In the last few years, the Dudhsagar waterfalls have become a popular weekend destination, especially for those travelling from cities like Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore (all thanks to a certain Bollywood movie). Most tourists to Goa these days make the Dudhsagar waterfalls a part of their itinerary for Goa.
Because they are so huge, there are a number of ways to visit Dudhsagar waterfalls. They can also be visited from different location via different routes. All of these options can make planning a trip to the Dudhsagar waterfalls really confusing. If you’ve got just a weekend, you can’t afford to lose a day in a messed up travel plan. We hear you!
This guide to the Dudhsagar waterfalls will break down all your options for a visit to these waterfalls. This guide covers trekking to the Dudhsagar waterfalls, as well as doing the jeep safari, on a self-planned trip or a package group tour. This guide will help you plan any kind of visit to Dudhsagar waterfalls.
But first up, the thunderous cascading star of the visit – the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
A picture speaks a thousand words. But even a thousand pictures fall short of what hit us when we first laid our eyes on these Dudhsagar waterfalls.
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We have visited the Dudhsagar waterfalls twice:
- By trekking over the railway tracks independently, in the monsoon
- By taking a jeep safari tour to the Dudhsagar waterfalls
In this guide, we will address all the issues we faced while visiting these waterfalls.
There are three different ways of visiting the Dudhsagar waterfalls:
- Trek to the Dudhsagar waterfalls – most popular in the monsoon months (June to September). Jump directly to this part.
- Jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls – starts post-monsoon (typically operates from October end to May). Jeep safaris for 2019 have already started. Jump directly to this part.
- A third not so popular way of visiting the Dudhsagar waterfalls – for seasoned trekkers.
Where are the Dudhsagar waterfalls located?
The Dudhsagar waterfalls (Dudh: milk, Sagar: sea) are located on the Goa-Karnataka border. They are part of the Western Ghats – a mountain range in Southwest India.
It is a four-tiered waterfall with different ways to reach each level. The mountains from which the Dudhsagar waterfalls emerge are in Karnataka and the forest in which they fall is in Goa.
The base of these waterfalls is in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mollem district of South Goa. It is a lush green sanctuary, characteristic to the forests of the Western Ghats.
How to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls?
Because they straddle the two states of Goa and Karnataka, and because they are so big (they are among the highest waterfalls in India), there are multiple ways to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- You can take the train to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- You can reach near the Dudhsagar waterfalls by car or bus.
- You can also trek to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- Or, you can reach these waterfalls by jeep.
How to reach Dudhsagar waterfalls by train?
- You can take the train to the Dudhsagar waterfalls either from the Goa side or the Karnataka side.
- If you are travelling from Mumbai/Pune/Goa, you will have to reach Kulem for visiting the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The trains to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls while travelling from Mumbai/Pune/Goa are:
- The Amravati Express or Goa Express from Pune to Kulem.
- The Vasco-Kulem Daily Passenger runs every day from Madgaon/ Vasco in Goa to Kulem. If you are already in Goa, go to the Madgaon or Vasco railway stations and board this train.
Watch out: The station just before Kulem is Kalem. The names look and sound familiar. We have seen travellers mix up Kulem and Kalem. Do not get off the train at Kalem. Kulem is the last station for the passenger train.
- To visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls from Bangalore, you need a train that goes to Castle Rock (and further to Kulem, for a jeep safari). The options for trains that go directly from Bangalore to Dudhsagar, though limited, are as follows:
- The direct trains from Bangalore to Castle Rock (Yesvantpur Vasco da Gama Express/ Velankanni Vasco da Gama Express/ Chennai Central Vasco da Gama Weekly) do not run daily.
- There are several trains from Bangalore to Londa Junction and take a connecting train from Londa to Castle Rock. You can also take a taxi from Londa. The distance of Londa to Castle Rock is around 30 km.
How to reach Dudhsagar waterfalls by car?
- The Dudhsagar waterfalls are not directly accessible by road, which means you can not drive your car all the way to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- You will have to drive up to Kulem. From Kulem you can either trek to the Dudhsagar waterfalls or take a jeep safari via the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The parking lot in Kulem is a 2-minute walk from the Kulem Railway station.
