Dudhsagar Falls: A Spectacular Destination for Nature and Adventure Lovers

Dudhsagar Falls: Sea of Milk in Goa’s Lush Landscape

Dudhsagar Falls, known as the ‘Sea of Milk’, is a spectacular four-tiered waterfall on the Mandovi River in Goa, India. Famous for its breathtaking 310-meter cascade, it’s one of India’s tallest waterfalls, nestled in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.

It’s a popular spot for trekking, offerig adventurous trails that lead to the waterfall. The waterfall is also known for the scenic train route that passes nearby, offering passengers a stunning view of the cascade

Things To Do At Dudhsagar Falls

To fully explore Dudhsagar Falls and nearby attractions like the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, it is recommended to allocate at least a full day. This allows for ample time to trek to the falls, enjoy the scenery, and explore the wildlife sanctuary at a leisurely pace.

Swimming in Dudhsagar Falls: Swimming at the base of Dudhsagar Falls requires permission from the forest department and it can be closed during monsoon season. It has an additional charge of Rs. 30 per person for life jacket rental.

Camping at Dudhsagar Falls: Camping near Dudhsagar Falls is allowed at designated sites, excluding the immediate vicinity of the falls. Facilities include toilets, showers, and cooking areas. Booking can be done through tour operators in advance.

- To book camping accommodation near Dudhsagar Falls or avail local guides near Dudhsagar falls, you can contact Dudhsagar Plantation by emailing bookings@dudhsagarplantation.com or calling 9765364456.

- A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking, and it's advisable to book in advance as camping spots are limited.

Flora and Fauna of Dudhsagar Falls: Dudhsagar Falls is surrounded by a deciduous forest that is part of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. The forest is home to various species of birds, butterflies, reptiles, mammals, and plants, including rare and endangered species like the black panther, the Malabar giant squirrel, and the king cobra, perfect for photography as well.

Must Read: 7 Things You must know before Visiting Dudhsagar Waterfalls

Budget-Friendly Places To Stay Near Dudhsagar Falls

Photo of Dudhsagar Falls 2/6 by — (c) Dudhsagar Farmstay

Dudhsagar Spa Resort: This luxury resort, about 10 km from Dudhsagar Falls, offers spacious cottages, a swimming pool, a spa, a restaurant, and a bar.

The resort provides a free shuttle to the waterfall and also organizes activities such as trekking, birdwatching, and sightseeing tours.

Nature's Nest Resort Goa: Nature's Nest Nature Resort Goa is set in Molem, 10 km from Dudhsagar waterfall entry gate and 13th century Tambdi Surla Temple, respectively.

The resort provides an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant. Rooms are fitted with a patio with views of the garden.

Dudhsagar Farmstay: The homestay is located about 15 km from Dudhsagar Falls and provides a bike rental service to the waterfall.

It offers comfortable rooms, cottages, kitchen, a dining area, a garden, a barbecue facility and tents in a farm setting.

Places To Visit Near Dudhsagar Falls

The best places to visit near Dudhsagar Falls include the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary for its diverse flora and fauna, Tambdi Surla Temple for its ancient architecture, Devil's Canyon for its rugged terrain, and Tambdi Waterfall for a peaceful retreat.

Horseshoe Tracks Towards Trekking Trials: A thrilling 2-day uphill trek through the four-tiered Dudhsagar waterfalls, offering moderately difficult trails covered in pebbles and gravel.

Walk Amidst the Aromatic Spice Gardens: The Sahyadri farm immerses visitors in the strong scent of natural spices, with herbal tea and snacks provided on arrival.

Jeep Safari Guiding Through the Rich Forest Lines: An adventurous jeep safari that guides you through the dense forest surrounding Dudhsagar Falls.

Hike the way up to Devil’s Canyon: A challenging hike that rewards trekkers with the mesmerizing view of the milky falls from an altitude of 1017 across the valleys.

Exploring the Historical Legacy: Discover the rich history of the area and its connection to the majestic falls.

Ferrying to the aerial view of pristine churches: Enjoy a ferry ride that offers an aerial view of the region’s pristine churches.

