Top 10 Waterfalls in Nepal
Nepal's waterfalls divide between monsoon-fed lowland torrents and Himalayan glacier-fed alpine plunges. The Pokhara basin and the Annapurna trekking routes hold the highest concentration of significant falls. Monsoon season — roughly mid-June through September — delivers the most powerful flows, but post-monsoon October and November combine good water levels with clear skies and comfortable trekking temperatures. All ten are on the map.
1. Devi's Fall (Patale Chhango), Pokhara
Devi's Fall, locally known as Patale Chhango ("hell's fall"), sits on the southern edge of Pokhara city and is one of Nepal's most visited natural sights. The Pardi Khola river drops into a deep sinkhole and disappears entirely underground — no visible exit exists downstream, which puzzled early observers. The fall is named for a Swiss tourist, reportedly Mrs. Davis, who drowned at the site in 1961 when an underground passage collapsed. The chasm is roughly 20 metres wide and impressively deep during monsoon. A small fee covers entry; the site includes a viewpoint platform directly above the sinkhole, and just across the road is the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, which allows you to peer at the base of the falls from inside the rock. The fall is at its most impressive from July to September; during spring and dry winter months the flow reduces dramatically. Pokhara is a two-hour bus or taxi ride from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, or served by frequent domestic flights (30 minutes).
2. Hyatung Falls, Tehrathum
At approximately 367 metres, Hyatung Falls (also called Sauteni or Sotheni Falls) is widely considered Nepal's tallest waterfall. It lies in remote Tehrathum district in the hilly eastern region, dropping in three dramatic tiers through subtropical and temperate forest. Reaching it requires about four hours of rough jeep travel from Dharan (the nearest significant town, at the base of the Dhankuta road) followed by a two-hour walk on footpath. The surrounding area is part of Nepal's mid-hill terrain, with elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 metres. Monsoon months offer the highest flow, but the track becomes muddy and difficult; October and November give a good balance. Very few foreign trekkers visit, making it a genuinely off-the-beaten-path experience. Birendra Nagar and Dharan are the usual bases; simple teahouse lodging is available in Tehrathum Bazaar.
3. Rupse Falls (Tatopani), Mustang
Rupse Falls sits beside the Kali Gandaki highway in the lower Mustang section of the Annapurna Circuit, near the hot-spring village of Tatopani at roughly 1,200 metres elevation. The falls cascade down the gorge wall in multiple threads, plainly visible from the road. What makes Rupse noteworthy is its context: the Kali Gandaki gorge is one of the deepest river gorges on earth, with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna rising over 7,000 metres on either side within horizontal distance. The fall receives glacier and snowmelt year-round but is most voluminous in monsoon. Tatopani village, just a few kilometres away, is famous for its natural hot springs — a classic stop for Annapurna Circuit trekkers whose knees need relief after days of descent from Thorung La Pass (5,416 m). The trailhead town Beni is about two hours by jeep from Pokhara.
4. Bhotekoshi Falls
The Bhotekoshi River rushes south from the Tibetan plateau through a steep limestone gorge before crossing into Nepal near Kodari and the Friendship Bridge border crossing. Several significant cascades staircase along this stretch, collectively called Bhotekoshi Falls. The river is one of Nepal's most intense for white-water rafting — Class IV–V rapids, particularly in the section between Lamosangu and the gorge below. The area sits roughly 110 km northeast of Kathmandu along the Araniko Highway. At around 700–900 metres elevation, the climate is subtropical. Rafting companies in Kathmandu run overnight and multi-day trips here. The Nepal–Tibet border closure after political events has periodically affected access; check current road and border status before planning.
5. Begnas Falls, Pokhara
East of Pokhara, beyond the serene Begnas and Rupa lakes, a modest but photogenic cascade tumbles through forest on the outflow stream draining higher ground toward Begnas Lake (at about 680 metres). The fall is smaller than the Pokhara valley's headline attractions but rewards those exploring the quieter eastern end of the Pokhara basin. Begnas Taal is only 14 km from Lakeside Pokhara and makes a half-day trip by bicycle or taxi. The lakes themselves are ideal for kayaking and boating, and the surrounding ridges offer views toward Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. Bird life is particularly rich around the lake edges in the early morning.