- Distance from North Goa (Baga) to Kulem is 80 km.
- Distance from Madgaon to Kulem is 45 km.
- Bangalore to Kulem is a driving distance of 539 km. Once off the national highway 48, you will drive towards Mollem. The road is carved through the Mollen National Park.
- If you are driving down from Pune or Mumbai, you can take the national highway 48 to Belgaum. Then get off the highway and drive towards Mollem via Khanapur.
Map of how to reach Kulem from Pune, Panaji, Madgaon and Bangalore
Your mode of transport primarily depends on whether you want to trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls or take the jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls
- In Goa, your trek to the Dudhsagar waterfalls will start by climbing up the railway tracks from Kulem. You will climb up the Braganza ghat, crossing several tunnels and reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The trekking distance from Kulem to the Dudhsagar waterfalls is 11 km. It is a slightly uphill walk.
- If you start in Karnataka, you will trek over the railway tracks from Castle Rock. The trekking distance from Castle Rock to the Dudhsagar waterfalls is roughly 14 km.
- You can get off the Amravati Express at Sonalium which is an unscheduled stop. At Sonalium, you will have to climb down the ladder and jump off the train. There is no platform here. From Sonalium you have to walk roughly 3 km to reach Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Start of the trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls
It’s fun walking through this section of the railway tracks in the middle of the forest through numerous tunnels. But you have to be mindful the whole while to the sound of approaching trains. By trekking over the railway tracks, you reach the middle tier of the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
The railway tracks trace a horseshoe (U) over the valley approaching the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The first glimpse of the waterfalls is, hence, from across the valley.
Our guide knew the exact point at which we would see the waterfalls. When the train got there, he started shouting “camera ready, viewpoint, viewpoint”.
We readied our cameras. The train slowly (and extremely steadily) approached the viewpoint – and we froze. We just couldn’t take our eyes off the majestic Dudhsagar waterfalls. At that moment, we couldn’t care about the camera, the photograph, the viewpoint or anything else.
The Dudhsagar waterfalls, even from that far across the valley, had hypnotised us.
Trekking to the pool at the base of Dudhsagar waterfalls
At this point, you can trek down from the tracks into the forest of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. Companies which offer trek to Dudhsagar waterfalls, often take this route. Through the forest, you reach the bottom tier of these waterfalls. You can return to Kulem via the forest route.
Important point note: This trekking option is not available in the monsoon. The Mandovi river, over which the Dudhsagar waterfalls are located swells in the monsoon and flow with an enormous force.
You can combine trek and travel by train to reach Dudhsagar waterfalls
- Dudhsagar Railway station is part of the Southwest Railway division of the Indian Railways.
Passenger trains do not stop at Dudhsagar railway station. There is no platform here. You can get off the train only if the train gets a signal at Dudhsagar. You will then need to climb down the ladder and jump onto the ground.
Words of caution: You need to be fit enough to jump off the train directly on the railway tracks. Travelling with babies or dependent seniors is a strict no-no. - If you manage to get off at the Dudhsagar railway station, you will have to walk back for around 1 km to reach the waterfalls.
Be warned: Boarding and deboarding at the Dudhsagar railway station are officially not allowed by the Railway Police. - If you take the Amravati Express or the Vasco Kulem passenger in the morning, you can easily return to Madgaon by boarding the Amravati Express from Sonalium (doesn’t operate on Sundays).
Our journey to Dudhsagar waterfalls
We travelled on a passenger train from Madgaon to Kulem. At Kulem, we boarded a goods train. Some local guys agreed to be our guides and fixed us up with the motorman of the train that was going to leave soon.
We stood on the edge holding onto the railing outside the engine of the goods train. Travelling up the steep Braganza pass on the seamless tracks through a lush green forest in a rhythmic motion, with the wind in our faces, we felt one with nature!
From a distance, it looks like the surroundings of the Dudhsagar waterfalls are covered in clouds. It is actually just the spray from the waterfalls. Its momentum is so strong, it actually crosses over to the other side of the railway tracks. We had to put our camera away to prevent it from being sprayed over.