Stroll through the Portuguese era of Goa: Take a leisurely stroll and immerse yourself in the remnants of Goa’s Portuguese era.

Spice Plantation: Know about the spices and herbs grown in Goa, like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, and pepper. Enjoy a traditional Goan lunch along with an elephant ride at the spice plantation, as well.

Read More: Must visit waterfalls in Goa

Best Time To Visit Dudhsagar Falls

The best time to visit Dudhsagar Falls is between October and February, when the weather is pleasant and the water level is moderate.

- The peak season to visit Dudhsagar Falls is during the monsoon months of June to September when the waterfall is at its fullest due to heavy rainfall.

- The off-peak season is from October to February when the flow is comparatively less but still impressive.

- The entry gate to the sanctuary opens at 6:00 am and remains open till 5:00pm.

Entry Fees In Dudhsagar Falls

You can also book online tickets for Dudhsagar Falls on the official website of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).

- Entry Fee - Rs 20 for Indians, Rs 50 for foreigners

Additional charges include

- Jeep safari - Rs. 400 per person

- Life jacket - Rs. 30 per person

- Camera - Rs. 300 per device

- Locker - Rs. 50 per locker

How To Reach Dudhsagar Falls

To reach Dudhsagar Falls in Goa, one can take a train to Kulem Railway Station and then trek or hire a jeep through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary to the waterfall. Another option is to drive to the falls via the Mollem National Park entrance.

Jeep Safari: You can take a jeep safari from Kulem station or Mollem village and reach the base of the falls in about an hour. The jeep safari passes through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and crosses some heavy-flowing streams.

The jeep safari also requires prior booking online or at Kulem station or Mollem village and has an entry fee of INR 400 per person.

Train: The train journey offers scenic views of the forest and the waterfall along the way. You can take the Amravati Express or the Chennai-Vasco Express from Goa or Bangalore and get down at Dudhsagar station. The train stops for only two minutes.

There is no return train from Dudhsagar station, so you have to either walk back to Kulem station or hitchhike on a goods train.

Trekking:

You can start your trek from either Castle Rock station or Kulem station and walk along the railway tracks for about 14 km or 12 km, respectively. The trek passes through tunnels, bridges, streams, and forests, offering stunning views of the waterfall.

The trek also requires prior permission from the forest department.

Tips For Visiting Dudhsagar Falls

- Carry enough water and snacks, as no shops or restaurants near the falls exist.

- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as the trek can be long and tiring.

- Apply sunscreen and insect repellent, as the sun can be harsh, and the insects can be annoying.

- Follow the instructions of the guides and authorities, as they know the best routes and safety measures.

