Kone Falls or Konai falls or kona waterfalls alias Kailasakona falls as is known officially, is a great place for those looking for a Chennai Weekend Getaway destination. This waterfalls near Chennai Andhra border is an ideal one day trip location for residents of Chennai.
Kone falls is also spelled as Kona falls. Its a small perennial water fall situated near to Puthur or Puttur (see the last paragraph for details about this famous place) in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh state, India.
There is no specific Konai falls season time. Unlike many other falls, water is there all around the year, at this falls.
Main Kone Falls alias Kailasakona falls.
The main falls is having a height of anywhere between 40 to 60 feet. It is situated at around two kilometers from the main road. There is a Lord Shiva and Parvati temple (on your right side of the picture above), at the foot of the falls. This temple is known as Kailasakona Temple. You need to cross this temple to go to the falls.
A group of 4 or 5 people can bath freely at the main falls simultaneously. The main fall and the temple can be easily accessed by walking around 100 meters or so from the parking lot. Its safe to walk at night, as there are lights on your way to the main falls and the nearby temple. Its advisable to carry an alternate source of light like a torch light or a mobile phone, if you are going to this falls in the night.
Anybody, irrespective of age, can go to the main falls. The risk factor is least among the falls in south India. Avoid taking family in the night, as its forest area and no houses or shops are there in the night. Those carrying [amazon_textlink asin=’B079L7YDN9′ text=’tent’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’toursitinindi-21′ marketplace=’IN’ link_id=’a4050c9e-2f55-11e8-869c-d36f4b4c7a68′] with them can put up tents at the parking area.
Kone Falls is also known as Konai Falls. Kone Falls near Andhra is an ideal tourist location for those interested in going for a day’s picnic from Chennai. Koni falls season time is all through the year.
Occasionally, snakes and scorpions were reportedly seen near the falls. I have seen King Cobras near the temple (on the way to the falls), a few years back. In August 2018, my friends had seen a scorpion sitting on the rock next to, where people bath. A small snake (green in color) was also seen on the same day (around 8 pm). One guy took it with a stick and thrown it away.
How Do I Go to Kone Falls, The Great Chennai Weekend Getaway Destination?
If you are traveling from Chennai to Kone Falls, Kone falls near Chennai can be reached via Red Hills, Periyapalayam, Uthukotai. It is 10 kilometers ahead of Puthur. While coming from Chennai, take left immediately after the sign board which says ‘Puthur 10 KMS’ (sign board is on the right side of the road). Kone falls Chennai distance is around 90 kilometers.
Kailasa Kona alias Kona Falls Entrance on the main road.
The road to falls is a single lane road and there is a rectangle shaped concrete arch put up by Harita Valley Resort, on the left side of the main road, if you are coming from Chennai via Uttukottai, as seen in the above picture. . (Even though the above picture shows a blue board ‘Toll Gate’, there is no toll gate anywhere on the road to the falls.) If you have missed the road to the falls, take a U-turn when you see the bridge. (The second bridge on your way from Uttukottai to Puthur. The first bridge may be around 20 to 30 feet in length, while the second one is a much lengthier one.)
Kailasakona falls or koney falls is around 100 kilometers from Chennai city and takes around 2.25 hours drive from Chennai. There are buses available up to the main road, from where you may go by a share auto. Kone main falls is at around 2 kilometers from the main bus route and there is good motarable road up to 100 meters from the main falls. The last stretch of 100 meters so, is having well laid pathway with steps numbering around 20 or so.
Puttur railway station with station code “PUT”, is the nearest railway station at around 13 kilometers distance from the falls. Tirupati Airport is the nearest airport at around 44 kilometers distance from KailasaKona falls. Chennai International airport is the nearest major airport to the falls.
Accommodation Near to Kone Falls alias Coney falls or Kailaskona Falls
Konai falls rooms are available close to the falls. A.P. Tourism department hotel is situated very close to the main falls parking area. The first left road takes you to the Kailasnathkona Haritha Hotel (when returning from the Kone main falls parking area). This Kailasanatha Kona resort is situated very close to the parking area; around a quarter kilometers distance from the parking area.