Rules about trekking to Dudhsagar waterfalls through the railway tracks
Before we go ahead, read this:
Walking on the railway tracks is banned by the Railway Police. You are officially not allowed to access the Dudhsagar waterfalls through the railway tracks.
Since the ban was put in place, we have received contradictory feedback from our readers who visited the Dudhsagar waterfalls individually. While some managed to easily walk over the railway tracks, others were stopped by the Railway Police and forced to turn back.
We have also heard narrations of Railway Police standing near the Dudhsagar waterfalls in the monsoon and ensuring no one gets off the train.
When we travelled to the Dudhsagar waterfalls by the goods train, the ban was NOT in place and we did not face any problems.
If you are planning a self-organised trek to the Dudhsagar waterfalls, there will be some uncertainty.
Jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls
Map of the route to Dudhsagar waterfalls by jeep safari
A jeep safari through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is the recommended and the officially permitted way to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Why we chose a tour to visit Dudhsagar waterfalls by jeep safari?
“Jeeps cross several streams through a dense forest”, we had heard of the drive to the Dudhsagar waterfalls through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. This line had stayed with us ever since.
To visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls along this route via the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, we had to first reach Kulem. It’s a roughly 2-hr drive of around 80 km from Baga/Calangute to Kulem.
Once you cross the bridge to Panaji and take the road to Ponda, the winding road starts. It’s a beautiful forested route, through the hilly villages of Goa. This isn’t your typical landscape of Goa of the sand and waves.
We didn’t feel like venturing on such a long undulating route on a bike. And it’s a well-known fact that cabs can be prohibitively expensive in Goa. We felt it made sense to sign up for a jeep safari tour to Dudhsagar waterfalls.
What all did our tour to Dudhsagar waterfalls include?
- Pick up and drop right our hotel on the Baga-Calangute road in North Goa
- Tickets to the Dudhsagar waterfalls – cost of the jeep safari and life jacket (which is compulsory). We had to pay separate camera charges at the gate of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Local Goan lunch at a spice plantation
- Sightseeing in old Goa
It was a good deal, freeing up our time to soak in the sights of Goa we weren’t familiar with.
The driver called us the previous night to confirm the pickup location and time. On the day of our jeep safari, we received another call from the driver ten minutes prior to our pick up time, to ask if we were ready. Promptly at 6 AM, we were picked up from the Baga-Calangute road, 2 minutes away from our Hotel Santiago Resort. We were impressed with this promptness of service, right at the start.
The jeep safari to Dudhsagar waterfalls starts at Kulem
Reaching Kulem before the jeep safari starts
Everything about Kulem suggests that it has been woken up from its long hibernation by the sudden fame of the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Otherwise, it’s one of those little villages that minds its own business.
Because Kulem is at the base of the Braganza ghat, long-distance trains have to halt at this railway station to attach an additional locomotive to pull them up towards the Dudhsagar waterfalls and further up to Castle Rock in Karnataka.
These days you see a series of breakfast joints no bigger than holes in walls but overflowing with tourists – both Indian and international. Our minibus dropped us at the parking lot in Kulem from where we walked to the Dudhsagar taxi stand (just outside the Kulem railway station). While we had our breakfast (does the needful but don’t expect anything much), our driver cum tour guide went ahead to sort out our jeep tickets.
The ticket counter for the jeep safari in Kulem
The jeep safari for Dudhsagar waterfalls starts from the entrance to the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Kulem. These jeep safaris are organised by the Goa Forest Department. They take you to the bottom of the waterfalls through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
If you have driven down to Kulem, you can park your vehicle in the parking lot which is a 2-minute walk from the Kulem jeep safari ticket counter. The Kulem railway station is also not more than 5 minutes away.
Not surprisingly (this is India after all!), chaos reigned at the taxi stand. It was a huge relief having someone take care of these logistics for us and not having to scamper in the unruly semblance of a queue. Instead, we busied ourselves in some people watching. Some excited, other restless, everyone waiting. Some local grocery stores were opening up. Only in Goa, you have a grocery store clubbed in with a “wine shop”!
