Darabadi waterfall is a quiet corner of the Kandhamal region. Most visitors go to the larger, more well-known ones, but not this one. It is smaller and hardly anybody is here. The road becomes smaller. There are no shops. The air begins to feel chilly and damp. You are getting close when the forest noises shift from birdsong to a pulsating heartbeat of dripping water. This is the real Darbadi waterfall in Odisha.
Darabadi waterfall is a beautiful waterfall in Kandhamla region of Odisha State. When you reach near Daringbadi, you notice the mist rolling through the hills. Then you have to go 15 kilometers into the interior from the main city through the coffee plantations, where there’s a small turn-off. This is the way to the Darbadi waterfall Ranipanga.
The Story of the “Vanishing Stream” about Darabadi
You can inquire about this from the elderly in the village of Ranipanga; they can tell you Darbadi is a “loyal” stream. It is a local belief that while other larger waterfalls in the Kandhamal district dry up in the scorching summer months, Darbadi remains alive.
The locals believe that the ancestral tribe of the region discovered this secluded location with the help of the migratory birds in the mountains when they faced the Great Drought. They felt it was a blessing from the goddess of the earth since the location always had cool flowing water, while the rest of the planet was drying up. Therefore, the beauty of the Darbadi waterfall in the state of Odisha symbolizes living in the spirit of “never-ending” life.
What makes Darabadi waterfall different?
With the exception of most of the falls in the state of Odisha, all of these falls are now developed with concrete barriers and raucous picnic parties.
You’ll observe small stones lined up neatly around the shores. They are not random deposits. The hunters and gatherers deposit them as small thank-you messages to the forest spirit before venturing deeper into the forest.
The presence of the waterfall in a compact fold of hills at the top of the Trikut Range produces an “echo chamber” phenomenon. This explains why, when you place yourself at the center point, the waterfall seems to be cascading from everywhere.
The Specificity of the “White Lace”
The unique feature of the Darbadi waterfall Kandhamal waterfall is the rock formation. The fall is about 30-40 ft. The rock face is irregular with jagged portions. The water does not fall with a heavy “thump” at a point. It falls on several rock faces. This results in the creation of a fine white mist resembling lace.
A Place for the Quiet Soul
The geography around here is quite rugged. It is part of the Eastern Ghats, but it is relatively more private. There are no concrete shops and noisy music around here. Just the waterfall of Darbadi Kandhamal and the forest. It is cold enough to make your skin prickle. It tastes clean, like the rocks it comes from.
If you’re interested in visiting, the best time is in the winter when there is monsoon in October to February. The sun is soft. The path is dry. Coming to the monsoon season, the forest is too dense, and the rocks are too unsafe. Thus, good footwear with kicks is a must.