There are quite large number of hotels and restaurants at Puttur or Puthur town, around 10 kilometers from Kone falls.
Do I Need to Take Permit to Visit Kone Falls?
You are not required to get any permit to visit Kone falls in Andhra. You can straight away go to any of the three falls here; Main Falls or the two small falls (mentioned below).
Small Fall-cum-Pond on Half Way to Kone Main Falls
There is a small fall with around 3 feet height and a small pond, at around 1 kilometers ahead of the the main falls on your way to the main falls. You need to go straight at the first major right turn. Park your car here and then walk through the mud road to this falls-cum-pond. Be wary of the rock pieces and stones thrown all around, which falls from the hills atop, during rainy season.
The pond has a depth of only 2 to 4 feet and is very popular among the tourists to Kone falls. The small pool is cool and gets fresh water from the small fall at one corner of the pool. One can bath or swim inside this pool. Few small fishes will try to bite you. These fishes will not harm you. It may at the most irritate you in the begging, after which you get used to it and don’t bother much. People of all ages; kids to senior citizens; take bath here.
This pond and the Falls can be accessed by walking around 10 minutes from the main road, which is hardly around 150 meters from the road to the main falls. This small falls can be easily accessed by people of all ages. Its not safe at night as there may be poisonous snakes, on the path to the pond.
Second Falls-cum-Pond Above the Previously Mentioned Fall, KailasaNatha Kone Falls
Those who are adventurous can go for trekking to the top of a nearby small hill, situated close to the above mentioned pond. Another falls called KailasaNatha Kone Falls and a pond exists here also. Overflowing water from this pond forms the first falls (and the pond) mentioned in previous paragraph, which is about 15 feet below the top pond.
Is There Any Shops on the Road to Kone Falls?
There is a building with a shop cum hotel at around 0.75 kilometers distance from the main road towards the falls. You can buy oil, soap, shampoo, cigarettes, water bottle, biscuits, etc, from this shop. There are a couple of petty shops near to the parking lot, selling cigarettes, juices, etc.
Kone Falls Hotels
There are not much hotels near the falls. The only hotel on the road to the falls is the shop mentioned in the above paragraph. You will also get vegetarian food and non-vegetarian food, provided you order it in advance. There are quite a few hotels on the main road (Uttukottai – Puttur -Tirupathi state highway)
Other Falls Near to Kone Falls
Tada Falls alias Kambakam falls or Ubbalamadugu falls is a nearby beautiful fall at around 12 kilometers distance from Varadaiahpalem town. Talakona waterfalls is another nearby major falls at around 49 kilometers from the temple town, Tirupati. Apart from the above mentioned falls, there are a number of other falls, which are not so famous, in around 50 kilometers radial distance of Kone Falls.
Famous Temples Near to Kone Falls, Great Chennai Weekend Getaway Places
Famous Kalahasti Shiva temple which was originally built by the great Pallava kings and later renovated by the Great Chola Kings Kulothunga Cholan I, II & III in the 11th century, is very close to Kone falls; near to Uthukottai. Kalahasti Temple is the World’s only temple which is open on Solar and Lunar Eclipses. The world famous Tirupathi Lord Venkateshwara temple is also close to Kone Falls. Varadaiahpalem Oneness Temple is another famous temple nearby, which is having the largest meditation hall in Asia without pillars.
Puttur or Puthur Kettu Near Kone Falls
Puttur is very famous for ‘Puthur Kettu’, equivalent of Orthopedic plastering / surgery, which is very popular in the neighboring regions of Tamilnadu, AndhraPradesh and Karnataka states. Hundreds of people go to Puthur everyday to get their fracture set right.
2018 Update
2018 January Update
I have traveled to Kone falls on 21st January 2018 and found that the roads to kone falls from Uttukottai in Andhra Pradesh state are severally damaged. It may be due the floods last year. Up-to the border in Uthukottai, the roads are good. Once you cross the Tamilnadu border, the roads are too bad. Encroachments near the Uthukottai junction were being demolished, when I went on that day.
2018 May update – Kone falls current status
The road from Uttukottai to Kone falls are now re-laid and is in good condition. I have visited Kone main falls and the small fall cum pond on the 20th of May, 2018. Water is there in both the falls.