Meanwhile, our driver had split us into groups of seven. And instructed us, repeatedly, to not disperse. “If the group is not together, there will be grave problems”. We appreciated that he was taking his responsibility to send us to the Dudhsagar waterfalls so seriously. After around 30 minutes, we were finally seated in our jeeps to take us to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
If you aren’t taking a tour for the jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls…
We recommend you reach the ticket counter at Kulem as early as you can.
What’s the hurry? Allow us to explain.
- The charge for a jeep to the Dudhsagar waterfalls, which seats 7, is Rs. 2800. If you aren’t a group of seven, you’ll have to form a group with other solo travellers or smaller groups. It is not advisable to go to the jeep safari ticket counter without a pre-formed group. The staff here doesn’t help you with group formation.
- Chaos looms here in the group formation stage. This was one of the main reasons we were happy to have taken a tour of the Dudhsagar waterfalls since our driver cum guide took care of all these logistics.
- The Dudhsagar waterfalls close at 4.30 PM. To make sure that all vehicles and tourists are out of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary by this time, they stop the sale of tickets by roughly 2 PM.
- Dudhsagar waterfalls are no longer just a weekend destination. People vacationing in Goa also visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls these days. International tourists make a huge chunk of the visitors. This popularity of the Dudhsagar waterfalls means that there is quite a rush for the jeep safari even on a weekday.
Your best chances of a peaceful visit to the Dudhsagar waterfalls are by reaching the ticket counter at Kulem at the earliest. We would recommend being there by 9 AM.
If you are committed to being among the first ones to enter the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary to have the Dudhsagar waterfalls all to yourself, we recommend staying somewhere closer to Kulem.
The total ticket for the jeep safari to Dudhsagar waterfalls is:
- Cost of the jeep safari – Rs.2800 per jeep, seats 7
- Rent for the life jacket (compulsory) – Rs. 30
- Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary entry fee – Rs. 50
- Additional charges for the camera.
Inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary on a jeep safari to Dudhsagar waterfalls
The dirt track starts right after we left the Kulem taxi stand. An arc saying Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary welcomes you in. The jeeps halt here to pay the sanctuary entry fees. This is also where you pay the camera fees.
Interestingly, among the list of attractions listed by the forest department, “Nature all through the route” makes an appearance! The Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is a plastic-free zone. Our jeep driver asked us if we had any plastic bottles with us. You have to report the count here and on the way back they ensure you’re carrying them all out. Do not leave any plastic objects behind, at the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
We were now in a dense forest. This is part of the western ghats is mostly evergreen. We were just settling into the unsettling feel of the rickety drive when we were faced with a huge river. Our driver deftly drove the jeep through this water body without even a slight flinch. The seven of us were, however, holding onto the seats in front, as if our lives depended on it.
This route to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls opens only in October after the monsoon ends. The river was swollen enough to give us goosebumps even as the water levels had started receding. We shuddered to think what it would look like in the monsoon!
A few locals take tourists on bike rides through the sanctuary to visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls in the monsoon. The forest department doesn’t officially approve of this. And after seeing the might of the river in late November, we do not recommend venturing out in the rains to the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
The dirt track continued with the Dudhsagar river now flowing to our left. We were driving through the stillness of the forest now. It was late morning, around 10 AM. The birds had retreated. The mild breeze rustled some leaves.
It takes around 45 minutes to reach the end of the motorable track. We saw a temple towards the end and a tribal settlement of a handful of huts. We were surprised that someone actually lived here inside the forest.
The driver now gave us the life jackets (these are compulsory) and told us to be back in an hour. There’s a watchtower here which gave us the complete view of the Dudhsagar waterfalls. But this time we were more interested in being in its waters at the waterfall’s base pool.
The walk through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary to reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls
A flight of steps took us to the floor of the forest and we began our 15-20 minute walk to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. It’s a rocky uneven patch. The rocks can be slippery, so appropriate footwear is recommended. It’s an easy walk and anyone with moderate fitness can easily reach the Dudhsagar waterfalls. However, it is not suitable for those needing wheelchair assistance.
