Iruppu Falls (Coorg): Timings, Entry Fee and the Brahmagiri Trek

Iruppu Falls (also spelt Irpu or Irupu) is a waterfall on the Lakshmana Tirtha river in the Brahmagiri hills of south Kodagu (Coorg), near the Kerala border. You reach it by a forest walk of about 1 km from the Rameshwara temple at Kurchi village, near Srimangala. Karnataka Tourism lists the falls as open year-round. No official fee or hours are published, so reported figures are labelled. The Brahmagiri peak trek that starts here needs a Forest Department permit, booked online. This guide to Iruppu Falls Coorg covers access, current status, timings, fee and trek rules.

Last checked: 16 October 2026. Main official sources: the Kodagu district website, Karnataka Tourism’s Iruppu Falls and Brahmagiri trek pages, and the Forest Department’s trek booking portal, Aranya Vihaara. This page is not based on a personal visit. Road distances are approximate. We measured them on OpenStreetMap route planners (OSRM and Valhalla), so they are not official figures.

Iruppu Falls at a glance

Where is Iruppu Falls?

Iruppu Falls is in the far south of Kodagu district, where the Brahmagiri range meets Wayanad in Kerala. The Kodagu district website calls it a stream of the Lakshmana Tirtha river that “finally joins river Cauvery”, with the Rameshwara (Shiva) temple nearby. Local news places the falls in Kurchi village, about 7 km by road from Srimangala in Ponnampet taluk. The district site names the Kutta area, which is about 8 km away. The falls are inside the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, and the district site warns that “wandering beyond the falls is restricted”.

Is Iruppu Falls open now?

• Official listing: Karnataka Tourism describes the falls as “open year-round”.
• Monsoon restrictions: On 6 July 2026 the Kodagu disaster management authority barred people from entering rivers and waterfalls to bathe or swim during the monsoon (The Hindu). In August 2024, forest staff kept tourists away from Iruppu for about three weeks because of dangerous flow (Asianet Suvarna News).
• Recently: On 8 August 2026 a Kannada news site, Janamitra, reported tourists arriving at the full falls every day. We found no closure, landslide or ban notice for Iruppu in September or October 2026 (news search on 16 October 2026).

Access to the base of the falls is restricted by a gate (Star of Mysore, November 2024). Watch from the viewing area. After heavy rain, ask at the forest gate before you walk in.

Iruppu Falls timings and entry fee: what is confirmed

No Karnataka government page we checked publishes opening hours or a ticket price for Iruppu Falls. Here is what we found, with sources:

• Official: Karnataka Tourism gives the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary’s timings as “sunrise to sunset”.
• Reported timings: A Team-BHP trekker (February 2025) saw 8 AM to 5 PM on the board at the forest gate beside the temple. The listing site coorgtourism.co.in gives the same hours. Plan to arrive after 8 AM and leave before 5 PM.
• Reported fee: coorgtourism.co.in and The Invincible India (3 October 2026) both report about ₹50 per person, paid at the counter near the temple. We could not confirm this, or any parking or camera charge, from an official source.

Mobile signal is reported to be weak in the forest, so carry some cash.

How to reach Iruppu Falls

Kodagu has no railway station or airport. The district website lists Mysuru, Hassan and Mangaluru (Karnataka) and Thalassery and Kannur (Kerala) as the nearest railheads. Kannur, Mysuru and Mangaluru are the nearest airports. The road distances below end at the temple and forest gate, where the walk starts:

Where a range is given, the two planners chose different roads. Ghat and forest roads are slow, so allow extra time.

By bus

According to Indiahikes, KSRTC and private buses run from Bengaluru to Gonikoppal, and local buses from Gonikoppal towards Kutta pass Iruppu, but only from about 7 AM. For an early start, take an auto or taxi from Gonikoppal or Srimangala.

The walk to the falls and the Rameshwara temple

Karnataka Tourism describes a narrow forest trail of about 1 km each way, rated moderate, with the Rameshwara temple along the path. Trekkers describe it starting at the forest gate beside the temple, crossing the stream and climbing steps through an arch at the sanctuary entrance. Legend says Lakshmana shot an arrow into the hill to bring out the stream for Rama, which gives the river its name. The temple is busiest at Shivaratri. Karnataka Tourism says swimming is not recommended “due to strong currents and sudden drop-offs”.

