By Ashok SP
Hogenakkal Falls, often known as the ‘Niagara Falls of India’, is a natural wonder hidden in a forest village. The Hogenakkal can be reached from Kochi via Palakkad, Coimbatore, Avinashi, Erode, and Mettur. Majority of the people depend on tourists for their livelihood. Actually, Hogenakkal is a forest village. This is a place visited by lot of tourists. However, the progress that should result from tourism is nowhere seen in this place. Even though it is a forest village, the wild beauty of the forest and the sploosh of the river have a soothing effect on our eyes and mind. The banks of the Kaveri River are Sathyamangalam Forest areas, a place which was once reigned over by Veerappan. One side of the river bank belongs to Karnataka and the other side to Tamil Nadu.There are 2 types of coracle boat rides. One type costs Rs. 800 and it starts from where the vehicles are parked and goes round the waterfalls. The other ride costs Rs. 2000 and starts from Hogenakkal going 3 km into the forest and coming back by coracle boat through the river. In the Rs.2000 ride, 4 people can travel including the boatman.
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