Neergarh Falls: Rishikesh

Neergarh waterfalls are not one but a series of waterfalls. I had gone to Rishikesh with a batch of students and was staying in the Brahampuri area outside the town on the banks of the river Ganges.

Waterfall with the view first bridge

As part of our adventure program we did  a small trek which started from the milestone 234-235 on the National Highway 58 (Rishikesh-Badrinath). It is not a very long trek as the total length from the roadside till the top is only 1.5 km but part of the stretch have some steep gradients. One gains a total height of about 600 meters. One can reach the top in 45 minutes to an hour.

Resting Spot

There are two bridges on the waterfall - one in the middle and the second near the top waterfall. There are some resting stops as well where cement benches have been made. Also there are 3-4 places where one can get tea and other refreshments including the one at the top.

A serene waterfall

At three places on the stretch the waterfall makes a pool where if one so desires can take a dip to cool oneself. I liked the waterfall in the middle as somehow most people going up miss this one and I had the waterfall and the pool to myself for quite some time.

Natural way of chilling your drink

The highest fall is supposed to be a twin waterfall but either due to less water there was a single waterfall or maybe as there is rappelling done here the second waterfall has been manually closed.

Neergarh Waterfall & Rappelling

The rappelling experience is good for the ones who have never done it before otherwise the length to rappel face is not too big. Also they call it wet rappelling so when initially told at the camp I was excited that maybe the rappelling would be in the waterfall itself. But the only wet part of the rappelling is the fact that when you reach the bottom you hit the pool and therefore the shoes etc may get wet. Due to this reason they ask you to remove the shoes and climb barefoot till the point from where you rappel down. I did not take my shoes off till I went up and then took them off and put them in my knapsack so that I had the advantage of climbing with my shoes on and also saved them from getting wet also!

Chill yourself

As some persons rappelling down do loose the balance in the end they get completely wet and that leads to their inhibition being lifted and then people do play in the pool and even go under the waterfall.

Coming down from the top till the road head may take less than half the time one need to go up as it is all the way downhill.

Also read: Garud Chatti Waterfalls in Rajaji National Park