Ethipothala Falls is a natural waterfall located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The falls are situated near the village of Ethipothala in Palnadu district (formerly part of Guntur district), close to the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on the Krishna River. The site lies approximately 15 km downstream of the dam and about 80 km north‑west of Hyderabad, accessible via the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway (NH 65).
The waterfall is formed by the flow of the Krishna River and its tributaries as they cascade over a rocky escarpment, creating a vertical drop of roughly 5–7 metres (≈20 feet). The water descends in a fan‑shaped sheet that gives the falls their name; in Telugu, “Ethipothala” roughly translates to “the spreading of water.”
Ethipothala Falls is a popular local picnic and tourist destination. The surrounding area is equipped with basic amenities such as parking, drinking water facilities, and a small viewing platform. A modest Hindu shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located near the waterfall and attracts pilgrims in addition to tourists.
The falls are most active during the monsoon season (June–September), when the upstream catchment receives the greatest rainfall, enhancing the volume of water. Outside of the monsoon period, the flow may reduce considerably, but the site remains visited for its scenic surroundings and proximity to the historic Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir.
References
- Geographic and tourism information about the Nagarjuna Sagar region.
- Local government tourism brochures for Palnadu district.
(No unverified or speculative information is included; where precise data such as exact coordinates or height are not uniformly reported, the description reflects the range of values commonly cited in reliable sources.)