Dudhsagar Falls Reviews

Pratik Sachdev

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Can we really make it to the Doodhsagar Waterfall? Even after reading a lot of negative comments on the Internet, me and my cousin Saurabh Mehra (Little Child we call him ;-)) decided to discover this magnificent place (also featured in the popular film Chennai Express) come what may. We took a chance, did some basic research by gathering online information and headed straight to Pune on 24-June-2017, our first pit stop. BOOM!! After reaching Pune at around 10:30 PM, we rushed to buy tickets to Kulem, Goa. Our train was scheduled at 4:30 PM and we decided to utilize our time by wandering in the vicinity of the city. The Beer Lover inside me whispered that Pune has a well-known craft brewery named “Independence Brewery”. Why not utilize the time to drink some fresh craft beer and kickstart our second phase with a colder belly? I had 2-3 varieties, the taste of beer was one of the best I’ve ever had (this type of quality beer I haven’t even come across in Mumbai so far), the ambience was good and after the mild drinking program, some gyaan from the master brewer about brewing, we headed back to the station for the train journey. The train took around 13-14 hrs and reached Kulem at about 6 AM. After enquiring the locals about the route towards the waterfall, they gave us a cold shoulder saying that “Waterfall ka raasta bandh hai, ghar jao”. But, we were determined to go there and some other people in groups also joined us as our destination and route was the same. Then, the walk towards the waterfall for 14 Kms on railway track was started after some hot tea and we enjoyed nature’s beauty, clicked some photographs, witnessed mild rainfall and passed scary tunnels en route, and finally reached a point from where we could clearly see the Doodhsagar Falls in full swing. It was a 3-4-hrs journey. Our first words were: B, yeh dekh. Aaisa lag rahahai k doodh aasmaan se gir raha hai (It seems that milk is flowing straight from the sky).” Our eyes were stunned after our first look and we wanted to see it from close. After walking a few steps, we were stopped by the GRP guards and they forced us to return back and repeatedly kept saying that “Doodhsagar dekhne ka season October se May tak ka hai, tum andar gaye toh 1 person k upar 2,000 ka fine lagega”. We all then started pleading them saying that,Itne door se aaye hain aur itna pass aakar aaplog wapas bhej rahe ho? After some heated argument and promising that we will make both of them happy with a return gift, they allowed us for 15-20 minutes over there, and our risky step got converted into closely seeing the 4th largest waterfalls in India and the 100th largest in the world. We took a lot of pictures out of excitement, thanked the guards and started our journey back to Kulem.…Abhi picture baaki hai We started to walk back to Kulem station after spending about 15-20 minutes at the falls and to our surprise a goods train stopped to give us lift (this was what we thought). The inspectors inside the train grilled both of us that “Tum fall pe gaye the? Kahaan se aaye ho tum?” We were yelled at by them for waking on the railway track, which is prohibited, and they angrily told us to get down from the train at Sanaulim station. We got down from the left side of the train and as the goods train was too long, we didn’t want to wait for the whole train to pass and we leaned down from one bogie and came to the right side of it. The train started and to our surprise we were called by the same GRP guards stationed at the falls (as they were returning from their duty) and they told us to board the train. We thanked them for allowing us to get in and ran towards the bridge of Kulem station (as soon as it reached) out of fear that the police personnel who yelled at us, was watching us closely and might take some action on us. Then we took a bus to Madgaon (which tested our patience for about an hour) and reached by about 4:15 PM to Madgaon Station. We were surprised to know that reservation counters are closed on Sundays everywhere! So we had to make do with general tickets. We also got shocked that the information regarding Kokan-Kanya train by M-Indicator (mobile app for trains) was incorrect and the train was scheduled to leave Madgaon by 4:45 PM instead of 6 PM (as reported by M-Indicator). We boarded the general compartment and found a seat where we could barely fit in. We reached Thane station by about 5 AM the next day. But ultimately, our trip, with all its inconveniences and hurdles, turned out to be more exciting than we had expected, full of fun and surprises. It was a really beautiful experience and I surely want to visit this majestic waterfall again. Thank you everyone for reading patiently about my experience on this trip. I’ll try to keep posting about my journeys like this one and hope to be of some help to those who are looking to make such trips. Wanderer, Pratik.

