Jog Falls 2026: Entry Fee, Timings, Best Time and Trek Rules

Jog Falls entry fee, checked on the Karnataka Tourism website (karnatakatourism.org) on 3 November 2026: ₹20 per person for Indian visitors, ₹100 for foreign nationals and ₹10 for students aged 6 to 16. A personal camera costs ₹100 and a drone camera ₹500. Parking is charged separately (two-wheeler ₹30, auto-rickshaw ₹40; car and bus rates differ between sources, see the table below).

Timings: the main viewpoint is open 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, every day (no weekly closed day), with a maximum of 2 hours per entry. The roughly 1,400-step trek to the base is restricted in the heavy monsoon and can be closed at other times for safety, so check its status at the gate. Jog Falls is in Sagar taluk, Shivamogga district, about 30 km from Sagara town.

Last checked: 2 November 2026, on the Karnataka Tourism Jog Falls page (English and Kannada versions) and against news reports from the past 12 months. This guide is not based on a personal visit. The Jog Management Authority (JMA) runs the site and can change fees, timings and access at short notice, so confirm on the official Karnataka Tourism page or at the entrance before you travel.

Jog Falls entry fee 2026

Source: Karnataka Tourism, Jog Falls page (Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka), checked 3 November 2026. The same rates were announced by the Shivamogga district administration when Jog Falls reopened on 1 May 2025 after development works (Daijiworld, 27 April 2025). The entry fee was raised from ₹10 to ₹20 (and from ₹50 to ₹100 for foreigners) in 2024, when the ₹10 student fee and the camera and drone charges were added (Asianet Suvarna News, September 2024).

• Children under 6: no fee is listed for them on the official page. We could not confirm whether they enter free, so ask at the counter.
• Free entry: in 2024 the Tourism Department’s assistant director told Asianet Suvarna News that persons with disabilities, freedom fighters, ex-servicemen and journalists enter free. This is not listed on the Karnataka Tourism page, so carry proof and confirm at the gate.
• Cash: carry some cash in small notes, as mobile signal around the falls can be patchy (Karnataka Tourism notes BSNL has the widest coverage).

Jog Falls parking charges

The car and bus rates do not match across sources. The official page lists a car at ₹150 and a bus at ₹20, while 2024 reports give ₹80 for a car and ₹200 for a bus. We have not been able to see the JMA’s own tariff order, so expect to pay the rate shown at the parking counter. In August 2025, while civil works were going on, visitors had to park outside the enclave and vehicles lined the road for about a kilometre on busy days (The Hindu, 17 August 2025).

Jog Falls timings and the 2-hour rule

Source: Karnataka Tourism Jog Falls page, checked 3 November 2026. The 2-hour limit was introduced by the JMA; it was confirmed again when the site reopened on 1 May 2025 (Daijiworld; Asianet Newsable).

• Evening access: on 30 September 2026, Karnataka’s Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George asked officials to strictly enforce safety and access restrictions “particularly after 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., as determined by the authorities” (The Hindu, 30 September 2026). The official page still says 9:30 PM. If you plan an evening visit, check locally whether late entry is allowed.
• Laser show: the JMA’s website (jogfalls.in) lists a laser light show from 7 PM to 9 PM. The site did not load for us on 2 November 2026 and no official ticket price is published, so treat it as “check on arrival”.

Is Jog Falls open now? Current situation (November 2026)

• Open: Jog Falls has been open to visitors since 1 May 2025. It was closed from 1 January 2025 for construction of the entrance plaza, parking yard, toilets and other amenities; the closure was extended from 15 March to 30 April 2025 (The Hindu, 14 March 2025; Daijiworld, 27 April 2025). The reopened site has a new viewing tower and a new entry gate.
• Low water this season: on 6 October 2026, Asianet Newsable reported that the falls were running very low after weak rain in the Sharavathi basin. Raja and Roarer had dried up and Rani and Rocket carried only a small trickle, because the Linganamakki reservoir upstream did not fill and water was being held for power generation (Asianet Newsable, 6 October 2026). A smaller news site, Need24 News, reported on 25 October 2026 that heavy rain had raised the flow again over a weekend; we could not confirm this from a major outlet. The flow depends on rain and dam releases and can change within days, so check recent photos or local news before a long trip.
• Development works: the State is carrying out a ₹183 crore project around the falls (hotel, shopping complex, art gallery, parking, toilets and roads, per The Hindu, August 2025). On 30 September 2026 the minister asked the JMA and Jungle Lodges and Resorts to finish ongoing works on time and to study pumping water to the top of the falls so it flows outside the monsoon. No date for such a system has been announced.
• Rockslide report: in early May 2026, locals reported a loud crash and possible rock fall at the Rocket section; a Tourism Department deputy director said inspection found no evidence of a rock fall (The Times of India, 2 May 2026). Stay behind the railings and follow staff instructions.