6. Phoksundo Falls, Dolpa
Phoksundo Falls drops approximately 150 metres below Shey Phoksundo Lake (3,611 m), Nepal's deepest lake, in the remote Shey Phoksundo National Park in Dolpa district. The turquoise lake — its colour derived from dissolved minerals — drains over the falls into the Phoksundo Khola. The park protects one of the most intact Himalayan and trans-Himalayan ecosystems in Nepal, including snow leopards, blue sheep, and Himalayan wolves. Access requires a Lower Dolpa restricted area permit plus the national park fee — together these amount to a moderate cost. The standard trekking approach is from Juphal Airport (connected by small aircraft from Nepalgunj), then a three- to five-day walk depending on route. October and early November are the best months — stable weather and excellent light. The fall is most powerful in late monsoon (September).
7. Jhumlawang Falls, Rukum
Jhumlawang Falls is a roadside cascade in Rukum district (now split into East and West Rukum) in central-western Nepal, visible from the Chaurjahari–Musikot highway that connects the district headquarters. The fall drops in several tiers through forested hillside above the road. Rukum is remote mid-hill country at elevations between 1,500 and 2,800 metres, and most visitors arrive via the newly extended road network from Dang or Surkhet. There is no significant international trekking infrastructure here, but the fall is a convenient stop for those travelling overland through mid-western Nepal. Flow peaks in monsoon and remains decent through October.
8. Naina Bhagwati Falls, Sindhuli
In Sindhuli district, roughly midway on the Kathmandu–Janakpur road (the BP Highway), a forest cascade known as Naina Bhagwati Falls tumbles through dense hill forest and past a small shrine to the goddess Bhagwati. The fall is locally sacred — pilgrimage visits are concentrated in winter months, particularly around the Maghe Sankranti festival in mid-January. Sindhuli Gadhi, the district centre, sits at about 1,200 metres on the highway. The surrounding Sindhuli hills are ecologically rich with subtropical and lower temperate forest, and the BP Highway drive itself passes through lush landscapes rare elsewhere in Nepal's accessible interior.
9. Bhairabsthan Falls, Palpa
Palpa district in the Gandaki Province is known primarily for the historic Newari town of Tansen, at about 1,370 metres. Near the Bhairabsthan temple — a significant local religious site — a cascade falls through forested terrain and can be combined with the temple visit and a viewpoint walk overlooking the Kaligandaki valley below. Tansen is roughly three hours by road from Pokhara. The town is also famous for Dhaka textile weaving and metalwork. The falls are seasonal, most compelling in monsoon and the early post-monsoon period; by February the flow is minimal.
10. Tinjure Falls, Ilam
Ilam district in the far east of Nepal is the heartland of Nepalese tea cultivation, with terraced gardens at 1,400–2,000 metres producing some of the country's best first-flush teas. Tinjure Falls drops through the forested hills near the Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale rhododendron corridor — one of the most diverse rhododendron habitats on earth, with over 30 species including the towering Rhododendron arboreum that bloom brilliant red from March to April. The falls can be incorporated into treks along the Pathivara or Sandakphu approaches. Ilam town is accessible from Birtamod on the East–West Highway, about four hours from Biratnagar Airport. The post-monsoon period and the rhododendron season are both ideal for this corner of Nepal.
Seasons and logistics
Nepal's waterfall season peaks in monsoon (June–September) for maximum flow, but October–November is the practical sweet spot — post-monsoon skies are clear, trails are dry, and water levels remain high from the previous season's rains. Mountain flights from Kathmandu reach Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, and Dhangadhi, giving access to waterfalls across the country's geographic breadth. All ten falls here are pinned on our interactive map.