Travel guide · Nepal
The Waterfalls of Nepal
Davis Falls, Rupse Chhahara and Hyatung — Nepal's most striking waterfalls and how to reach each one.
Fed by monsoon rains and Himalayan snowmelt, Nepal's rivers tumble off the hills in cascades that range from city-edge curiosities to thundering gorge falls. Here are the most striking waterfalls in the country and how to reach each one.
Davis Falls, Pokhara
The most visited waterfall in Nepal, Davis Falls sits within Pokhara and is famous for a strange trick: the river plunges into a tunnel and vanishes underground at the base of the fall. Directly across the road lies the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave, where you can follow the water below ground. The two are always visited together, making this the easiest waterfall outing in the country.
Rupse Chhahara
On the Annapurna Circuit road through the deep Kali Gandaki gorge, Rupse Chhahara spills down a sheer rock face in a series of silver ribbons right beside the route. It is one of the most photographed falls in Nepal and a natural stop on the Annapurna treks and the drive toward Jomsom and Muktinath.
Hyatung Falls
In the eastern hills, Hyatung is among the tallest waterfalls in Nepal, dropping in a long single plume that draws growing numbers of domestic travellers. Reaching it means a journey into the quieter east, rewarding those who venture off the beaten path with one of the country's most dramatic cascades.
Cascades of the hills and trails
Across the middle hills, countless smaller waterfalls line trekking routes and roads, especially in the monsoon months when every gully runs white. Trails in the Annapurna and Langtang regions pass falls that have no names on the map but stop walkers in their tracks. Many sit near hot springs and caves, making for a rich natural-wonders circuit.
When to go and what to expect
Nepal's waterfalls are at their fullest during and just after the monsoon, from June to September, though that brings rain, leeches and cloud. Early autumn is the sweet spot: the falls still run strong while the skies clear. Trails near falls can be slippery, so wear good shoes and take care near the edges, which are rarely fenced.
Planning your waterfall trip
The easiest falls cluster around Pokhara and can be seen in a single afternoon with the city's caves. The bigger natural cascades reward a longer journey into the Annapurna gorge or the eastern hills. For a wider route that strings scenery together, see the best places to visit in Nepal and the country's best lakes, or start with the overall Nepal travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous waterfall in Nepal?+
Davis Falls in Pokhara is the most visited, a curious cascade that plunges into an underground tunnel beside the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave. Rupse Chhahara on the Annapurna Circuit road and Hyatung in the eastern hills are the most dramatic natural falls.
What is special about Davis Falls?+
Davis Falls is unusual because the river disappears underground at the base of the fall, vanishing into a tunnel that emerges far downstream. It sits right across from the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave, so the two are almost always visited together in Pokhara.
When are Nepal's waterfalls at their best?+
Waterfalls are fullest during and just after the monsoon, from June through September, when rivers swell. The trade-off is rain and cloud, so many travellers prefer early autumn when the falls are still strong but the skies are clearing.
Are there waterfalls near Kathmandu and Pokhara?+
Pokhara has the easiest, with Davis Falls in the city itself. Around Kathmandu, smaller cascades dot the valley rim and the road to the hills, while the biggest natural falls require travel to the Annapurna region or the eastern hills.