rajiv

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“No one will be allowed to go to the falls or alight at the Doodhsagar station. The train will stop only at Kulem(the first station after the waterfall) once it starts from here.“, said the RPF Jawan through the PAS. Access to the Doodhsagar falls has been banned, I learn after some asking around. Even though this meant that my entire trek was now in jeopardy, I was not surprised by this to be honest. With the kind of reckless activities that have been going on in and around the falls since some time now, leading to multiple deaths due to drowning, a ban here was just a matter of time. Sadly. The quaint station of Castlerock hardly sees a handful of people at a time so with hundreds of people at once, the place looked very much out of capacity. Staying there was not something me and my travel-mates wanted to do. Neither did we want to go back, not that there was any option anyway. So we decided to take our chances and began our walk without any further ado. Minutes after we had started it was calm all around. Most of the crowd seemingly did not like the idea of walking for hours and stayed behind, much to our joy. You see, fewer people means you can take-in the beauty around you without the shrieks and shouting of the over-excited ‘tourists’. Very soon walking along the tracks which snaked away into the greenery started calling for more attention. The trails on both sides of the track became narrower as we moved ahead and coupled with the slippery surface, we were just one slip away from falling in the jungle below most of the time. As we trudged along mostly balancing ourselves on the tracks and rarely off it, the rains kept playing hide & seek with us. No sooner had we put-on our rain coats to save us from the unexpected heavy showers, the bright sun would come right up. Then, as soon as the perspired us were done with the painful process of unloading the back-pack, taking-off the rain-wear and putting it back in the bag, the rain gods once again used to smile mischievously. This kept on repeating until we finally decided to walk with our rain coats on, whether it rained or not. Walking through the lush greenery on both sides, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the beauty of the these deep forests. The monsoon clouds kept us company as we walked past numerous milky white streams flowing below the tracks at random intervals. Except for the occasional trains which showed up from one side of the deep forests and got lost in the other in no time, the only things that broke the monotony of our walk were the age-old tunnels and bridges. They always made us excited. Their rustic nature and rickety look was like a glimpse of the olden time and we always spent sometime to take-in their beauty at such places. Crossing the dark tunnels were fun and scary at the same time as well. Even more so, when a train came along while you are just half way through a 200 meter long tunnel. This is what happened to me. I was almost 100 meters or so inside one of the tunnels when I heard the loud blare of a train entering as it entered the tunnel. Not sure about what to do and being sure about the fact that trying to race the train was not a great idea, I decided to turn around facing the wall andstickto it. Standing on whatever narrow space that existed between the wall and the track I waited until the train passed. We were not allowed to walk beyond the nondescript station of Caranzol, a station where hardly any trains stopped. As we re-traced our steps back to Castlerock, I couldn’t help but notice how different the same forests which we crossed just few hours back looked under different colored clouds and even more over-cast sky. A darker shade of green with hovering gray clouds above. This trip was originally published in Rajiv Verma's Travel and Lifestyle Blogon October 29, 2015.

Jagan Nadar

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Day 4:- Dudhsagar Falls Today’s schedule was to visit the dudhsagar falls. This falls remain closed during rainy season. Due to the excessive flow of water it becomes nearly impossible to cross the rivers to reach the foothills of the falls. But you can visit by the railway line. For that you need to walk several kilometers. Which was not possible according to our schedule. So we choose the first option. It was hardly 70km from the place where we were staying. So there was not much extensive ride for the day. So we left and reached there hardly less than 2 hrs. Once we reached there we parked our bikes in pay and park which charged some 10 to 30rs. I had a top box on my bike so all my riding jacket, knee guard and mateens jacket was kept inside it. We handed over our helmets to them. Within minutes i remembered that i forgot to remove the sports cam from the helmet. So went and removed it. It was 12 by then so we thought will have lunch and then proceed. As we were not sure that we will get something to eat ahead. We had a good fish thali. The falls is 9km from the starting point which has to covered on a mahindra bolero. Rent of it is 2800rs per car and they take max 8 person in a car. But we were 2. So we waited for sometime and they gathered 2 more couples. We were allotted a car and the 2800 was divided between 6 people. Also they charge 30rs for the life jacket which is compulsory. The ride began it goes through the forest area and you could only see mahindra bolero. You will have to cross several rivers to reach there. The whole way is scenic going through jungle with occasional river crossings. The lane is a single lane muddy patch. It took 45minutes to cover 9km. Once we reached there the vehicle in which you went will give you some time for you to explore the place. Say around 2 to 2.5 hrs. You will have to walk some 800meters to reach the falls. But you will enjoy those distance and it’s easy to cover. We were still wondering why they said life jacket is compulsory till we reached the falls. When we reached there the view was so stunning. The water from the falls has made a pond beneath it for which we required the life jacket. But unfortunately we didn’t carry any clothes for changing so we couldn’t get into the water which was the sad part. The view is so good that you can spent more than a hour sitting on the rocks. Wanted to click the scene with a train passing by. Within few minutes a train passed so we clicked few picks there. We have to carry water and other snacks and there is no provision there. Only a small store where you get tea and water (only in glass not bottle ) at the place where the vehicle leaves you near the fall. I was happy that for many days i was thinking of being there. It became true. We came back to our car. So it was other 45minutes drive back to the place outside the jungle. We had some snacks and left for the day. By evening we went out to have a good biriyani for dinner. After which had some fruit juice. Mateen wanted to buy some cashews, as we were traveling for another 25 days i didn’t buy one, he brought it. Then we went to a beach where there were no people. Sat down in front of the sea, the waves were rough. A small bridge like way was being constructed there over the sea, upon enquiring they said that there will boating facility for tourist in future from there. It was around 10pm so we left from there. That’s all for the day.