Playful monkeys gave us company throughout the walk. By now, they are quite used to having humans around. They might even give you a nice pose for your picture, but please do not feed them. They live in their natural habitat, the forest, and are smart enough to gather their own food, without human assistance. Let’s not ruin that pleasure for them by introducing them to the evils of chips and the likes.
We crossed a small wooden flat bridge and got the view of the Dudhsagar waterfalls cascading down. The railway bridge is clearly visible.
The pool at the base of the Dudhsagar waterfalls
We made our way through the rocks, found a safe (and dry) place to keep our shoes, tucked our camera bag under a bigger rock and stepped into the water. The freshness of the cold water at the base of the Dudhsagar waterfalls hit us like a bolt.
From within the pool, only the bottommost tier of the Dudhsagar waterfalls is seen. This itself can qualify as a nice big waterfall to chill under. The pool is safe to swim and you can reasonably easily reach under the waterfall. Even with the sun above our heads, the water, however, is pretty cold! The water is also clear enough to see several mid-sized fish swimming in.
The force of the waterfall in the monsoon is prohibitively massive to feel anything other than the spray of its water at a distance of several meters. We were delighted that we had finally stepped foot in the waters of the Dudhsagar waterfalls. We spent a long while soaking in the natural pool.
It struck us after a while that none of our co-passengers on this tour to the Dudhsagar waterfalls could be seen around. We had lost track of time and imagined our jeep driver fuming with rage at our delay. We got into dry clothes (changed at a pretty sketchy arrangement, right there on the rocks) and ran through the rocks and forest.
The driver smiled as he saw us run. He probably was used to his passengers losing track of time at the Dudhsagar waterfalls. He knew the time wasn’t enough. But he had to stick to the schedule to enable smooth functioning of the Dudhsagar jeep safari tours. We took the same route out, through the dirt track and the Dudhsagar river.
Tips for going on a jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls
- You have to reach the ticket counter for the jeep safari in Kulem early in the morning.
- We started from North Goa at 6 AM. By the time we entered the sanctuary, some jeeps were already returning back from the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- The Dudhsagar waterfalls close at 4.30 PM and tickets are not sold after roughly 2 PM.
- It’s best to have a pre-decided group of 7 before you buy your tickets so you don’t waste time waiting for your jeep to fill in.
- To avoid all this logistical management, we are glad we pre-booked our jeep safari tour for the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- Wear comfortable footwear on this journey as it involves a 15-20 minutes walk through the rocky forest patch.
- Life jackets are compulsory and should be worn before entering the pool at the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- Women can feel free to wear a swimming costume inside the pool at the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Sketchy changing facilities do exist near the pool.
- Toilets are available inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. Their cleanliness is a whole other topic, but the facility exists.
- Locker facilities are not available. If you need to take a camera, it’s security and safety (keeping it dry) is entirely your responsibility.
Lunch at a spice plantation and visiting parts of old Goa after the jeep safari
All the swimming and adventure of the river crossings meant our bellies were all fired up. We drove to a spice plantation that seemed hidden in the forest. A quick tour through the plantation and introduction to the spice trees later, we attacked the lunch spread. Fried mackerel, chicken curry and of course, the Goan feni were waiting for us.
Our return journey took us through the quarters of old Goa, stopping at a few churches.
We reached our hotel in North Goa just in time to enjoy an orange streaked sunset at the Baga beach.
Trekking expedition to the Dudhsagar waterfalls
The Youth Hostel Association of India organises an 8-day trekking expedition to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The expedition starts at Panaji. You trek up to the village of Kuveshi via the Dudhsagar waterfalls. This expedition includes a trek to the Tambdi Surla waterfalls as well.
What else is to see in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary besides the Dudhsagar waterfalls?
- While there are several smaller waterfalls particularly just after the monsoon, another bigger waterfall is the Tambdi Surla.
- It is within the Mollem National Park of which the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary is a part. However, it is far from the Dudhsagar waterfalls and clubbing the two waterfalls in a day will not be possible.
- Another interesting feature inside the sanctuary and actually close to the Dudhsagar waterfalls is the Devil’s Canyon. Even though it is en route, having a strict schedule means that your jeep driver will not halt at the Devil’s Canyon.
