Rest of Odisha · 175-m fall of the Machkund river
Duduma Waterfall
The Machkund river plunges 175 m in two thundering stages on the Odisha–Andhra border, feeding one of India's earliest hydroelectric stations, amid Bonda tribal country.
History & legend
Named 'Duduma' for the roar of its water in the Koya tongue, the falls sit on the ancient trade route between Kalinga and the Andhra Vengi kingdom. The Machkund Hydroelectric Project, a joint Odisha–Andhra venture proposed in 1946 and commissioned in 1955, was among India's first post-independence power plants. The surrounding hills are home to the Bonda, one of India's most isolated tribes, whose Austroasiatic language and matriarchal customs have drawn anthropologists since Verrier Elwin's 1950 study.
Timings
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Best time to visit
September–January
Entry fee
Free · viewpoint ₹10
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹13,000 · 520 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- Twin-stage fall
- Machkund hydro project
- Onukudelli Bonda market (Thursdays)
- Jolaput reservoir
Local tip: Photography near the power station is restricted. Thursday's Onukudelli haat is a rare chance to see the Bonda tribe.
On the map
