Smoking Stones, Hogenakkal, India

Cauveri falls into Tamil Nadu, literally, from Karnataka and the place is known as Hogenakkal. The word means ‘Smoking Stone’ in Kannada, as the river cascades into the rocks below and the force of the fall breaks the water into such a fine spray that it looks like smoke from a distance; hence the name. The turbulence and the roar as a huge volume of water tumbles down will hold the visitor in awe for several hours. This Nature’s wonder has such a mesmerizing effect on the viewer

A ride in the ‘parisal’ as the coracle is called is a must. The boatsman takes one up the river where the fury of the water is manageable. The shape of the craft, a perfect round, makes it almost impossible for the coracle to be toppled by the swift current. It simply goes round and round absorbing the kinetic energy released by the current, without actually opposing it.

The spray often throws up a “rainbow” as the water crystals act as prisms breaking the light. The effect is very ethereal.

A word of warning though. The facilities for stay and the quality of food available are poor. Typical apathy of the Government in not developing this as a beautiful tourist spot. So at best it can be a one day trip, a picnic with your own food and water packed for the trip. Avoid visiting this place on weekends as bus loads of noisy crowd affect the tranquility of the place.