Before I begin, here’s a summary of what the Dhuandhar Falls travel guide entails.

The Dhuandhar Falls travel guide includes facts about the waterfall, other must-visit sights and activities, where to stay, how to get there, the best time to visit, and travel tips.

The trip to Dhuandhar Falls was unplanned.

I was visiting Pench National Park. After three days of safari, I wasn’t ready to go home.

So, after searching nearby must-visit places, Dhuandhar Falls came up.

Next thing you know, I’m driving to Bhedaghat to see the Falls.

Dhuandhar Falls in Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh, is a beautiful waterfall on the Narmada River.

The Dhuandhar Falls gets its name from the smoky atmosphere created by the water vapour.

“Dhuan” means smoke, and “Dhar” means flow.

The waterfall plunges 30 m as a smoky cascade and flows through the Marble Rocks, a gorge made of marble.

It is an exquisite sight.

DHUANDHAR FALLS VIEWPOINT

Dhuandhar Falls viewpoint is a large metal deck overlooking the waterfall.

From here, you can see the mighty Falls and the Marble Rocks.

NOTE:- The Dhuandhar Falls viewpoint is a 15-minute walk from the parking area.

Next to the deck is a shallow pool, where visitors can bathe or swim in the sacred Narmada River.

TRAVEL TIP:- There is no changing area near the pool.

There is another viewing platform on the opposite river bank.

Take the ropeway to get here.

The ropeway offers stunning aerial views of the Dhuandhar Falls.

Also, you can see a different section of the waterfall, not visible from the other bank.

ROPEWAY TICKET:- A single round-trip ticket costs Rs.145.

ROPEWAY TIMINGS:- The ropeway is open daily from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and reopens from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

PLACES TO VISIT NEAR DHUANDHAR FALLS

Below is a list of must-visit places and must-do activities near Dhuandhar Falls.

• Marble Rocks
• Boating on the Narmada River
• Madan Mahal Fort

MARBLE ROCKS

The Narmada River drops 30 m from the Dhuandhar Falls and flows through a gorge.

The 8 km gorge is all marble, hence the name Marble Rocks.

Marble Rocks Gorge was once narrow, and monkeys crossed the river by jumping.

From then on, it’s been called “Bandar Kudni”, meaning monkey’s jumping area.

The best way to explore the Marble Rocks is by boat.

If you arrive here on Kojagari Purnima, the white marble appears silver in the moonlight, appearing ethereal.

NOTE:- Near the Dhuandhar Falls, you can shop for marble statues and souvenirs.

BOATING ON THE NARMADA RIVER

As mentioned earlier, boats are the best way to explore the Marble Rocks.

The Bhedaghat boating point is a short drive from the Dhuandhar Falls.

From here, hire a boat for one hour and traverse the gorge.

Boating is a must-do activity near Dhuandhar Falls, especially during Kojagari Purnima, when the white marble appears silver in the moonlight.

People believe during Kojagari Purnima, Amrit (elixir) from heaven is released on earth through the moonbeams.

The marble absorbs the Amrit. Therefore, boating is considered sacred during this time.

TRAVEL TIP:– Boat tickets are sold out weeks in advance for Kojagari Purnima.

BOAT TICKETS:- Private boats cost Rs.1,000 for ten people, and Public boats cost Rs.100 per person.

TIMINGS:- Boating is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, except from mid-June to October (closed), due to rains.

MADAN MAHAL FORT

I didn’t visit the fort, but I heard it is a must-visit place in Jabalpur.

It was getting late when I left Dhuandhar Falls. So it didn’t make sense to visit the palace in the evening.

This 11th-century fort, built by Raja Madan Singh, sits atop a hill overlooking Jabalpur.

Madan Mahal Fort has a master chamber where the kings entertained guests, a war room, a reservoir, a watch tower and a stable. The watch tower was high and allowed guards to keep watch on any approaching enemies.

Besides a few locals, the fort hardly receives any visitors. The historical palace makes for Instagram-worthy photos.

You have to climb around 300 steps to reach the Madan Mahal Fort. Along the way, you can see the Balancing Rock. It is a geological wonder.

NOTE:- The fort has aggressive monkeys, so be careful.

MADAN MAHAL FORT TIMINGS:- There are no fixed timings for visiting the fort. However, since the area is secluded, visit during the day.

