In this blog post, you will come to know some of the tallest waterfalls in Asia alone. I think it is correct to say the tallest as well as the highest waterfall.
Waterfalls in Asia are always attractive, irrespective of their size and height. Invariably, they top the list of sightseeing itineraries, everywhere.
Even a small cascade will invite us to take a dip in it. As a matter of fact, the smaller the waterfalls, the bolder we become to stand underneath-right?
On the other hand, waterfalls that originate from a high altitude have their own beauty. The roar of falling water will not scare us but attract us with raised eyebrows.
The mist they create, the rainbow that appears in every droplet are simply awesome.
Waterfalls are enchanting when they exist in thick topical forests. Asia is known for its numerous tropical rainforests, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.
7 Tallest Waterfalls in Asia
Let us begin the list of tallest (highest) waterfalls in Asia.
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Anisakan Waterfall, Myanmar
Anisakan Waterfall. See it in full screen mode to catch its stunning appearance.
Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is known for steamy jungles and several waterfalls. Anisakan Waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Burma.
In Burmese language, it is known as Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall. Its height is a staggering 400 feet! Water falling from such a height, surely creates a thundering sound. It is almost deafening, when you go near the waterfall.
You have to hike a steep trail to reach the waterfall. Alternatively, hammock carriers will come forward to take you up.
Near this waterfall lies a small hill station at an altitude of 3500 feet. It is called “Pyin Oo Lwin”. (Its double ‘o’, boss)
Anisakan Waterfall is located some 600+ km from Rangoon, the capital of Myanmar. The nearest city is Mandalay. The distance between the two pints is 40 km approximately.
There are comfortable hotels in Mandalay to stay. You can make a day trip from Mandalay to Anisakan Waterfall and the Pyin Oo Lwin hill station.
Do you know that even Niagara waterfalls are shorter by 80 feet than Anisakan Waterfall?
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Bambarakanda Waterfall
To watch this spectacular waterfall, you have to go to Sri Lanka. No, don’t brush aside the idea of traveling to a remote Asian island just to see one of the tallest waterfalls in Asia.
If you come to know its height, you will change your mind. The water is falling from a height of 863 feet! It is twice more than the height of Anisakan waterfall, Myanmar.
River Kuda Oya is the feeder to this waterfall. The location is very beautiful amidst pine tree groves.
How to Reach Bambarakanda Waterfall:
Colombo, the capital Sri Lanka is nearly 200 km east. The nearest town is Kalupahan, located just 7 km from Bambarakanda Waterfall, one of the tallest waterfalls in Asia.
The celebrated Niagara Falls would look like a dwarf when compared to this Sri Lankan wonder.
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Shomyo Falls
These two falls are found in the list of tallest waterfalls in Asia. The Shamyo Falls are in Japan. Tateyama is the nearest city to the Shomyo Waterfalls.
The city of Tateyama is some 400 km west of Tokyo. The Shomyo Waterfalls height is getting taller and taller than the previous two tallest waterfalls in Asia.
Shomyo’s water, falls from a height of 1,150 feet! One thousand one hundred feet is really a scary height for anything to fall from-don’t you agree?
The feeder to the waterfalls is snow, when it starts melting from the Tateyama Mountains.
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Jog Falls
Simply breathtaking-isn’t it?
These thundering waterfalls are called “Jog Falls”, located in the state of Karnataka, India. The nearest big city is Shimoga, that is well connected buses. Thin rail connectivity is also there for Shimoga.
These staggering waterfalls are fed by the River Sharavati, originating from the mighty, lengthy, Western Ghats Mountain range.
Its height is 830 feet. Though this is not the tallest waterfalls in India, it is highly recognized as the most beautiful waterfalls in India. Its beauty lies in its volume.
There is way to reach the top of the waterfall and enjoy a grand view of the bottom of the Jog Falls. But, to reach the viewing platform, you have to really bend your knees to climb up the 1400 steps!
When you have finished viewing one of the tallest waterfalls in Asia, you can simply walk across to the nearby Linganamakki Dam, a peaceful location.
If you are an avid bird watching enthusiast, you can visit a sanctuary nearby and it is called Gudavi Bird Sanctuary.
The majority of migratory birds to India are seen nesting on the trees, on the bank of Gudavi Lake.
Several species of Heron and Kite are the easily identifiable avifauna. Among the visitors from abroad, the Eurasian Spoonbill is the star of attraction.
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Nohkalikai Falls
Nohkalikai falls are ranked number one in the list of highest waterfalls in India. The water drops from a whopping height of 1,115 feet! This natural wonder of India is located in the state of Meghalaya, the home of Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places in the world.
This tallest waterfall in India is not caused by any falling river, buddy, but just by the rain!
Look at the images of these waterfalls; they are perennial as they are fed by the rain alone.
Strangely, the water that is collected at the pool below wears a fantastic green saree.
How to Reach Nohkalakai Falls:
Flyers need to go to Guwahati, the capital of Assam. From Guwahati, one can hire a cab to cover the 150 km distance.
Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state is only 55 km north of Nohkalikai Falls.
If you are visiting India, try to find a tour package to Shillong, to see the breathtaking natural beauty of Meghalaya.
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Mae Ya Waterfall
This is a glorious waterfall in Thailand’s Doi Inthanan National Park. It is located in Chiang Mai province, one of the top places in Thailand for sightseeing.
The water, falls from a height of over 600 feet! Moreover, it is very wide, measuring nearly 300 feet! That must be a sight to behold.
Somehow, it is not usually found in the list of tallest waterfalls in Asia. I think the accessibility is the reason. I read, one has to walk 14 km to reach the waterfalls from the entrance of the Doi Inthanon National Park.
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Aliwagwag Waterfalls
This series of waterfalls are in the Philippines. Though the height is a staggering 1000+ feet, the waterfalls are more of a cascade as the water flows through numerous boulders.
Cateel is the town where the Aliwagwag waterfalls are. Cateel is part of the province called Davao Oriental.
From Manila, Cateel is 1500 km away, in Mindanao Island, Philippines.
Here is a video clip of the Aliwagwag Waterfalls.
There are more than 80 steps (boulders) on which the water is flowing. It might sound like a gentle fall but the volume makes it up for the lack of force.
During my research for this blog post, I came across numerous waterfalls that are all breathtaking but lacking in substantial height to be considered as one of the highest waterfalls in Asia.
For example, there is the Doodh Sagar and Athirapalli waterfalls in India from which, you cannot take your eyes off. The water flow is voluminous but lacking in height.
A few waterfalls are stunning in Thailand, China, and Indonesia. They require special mention as the most beautiful waterfalls in Asia.
