The Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Nepal

Nepal's rivers fall off the Himalayan foothills in cascades that range from city-edge curiosities to thundering cliff-face plumes. The most beautiful natural waterfalls are scattered across the country: Rupse Chhahara on the Kaligandaki in Myagdi, Hyatung Falls in Tehrathum, Pachal Jharna in Kalikot and Jhumlawang Falls in Eastern Rukum. Each rewards a journey into the hills, and each runs fullest in and just after the monsoon.

The short answer

If you want the single most accessible famous fall, it is Davis Falls in Pokhara, a curious cascade that vanishes into an underground tunnel inside the city. For the grand natural waterfalls, head into the mountains. The wide, much-photographed Rupse Chhahara on the Kaligandaki road is the easiest of the big falls to combine with an existing trip, sitting right beside the Annapurna Circuit route through the deep Kali Gandaki gorge. In the east, the towering Hyatung Falls of Tehrathum ranks among Nepal's tallest. Far to the west, Pachal Jharna in Kalikot and Jhumlawang Falls in Eastern Rukum are emerging stars of Karnali tourism, dropping in long ribbons through remote, little-visited country.

Waterfalls of central and western Nepal

The Kali Gandaki, said to be the world's deepest gorge, carves between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs and gathers waterfalls along its flanks. The best known is Rupse Chhahara, which spills down a sheer rock face in several silver strands right beside the road to Jomsom and Muktinath. It is a natural stop for anyone driving or trekking the lower Annapurna Circuit, and one of the most photographed waterfalls in the country. Because it sits on a major route, it is far simpler to add to a trip than the falls of the deep west.

Waterfalls of eastern Nepal

The eastern hills, greener and wetter than the west, hide some of Nepal's tallest single-drop falls. Hyatung Falls in Tehrathum district is the standout: a long plume cascading down a cliff cloaked in subtropical forest, increasingly visited by domestic travellers exploring the quiet eastern districts of Koshi Province. Reaching it means a journey well off the standard tourist trail, which is part of its appeal.

Waterfalls of the Karnali far west

Karnali Province, the most remote corner of Nepal, has become known for spectacular high waterfalls that are only now drawing visitors. Pachal Jharna in Kalikot district is one of the highest in the region, a slender column dropping through a forested gorge. Further east in Rukum, Jhumlawang Falls tumbles in dramatic tiers near a traditional village and has become a focus of community-based tourism. Both demand long road journeys, but for travellers seeking Nepal's most beautiful viewpoints away from the crowds, they are extraordinary.

When to go and how to plan

Nepal's waterfalls are at their most powerful during and just after the monsoon, from June to September, though that season brings rain, leeches and slippery, often unfenced edges. Early autumn is the sweet spot, when the water still runs strong and the skies clear. Roads to the far-western and eastern falls are rough and weather-dependent, so build in buffer days; see the guide to getting around Nepal for transport realities and the best time to visit Nepal to line up your trip with the right weather window. Whichever fall you choose, wear shoes with grip and keep well back from wet rock at the lip of the drop.