Best time to visit Jog Falls

Source: Karnataka Tourism (season table and “August to December” best time), checked 3 November 2026. The table shows a normal year. In 2026 the flow dropped early (see above), so check recent photos or local news before a long trip. Weekends and holidays are crowded; arriving early in the morning helps.

The four cascades: Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket

Jog Falls is formed by the Sharavathi River dropping 253 metres (830 feet). The JMA and Karnataka Tourism describe it as the second-highest plunge waterfall in India. It is also known as Gerusoppa (Gersoppa) Falls and Jogada Gundi. The water splits into four cascades:

• Raja: the main, heaviest column of water.
• Roarer: the loudest, which meets Raja part-way down.
• Rocket: shoots down in fast jets.
• Rani: a gentler, foamy stream along the rock face.

The Linganamakki Dam upstream controls how much water reaches the falls. In a strong monsoon, when water is released, the four streams can merge into one wide curtain.

Viewpoints and the trek to the base

• Main viewing deck (Jog-Kargal side, Sagar taluk): the ticketed area most visitors use, with a panoramic view of all four cascades and the viewing tower opened in 2025.
• British Bungalow viewpoint: across the gorge on the Siddapur taluk side (Uttara Kannada district), giving a different angle, per Karnataka Tourism.
• Trek to the base: about 1,400 steps, roughly 45 to 60 minutes each way (Karnataka Tourism). It is steep and slippery, restricted in the heavy monsoon, and the official page says the JMA may close it at any time of year because of slippery steps, rockfall and sudden dam releases. Only go down if staff confirm it is open, and keep enough energy for the climb back.

How to reach Jog Falls

Distances are approximate and taken from the Karnataka Tourism page (checked 3 November 2026); check a maps app for your exact route. Shivamogga Airport (Sogane) is closer, but its flights have changed several times in 2026 (some airlines stopped services), so check current schedules before relying on it. The last stretch passes through forest, so avoid driving it late at night in heavy rain.

Places to visit near Jog Falls

• Linganamakki Dam (~12 km): the reservoir that controls the falls’ water.
• Honnemaradu (~26 km): backwaters of the Linganamakki reservoir.
• Keladi (~36 km): Rameshwara temple and the Keladi Nayaka heritage.
• Sigandur (~40 to 50 km): Chowdeshwari temple on the Sharavathi backwaters.
• Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary: the protected forest around the falls.
• Sharavathi Adventure Camp (Jungle Lodges and Resorts, ~6 km): river activities, usually after the monsoon; check with JLR for dates and prices.

Distances per Karnataka Tourism; road distances may differ.

Safety tips

• Stay behind the railings and on marked paths. The rock and steps are slippery, especially in the monsoon.
• Do not go down to the base or into the river when staff say it is closed; water levels can change quickly when the dam releases water.
• Wear shoes with good grip and carry a rain jacket from June to September.
• Carry water and snacks; food stalls near the entrance are limited, and basic first aid is on site (the nearest hospital is in Sagara, ~30 km).
• Flying a drone needs the ₹500 drone ticket; follow any no-fly instructions from staff.

Before you go: quick checklist

• ₹20 per person (₹10 for students 6 to 16, ₹100 for foreigners), plus ₹100 if you carry a camera.
• Cash for parking (₹30 two-wheeler; car rate shown at the counter).
• Plan for 2 hours inside the viewpoint area.
• Check recent water-flow news; the flow was very low in early October 2026.
• Ask at the gate whether the base trek is open today.

FAQs

What is the Jog Falls entry fee in 2026?

₹20 per person for Indians, ₹10 for students aged 6 to 16 and ₹100 for foreign nationals, per Karnataka Tourism (checked 3 November 2026). Camera ₹100, drone ₹500; parking extra.

What are Jog Falls timings?

7:30 AM to 9:30 PM, all days of the week, with a maximum of 2 hours per entry. Evening access may be restricted locally after the September 2026 safety instructions, so check before an evening visit.

Is Jog Falls closed on any day?

No weekly closed day is listed. The site was fully closed from 1 January to 30 April 2025 for development works and reopened on 1 May 2025. The base trek can be closed on any day for safety.

Can you go down to the bottom of Jog Falls?

Yes, by about 1,400 steps, when the JMA allows it. It is restricted during the heavy monsoon and may be closed at other times for safety.

When is the best time to see Jog Falls?

Karnataka Tourism suggests August to December, with the most water from June to September. In 2026 the flow was already low by early October, so check current reports before going.

Update note (2 November 2026): this guide was rewritten. The old version said there is no entrance fee; there is a ₹20 fee (₹10 students, ₹100 foreigners) plus camera, drone and parking charges. We added the official timings, the 2-hour limit, the base-trek restrictions, the 2025 closure and reopening, the 2026 low-flow and development news, and distances from the Karnataka Tourism page. We corrected the nearest airport and railway distances and removed a legend and a claim about Sir M. Visvesvaraya that we could not support, first-person lines, generic filler, an unrelated external link and photos with no recorded source.

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