The Brahmagiri trek from Iruppu: permit rules

The trail to Brahmagiri peak starts at the same forest gate and is a full-day trek through the sanctuary. Karnataka Tourism describes it as about 15 km and moderate. Trekkers’ guides such as Indiahikes describe a harder, roughly 20 km round trip past the Narimale anti-poaching camp, with a very steep final climb.

Confirmed by official sources

• A permit is required. Karnataka Tourism says “entry permits required from forest department”, with guides available at local forest offices. For the sanctuary it says “trekking permits required”.
• Book online on Aranya Vihaara. Karnataka launched this Forest Department portal in October 2024 for its trekking routes. It limits each route to at most 300 trekkers a day, requires photo ID and bans plastic on trek routes (The Hindu, 4 October 2024).
• Current portal rules (effective 15 July 2026): you can book up to 30 days ahead. Cancel at least 8 days before and you get a 50% refund. Cancel within 7 days and you get nothing. Bring the original ID you booked with.
• Unpermitted trekking is an offence. In August 2026 the Forest Department in Kodagu warned that entering reserve forests without permission is punishable under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. The state Forest Minister ordered action against illegal treks (The Kodagu Express; The Hindu, 30 August 2026).

Reported by trekkers (not on an official page we could read)

• The route is listed on the portal under Kodagu as “Irpu – Narimale Camp – Brahmagiri” (Indiahikes, 2025).
• The permit is reported as ₹350 per person (Indiahikes and a 2025 trek blog). One 2026 site says about ₹275. The portal shows the current fee when you book.
• A Forest Department guide is mandatory, hired at the Iruppu forest office for about ₹500 per group of up to eight. Guides usually arrive around 8:30 AM. Trekkers say to start by 9 AM and be back before dark.
• Overnight stays at Narimale have stopped, so the trek must be done in one day. Bright red or white clothing is not allowed. Guides turn groups back if elephants or tigers are on the trail.

Check before you go: we could not open the trek list on the portal on 16 October 2026. A private slot tracker that reads the portal did not show this route among either its open or its closed treks that day. Log in to Aranya Vihaara, choose Kodagu and look for the Irpu–Brahmagiri route on your date. If there are no slots, the trek is not open that day. Do not go without a permit. The walk to the falls is a normal tourist visit, and Karnataka Tourism mentions permits only for the trek. A shorter route from Thirunelli on the Kerala side is managed by Kerala’s forest department and is not covered here.

Best time to visit Iruppu Falls

• October to November: strong flow after the monsoon, usually with easier paths, although rain varies each year.
• December to February: Karnataka Tourism says the falls are “least impressive” in this dry season. It is still a pleasant forest walk.
• Brahmagiri trek: Karnataka Tourism gives October to May. Indiahikes says the trek runs from September to February and is best from November to mid-February, when the streams are easier to cross.
• June to September: heaviest flow, slippery rocks, leeches and possible restrictions.

Safety at Iruppu Falls

• Do not climb past the gate to the base or enter the pool. Kodagu officials list Iruppu among the district’s high-risk water spots (Bangalore Mirror, April 2026). Wear shoes with good grip.
• This is elephant and tiger country. Stay on the path, keep quiet and leave the forest well before dark.
• Carry your rubbish out. Plastic is banned on Karnataka’s forest trek routes.

More Karnataka waterfalls

Abbey Falls is near Madikeri, which is about 75 km from Iruppu, so most people see it on a different day. If you are building a Karnataka waterfall trip, also see our guides to Jog Falls, Kunchikal Falls and Manikyadhara Falls in Chikmagalur.

FAQ

What are the Iruppu Falls timings?

No official hours are published. The sanctuary is open “sunrise to sunset” (Karnataka Tourism), and the gate board has been reported as 8 AM to 5 PM.

Is there an entry fee at Iruppu Falls?

No official fee is published. Two travel sites report about ₹50 per person, paid near the temple. Treat this as unconfirmed.

How far is Iruppu Falls from Madikeri?

The Kodagu district website gives 75 km. OpenStreetMap route planners give about 74–80 km by road.

Which river forms Iruppu Falls?

The Lakshmana Tirtha, which flows on to join the Cauvery. That is why the falls are also called Lakshmana Tirtha Falls.

Do I need a permit for the Brahmagiri trek?

Yes. Book a Forest Department permit on the Aranya Vihaara portal and bring the original ID you booked with. Trekkers report that a forest guide is also mandatory.

Can you swim at Iruppu Falls?

No. Karnataka Tourism advises against it because of strong currents and sudden drop-offs, and access to the base is restricted.