- We recommend hiring a local guide and planning a separate visit than the jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The guide can take you to the Tambdi Surla waterfalls as well as the Devil’s Canyon.
Map to the Tambdi Surla waterfall
Where can you stay to explore the Dudhsagar waterfalls and the Mollem National Park?
There are a few eco-resorts between Mollem and Kulem which are a perfect place to stay if you want to take your time exploring the Mollem National Park. Most of these are located midway to the Dudhsagar waterfalls and the Tambdi Surla waterfalls.
Some options to stay are
- Nature’s Nest: A perfect spot for those into birding. Day trips to Dudhsagar and Tambdi Surla waterfalls are easily possible. A place to disconnect from the world, no Wifi and mobile phone network can be a problem in these hills.
- Jungle Book: A unique little stay option. Excursions into the National Park are easily possible. These are nearer to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
- Dudhsagar Farmstay: You can while away your time within this property (Wifi and a natural water swimming pool!), this place is also equidistant from the Dudhsagar waterfalls and Tambdi Surla.
Castle Rock – a dreamy hamlet ahead of the Dudhsagar waterfalls
A visit to the Dudhsagar waterfalls should not end with just a visit to the waterfalls. Because further ahead is Castle Rock, a town that looks like it’s emerged straight out of a storybook. Where goods trains are the most common mode of transport. And the locals seem unaware of the hidden gems their town (hamlet, really!) has to offer.
The name “Castle Rock” was inviting enough and a 30-40 minute train ride ahead got us there. When we got off the train at Castle Rock, the station master there was surprised. He assumed we were there by mistake. He vehemently insisted there was nothing to see in Castle Rock and asked us to leave for Dudhsagar waterfalls!
Castle Rock was a sleepy little hill town. The Castle Rock railway station seemed to be the only reason the town existed. All the infrastructure belonged to the Indian Railways and being a Sunday, everything was shut. Apart from these railway buildings, the place is a small village. Families keep poultry at homes and they cook in wood-fired stoves.
It felt like we were part of a story, wandering around in a magical land in search of a treasure. And sure enough, we found one, in the form of a board saying “Castle Rock Adventure Camp” run by the Karnataka government. “Discover a new trail every time” was their charming tagline!
We followed the tree-lined misty trail. It eventually led us to the fully functional campsite – that apparently no one knew about!
There were a couple of cabins for stay, each equipped with 12 bunk beds. The outdoor seating and dining arrangements were at the perfect vantage points. We even met the trained staff, who took care of food and security.
On that cold misty afternoon, it looked really picturesque. Had we known of this place earlier, we would have definitely planned to stay here for a night at least, after our visit to the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Visit to the Spice Plantations near Dudhsagar waterfalls
The cool temperatures on these hills of the western ghats mean that the weather here is conducive to grow spices. After your jeep safari to the Dudhsagar waterfalls, you can have lunch at one of the many spice plantations in the vicinity.
These plantations often organise a tour of the spice garden followed by a Goan lunch, a taste of the famous drink of Goa, the feni, included.
You can also buy some farm fresh spices from these spice plantations.
Need help planning your visit to the Dudhsagar waterfalls and Goa?
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63 thoughts on “A guide to visit the majestic Dudhsagar waterfalls in Goa”
Hi, This article was really good and helpful. My next trip would probably be this destination. I plan all my travel expenses with a travel based credit card and it gives me a hand in saving expenses over hotels and restaurants. I’ll Suggest you do the same. thanks
Hey, Great post! Thank you for sharing such a great article. I found it very interesting and useful.
Very good information about Dudhsagar waterfalls, blog is very nicely written.
thanks for such a nice information. I am planning to visit doodh sagar waterfalls from south goa (benaulim beach) what will be the route and mode to cover falls, spice garden and sanctuary in a day
HOW TO Reach Back Mumbai From Dudhsagar ,I can’t see many trains From Dudhsagar To Mumbai Directly,can you help Please.