Prasad

392 Followers

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There was a buzz of activity. I made it to the Dudhsagar falls in good time. 15kms in 4 hours! There was a flood of people who had alighted at the Dudhsagar railway station which is just about a kilometer from the falls. It’s usually, preferred by people who want to view the monstrous falls with their families, friends and kids without having to endure the walk from Castle Rock. [ But I do have a general request to the folks visiting the place. It's all great that you go and visit the place but please refrain from polluting the place. Please do understand that it's not a garbage yard that you can throw empty plastic bottles and containers and wrappers there as you go for a nice little picnic. mist sprayed into the atmosphere. The milky white waterfall roared and gushed down the rocky face. The green carpet encompassed the entire falls. And there I stood on the railway tracks made just a few feet away from the lavishing falls. It was majestic. It mighty. It was humongous. It just reminded me of the nature’s beauty and her sheer power. I am out of words at this juncture describing the awe that I experienced as I stood so tiny so powerless in front of the might and glory of the falls. Usually, hikers camp by the falls overnight, before they set out the next day on their return walk. Families walk back to the Dudhsagar Railway station to catch a return train. Hitch-hikers hop onto goods locomotives to carry them to the next closest major railway station. I had chalked out a different set of plans. I stayed put by the falls for an hour before I picked up my soaking boots and bags as I started walking towards the Goan side. A little ahead about half a kilometer into the walk is the view that people talk about when they hear Dudhsagar. Its an incredible view of the fizzing falls taking the plunge at an incredible force into unfathomable depths. If you are lucky you could witness a locomotive dredge slowly along the track with the falls in the background. It was pouring again and I had to cover another 11kms. This part of the trail is a lot quieter, through lesser number of tunnels and lesser number of enterprising walking stretches but the wind blew and the rains poured as I slowly made my way to Sonaulim Railway station. The walk- on the tracks, in the rains had started taking its toll on my calf muscles. Dredging along I made it to Kullem just as the dusk was creeping in. And so I there I was sitting on the bench, waiting for my train to carry me back to Bangalore with thoughts running wild in my head.

Amrit Anshuman

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Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the most magnificent things i have ever encountered. And to complement that, the trek from the nearest village Colem to the falls is equally rewarding. But we knew nothing about what was in store for us the previous night. We had talked to a couple of people about how to get there and all of them had said that it would be closed since it is first week of September. But we took the risk and started for this beauty at around 8:30 am from Colva in a bike. There is a train too from Madgaon to Colem at 7:45 but i suggest you to not to take it because it restricts your freedom as you will have to get back to Colem station by 16:00 to catch the return train. Moreover the road from Colva to Colem is a sight to behold. After reaching Colem, one needs to hire a guide and take life jackets on rent.. The life jackets are available cheap at 80 rupees per person and the guide would charge around 1000-1200 rupees. It works well if you are a group of 3-5 people. Don't forget to stuff yourself with a heavy breakfast because beyond this point there is no food till 17:30 atleast. So the trek begins with a 3 km trek on the railway tracks followed by a 5-6 km trek through the forest. Thankfully there is no uphill climbing. It's easy but long. During some seasons of the year you can hire a jeep and cover the distance but trekking has it's own charm. Especially when you gettocross small rivers and streams. After you get to the falls, one has to cross a few rocks through the stream. It's tricky but once you stand beneath the fall you feel redeemed. For the return journey if you are lucky, you might get a train ride to Colem station. Even if not, you are bound to remember this experience for life.