Dudhsagar Falls

Dudhsagar Falls (दुधसागर धबधबा in Marathi; ದೂದಸಾಗರ್ ಜಲಪಾತ in Kannada; English translation: Sea of Milk ) is a tiered waterfall 

located on the Mandovi River in the state of Goa, India, on Goa's border with the state of Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji.

Location:

The falls is in the border of Karnataka and Goa and the roads leading to it are maintained by the Goa Forest Department, and are 

closed in the rainy season. The roads are again opened from the month of October. At its base, there is a small pond. 

One can bath but in their own risk. There are also fishes in the pond and the water is very cold, even in the afternoon. 

The Waterfall is located inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary at Collem in South Goa along the western Ghats.

The surrounding area is surrounded by a deciduous forest and there are many species of birds, insects, plants and animal abound here.

The waterfall:

Dudhsagar is one of the world's most exquisite falls that lies in India.The falls lie high up in the Mandovi River's watershed and so are not particularly spectacular during the dry season. During the monsoon season however, the falls are transformed into one of the most powerful falls in India.

Dudhsagar Falls is listed as India's 5th tallest waterfall,and is 227th in the world at 310 m. The water plummets hundreds of feet in large volumes during the monsoon season, forming one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in Goa. It is a major part of the Goa ecosystem.This is a four tiered waterfall with a total height of 310 meters (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 meters (100 feet)

Transport:

The Water Fall can be reached both by road and rail. It can be reached by road from the National Highway (NH-4A). The nearest Station to the falls is Collem (South Central Railway); And the route for rail to reach the falls from Goa is Collem-Mollem - 6 km and then, Carambolim (Karmali Railway Station - Konkan Railways) and Carambolim-Old Goa-Ponda-Tiska-Mollem (total 50 km) by road. But entering the park and mountains which lead to the falls is not advisable in a normal car, and may only be accessible to SUV's and 4WD jeeps, as the road comprises a jungle track that has rivers criss crossing it at several points. The driver drops one just near the falls from where one may have to walk 1 kilometer ahead, crossing over small ways carved through the rocks at the foot of the falls. This waterfalls lies on the Londa-Margaon railway route.

The falls is in the border of Karnataka and Goa and the roads are maintained by the Goa Forest Department, and are closed in the rainy season. The roads are again opened from the month of October. 

The train route to reach the falls from Karnataka is as follows:

    Hubli

    Dharwad

    Londa

    Tinaighat

    Castle Rock

    Dudhsagar

Trekking:

Trekking in Dudhsagar is a famous tourist attraction. There are 2 abandoned shelters for the refuge of trekkers (left to the falls and right side beside the railway track) however they are available on the first come first serve basis. Medical and pure drinking water facilities are not available around Dudhsagar but one can approch the station guard at Dudhsagar railway station in emergency. There are 4 possible routes to reach Dudhsagar Falls, of which only two are accessible in monsoon.

Route 1 (Castle Rock Route)

This is the most famous route during the monsoon, Reach Castle Rock station and start a Scenic 14 km hike to Dudhsagar Water falls along the railway track, it normally takes 5–6 hours for a normal person to reach.In this route we will be passing through a number of tunnels, a board reading "Welcome to Goa" and also great views of the Valley.

Route 2 (Kulem Route)

This is equally scenic but less popular as compared to Route 1, One has to get down at Kuhlem/Collem Railway station and walk towards the falls which is about 11 km away. It normally takes 4–5 hours for a normal person to reach. The famous photograph of Trains passing through before the waterfalls can be seen in this route, and also the complete strecth of the falls will be visible while you hike towards the waterfalls.

Route 3 (Transport + Hike)

In Kulhem one can hire a 4X4 to reach the foot of the Dudhsagar waterfalls, There is a taxi stand called 'Dudhsagar Taxi stand' where one can hire a vehicle and get dropped near the falls which is 1 km hike from the dropping point. This is used in the post-pre monsoon season and is suitable for large groups with kids and ladies.

Route 4 (Kuveshi-Dudhsagar)

This is the most adventurous route and cannot be attempted in monsoon since we have to cross Mondovi river during the hike. The hike starts from a village called Kuveshi around 10 km from Castle Rock railway station. The hike is through thick jungle and is difficult to complete without experience. By this we can reach Dudhsagar Railway station which is 1 km from the falls.

In Pictures:

Flags flying, horns blaring, the Howrah-bound Amaravati Express charges down the gradient somewhere between Alnavar and Londa railway junctions.

A green blanket for Mother Earth somewhere between Alnavar and Londa junctions.

 The mood sets in as the sky showers raindrops.

A freight train hauled by a locomotive in a nice yellow cream livery switches line as it pulls into Londa Junction on a chill, wet evening.

The freight train led by the twin locos slowly slides between the rows of poles.

Men at work at Londa Junction. Many hands make light of heavy work. These are the muscles that run Indian Railways.

Welcome to Braganza, the sign announces the beginning of the trek. A yellow-cream WDG-4 #12010 loco works hard as it completes the hard climb up the Ghats. The Braganza Ghats section, on the Castle Rock-Kulem section of the South Western Railways, has gradients that necessitate the usage of locomotives with Auto Emergency Brakes.

Covered with moss, the weather-beaten wall of the old steam loco shed.

The trekkers are ready to enter Tunnel No 1, even as the clouds prepare for another burst. Note the forest above the tunnel!

The sweet smell of air and the constant chirp of birds kept them going as they walked down the ghats. This is the castle Tunnel, Braganza Ghats.

 A small waterfall near the mouth of Tunnel-3, Braganza Ghats.

 The sound made by these beasts (lead locos) was deafening.

Like glowing eyes, a pair of headlights appears around the corner from the misty jungle.

The vasco Express escapes from a tunnel and negotiates a small viaduct as it continues down the Ghats.

 A mid-ghat crossing between two trains.

At Dudhsagar railway station, the atmosphere is electrifying. Here, mist and clouds hover. The trio continues to trek towards Dudhsagar Falls.

The leading locos of Vasco Express are seen across the valley as they pull slowly into Sonalium.

The old cabin and the tunnel signal a welcome relief from rain for a few moments.

 One of the many spectacular glimpses you would get to see here.

 The first view of Dudhsagar Waterfalls.

And away she goes into the mist! Huge cheers resound from a rain-darkened train as it passes the waterfalls. What a breathtaking scene!

Monsoon turns the Dudhsagar Falls into a foaming, majestic torrent justifying its name, which literally means Ocean of Milk.

The Mandovi River, one of Goa's major lifelines, originates in the wet upper reaches of the Western Ghats in eastern Goa, on the border with Karnataka. At Dudhsagar, the Mandovi plunges down 310 metres (about 1017 feet), and claims distinction as India's fifth highest waterfall.

Through veils of misty rain, a rake hauled by twin locomotives equipped with Auto Emergency Brakes carefully negotiates the viaduct across the Dudhsagar Falls

The train moves into the immediate next tunnel, cautiously trundling down the ghats.

 Tunnels and waterfalls - a monsoon spectacle.

The Dudhsagar Falls in all its spectacular glory.  

 As a caboose passes by the falls, the wind shifts and the mist heads in our direction.

Monsoon clouds shower down rapidly, forcing passengers on the platform back into their coaches. Kulem is such a lovely station.

A monsoon portrait of the Dudhsagar falls on a cloudy day with less mist.

At Caranzol, the visibility was as bad as it was couple of days earlier.

At the end of three days of fun, bliss, adventure, surprises and thrills, the railfanning trekkers carry off plenty of pleasant memories.