MADAN MAHAL FORT TICKETS:- There is no entry fee. It is free.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT DHUANDHAR FALLS

The best time to visit the Dhuandhar Falls is from October to February.

It is off-season meaning fewer crowds. The temperature is low, and the weather is pleasant. After the rainy season, the waterfall has more water compared to the summer months. Boating on the Narmada River has just resumed.

The worst time to visit Dhuandhar Falls is in summer, from March to June.

Summer holidays have begun, and hundreds of families are visiting the Falls. The temperature is high. During summer, the water level of the river is lower. There are long queues for boating.

July to September are the monsoon months.

There are chances of the Narmada River overflowing. But it is also when you can see the Dhuandhar Falls at its peak. The once-white waterfall appears muddy. Boating is closed due to heavy rains.

I visited at the end of June. By then, the crowds had dwindled, and boating was closed. So if you want to make the most of your visit to Dhuandhar Falls, come during winter.

HOW TO REACH DHUANDHAR FALLS FROM PUNE ?

Dhuandhar Falls is reachable by road, train and flight.

PUNE TO DHUANDHAR FALLS BY ROAD

Dhuandhar Falls is 1035 km and takes 15 hours. The roads are in good condition except for some bad patches near Shirdi.

The toll fee for the round-trip is Rs. 1200.

Maharashtra SH 45 joins Samruddhi Mahamarg from somewhere near Sinnar.

From here, the Samruddhi Mahamarg runs for almost 600 km up to Nagpur. While the six-lane expressway is complete, there are only two-three working petrol pumps and no restaurants. So carry lots of snacks and water. Refuel your vehicles whenever possible, don’t wait for the next fuel station. You won’t find any.

PUNE TO DHUANDHAR FALLS BY TRAIN

Jabalpur train station is 22 km from Dhuandhar Falls and takes 45 minutes to reach.

Two trains run between Pune and Jabalpur- the Pune – Danapur SF Express and the Pune – Jasidih Express.

Pune – Danapur SF Express runs daily from Pune to Jabalpur and vice versa.

The Pune – Jasidih Express runs only on Fridays from Pune to Jabalpur.

You can hire taxis from the train station to take you to Dhuandhar Falls and the surrounding areas.

PUNE TO DHUANDHAR FALLS BY FLIGHT

The Jabalpur airport, 36 km away, is the closest to the Dhuandhar Falls. The drive from the airport takes one hour.

You can hire a taxi from the airport to Dhuandhar Falls.

WHERE TO STAY NEAR DHUANDHAR FALLS?

Jabalpur has a wide range of accommodations. But most of the hotels are party venues and hotels. You might have to deal with wedding festivities and other ongoing functions.

I stayed at Hotel Vijan Mahal. Shawn Elizey is another hotel near Dhuandhar Falls.

Hotel Vijan Mahal is a little further from Dhuandhar Falls.

The hotel has two buildings, one for overnight guests and the other for party venues.

The rooms are spacious, and the bathroom is clean and has hot water. Overall it is a decent option for an overnight stay. However, I did dislike one thing. The elevator to the rooms is past the kitchen and towards the back of the hotel. It feels a bit scary.

Luckily during my stay, there were no wedding festivities or other celebrations. However, that’s not always the case. So be prepared.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR DHUANDHAR FALLS

I have already added travel tips throughout the Dhuandhar Falls travel guide, but here’s a recap of all the travel tips.

• Avoid visiting the Madan Mahal Fort in the evening because it is secluded, and the monkeys in the area are aggressive.
• Pre-book your boats through a local travel agent during Kojagari Purnima. This year (2023), Kojagari Purnima is on October 28.
• Avoid Dhuandhar Falls on weekends. It is too crowded to enjoy the magnificent waterfall.
• Carry extra clothes if you wish to swim in the river.
• Boating is closed from mid-June to mid-October due to rainfall.
• Pre-book hotels, especially during the summer and on weekends.

CONCLUSION

That concludes the Dhuandhar Falls travel guide.

The Dhuandhar Falls travel guide includes facts about the waterfall, other must-visit sights and activities, where to stay, how to get there, the best time to visit, and travel tips.

I hope the Dhuandhar Falls travel guide was helpful. If I missed something or you have any queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope it ignites your wanderlust because

Nature never goes out of style.

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