Hello,
Your information is highly appreciated and comprehensive. As stated in your blog here above, would like to know if you could refer us to the concerned person who’ll help us organise a jeep to Doodhsagar from Goa. You can get in touch with me on the email mentioned on the form below…Thanks
Nice place to see. Goa is still big dream for me and my friends to see. Many times planned but hard luck. Beautiful scenery that everyone should experience it. Thanks for posting this.
nice places to visit..
After researching a lot on the web, last year I visited Dudh sagar falls passing by through train from Madgaon to Castle Rock (Vasco Howrah Exp – 18048, De. 07:50 Ar. 09:20) and return from Castle Rock to Badhaon (KCG Vasco Exp – 17603 De. 11:30 Ar. 13:55) on Thursday because you have a proper passenger train only on Thursday both up and down to get you through the Dudhsagar Falls. You should not depend on Freight trains as their timetable is not fixed. I also had an option of trek from Kulem to Dudhsagar but my hard luck, none of my friends agreed. However you should keep all trecking clothes, shoes and abandunt water with you, for this I have a number Mr. PURUSHOTTAM 8975745140.
It was good luck that the railway track was open because a day before I visited there happened a landslide and the work was in progress.
Hi Udit,
which time of the year did you visit the falls? Is it monsoons or before/after the monsoons?
Wonderful write-up
Thanks a lot,
I believe that Indian Railways is missing a trick by not allowing tourists to use a train facility officially to visit DudhSagar Waterfalls…
But that as they say is another story !
@srujan
23 rd August last year.
I am travelling to goa the weekend of 27th and 28th of july 2019 want to know if we can go to dudh sagar falls or not.. we have booked the train from madgaon to kulem and then from kulem to londa.. kindly suggest
Hey Hi..
We are also visiting goa from 26.07.19 to 29.07.19.
We want to visit dudhsagar falls… I have a feeling that its banned.
Let me know if you are still planning to visit..
Hi Ashish,
Which route did u took? Can walk down from castle rock?
-Satish
I am going to Goa this week and really want to visit dudhsagar falls, any guidance for railway trek, is it allowed nowadays?
absolutely loved the story.
i plan to visit there next week.
need to know whether the rail trek is really possible now and is it safe?.
can you help me?
expecting a reply soon.
thank you.
We will visit this june 16 th.Can we go there during that time from goa? Will it be closed? or dry?
Great post. I had visited the falls in May 2013 via the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and I am planning to visit again this May end. However, this time, I would like to take the train route from Madgaon. Can you tell us whether walking on the tracks are allowed / will be allowed in May this year? Also, which would be the closest station to the falls from where we can enjoy a good view as well as find a place to sit and have packed lunch? Lastly, how would the return journey to Madgaon be and from where can we make arrangements to board a train?
We are planning to visit Dudhsagar in April-18 and grill barbecue. Is cooking allowed near the waterfall?
The Dudhsagar waterfalls are inside a wildlife sanctuary and we are pretty certain barbecues aren’t officially allowed. Even if there weren’t any official rules about this, a barbecue inside a wildlife sanctuary is something we would NOT RECOMMEND.
Is trekking along tracks open now.
We are planning to go there on 7th Jan 2k18 from Bangalore and get down at castle Rock through Vasco Da Gama express.
Is trains available to return back to castle Rock.
Walking on the railway tracks is officially banned. You can visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. Tickets are available at Kulem, at the taxi stand outside the railway station.
Hello,
What is the distance from Sonalium station to Dudhsagar bridge by walking and can I get train to Sonalium from Goa ? Also please advose currently can we see good fall, I am planning to go there on 25th November.
It is a leisure 40-minute walk from Sonalium to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. If you are allowed to get on the railway track, you can board a train from Sonalium to get back to Madgaon (that’s what we had done).
Another alternative is going through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary by buying the tickets in Kulem. The waterfalls in November will be much reduced than in the monsoon, but the drive in the forest and the lower part of the falls where you can also dip in the waters is fantastic.
Is there locker facility and Cloak rooms available near dudhsagar falls?
Locker facility is not available here. You’ll have to leave everything in the car. Even plastic is banned beyond 4WD taxi stand.
