barehipani (second highest in India); Odisha TV — Similipal 2025-26 reopening, timings and vehicle rules (18 October 2025); Outlook Traveller — Similipal reopening and rules (10 October 2024); OdishaBytes — gates, vehicle caps, exit timings and night halt (28 October 2021); Wikipedia — Joranda Gadi, Dhenkanal (disambiguation). Accessed November 2026.