Hi All,
We are planning to go to visit dudhsagar falls around September mid-end 2017 from pune. Only option seems feasible is train & then walk.
Does anyone know whether Goa express stops at dudhsagar or sonalium station?
Also, as an alternate, whether to walk till falls from kulem or castle rock?
Thanks,
Rajneesh
Our contacts at Dudhsagar have told us that this year the railway police have banned people from walking on the tracks. You can visit the Dudhsagar waterfalls by accessing the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary from Kulem.
Hi
May I know whether car parking is available in Kulem or not
It should be available at the Kulem railway station.
Such a nice blog … so much information about doodhsagar …. guys I m planning to visit this Aug’17 by railway track …. I m planning to catch a train from madgaon to kollem or sonalium and from there I will walk through the railway tracks to doodhsagar …. I have just one query … after reaching kollem or sonalium, whether I will be permitted to walk through the tracks or not ?? some of the below post I ve seen that, CRPF is not allowing to walk through the tracks … do u ve this information, what is current situation over there ? …. I just don’t want to get disappointed after reaching there.
Hey Rupam, the railway police have been closing the track for walking every monsoon. But you will know the exact situation only closer to your date. We suggest you touch base again in the monsoon and we will update you about the situation after talking to our local contacts there.
When did you go to. Dudhsagar? As far as I know approaching the falls is banned now
Hello Muniraj, yes – the railway police had banned the access tot he Dudhsagar waterfalls through the railway tracks for security reasons. But we have been told that post monsoon, it will be opened again.
I would like to know if November the falls would run dry and doesn’t make sense to go there?? Completely understand the monsoons is the best time but unable to go now and looking at your pictures want to see it soon.
November is a good time to see the Dudhsagar waterfalls. Esp this year, since the monsoon has been great and falls are in full flow!
Beautiful falls. Looks like you went there at the peak season. Thanks for the travel tips.
This is so amazing! The photos and description give an immediate need to visit the place. This looks really special 🙂
Ah! Too bad it’s off limit now. We were turned back from Caranzole.
You have captured the gorgeous falls wonderfully!
This is really wonderful, I love to visit this place. India has a lot of camping places and these places shown in the picture are really amazing for camping. every place in this picture is wonderful. I love your blog.
Awesome pictures..Very well captured.. !
beautiful falls and you’ve captured them well 🙂
Beautiful. No wonder it’s called majestic.
Hello Guys,
Please let me know how can I reach Dudhsagar from Mumbai by train.
Take 11029 mumbai-kolhaur Koyna Exp get down at pune.
You have other train at 16:30 from pune 12780 NZM-VSG GOA Exp which reach Dudhsagar Waterfall cabin at 03:30 next morning
Hi Kunal,
Is this an only way to reach Dudhsagar from Mumbai?
I have been told that Amravati Express too passes somewhere near from Dudhsagar.
Do you have any idea about it?
Friend, you have written that take a Railway train like Amravati Express and get off at Sonalium. But when we saw the railway timetable, there is no stop at Sonalium for Amravati Express. I want to know whether the train Amaravati express really stops at Sonalium so that we can get down at Sonalium and trek to Doodhsagar. Kindly clarify, thank you.
Hello K N Nagaraja, the station Sonalium is probably not mentioned because Sonalium is not a full fledged station. You can not but ticket at Sonalium. When we boarded at Sonalium on the way back from the waterfalls, we bought the tickets for the journey at Kulem.
Thanks for such valuable info… i will be coming from HYD…Getting down at castle rock..then walk or goods train to falls… but while coming back.. what is best route… from falls to kulem to hyd? or falls to londa stn to hyd? how much is distance upto londa stn from falls and how to get there?..or any other best route, pls suggest… thanks and regards, parag
Hello Parag, we saw a lot of families on a day picnic traveling to and fro from Castle Rock to the Dudhsagar waterfalls in a goods train. If you intend to go back to Hyd from the Dudhsagar waterfalls (and not go towards Madgaon), then there is no point going towards Kulem. Stay on the Karnataka side of Dudhsagar.
Is tickets for kulem is available at madgaon railway station? and what is alternate way to reach falls from kulem other than goods train?and what for return?