Ripaljka, Natural waterfall monument in Sokobanja, Serbia

Ripaljka is a waterfall on the Gradašnica river, 5 km from Sokobanja on Mount Ozren. It drops in 11 steps with a total height of about 40 m; the tallest, Velika Ripaljka, falls 11 m, followed by Mala Ripaljka at 5 m. The main drop forms a narrow white column down dark grey and greenish rock coated in bright green moss, with a weathered wooden railing with diagonal braces across the lower foreground.

The site became the first natural monument in Serbia to receive official protection status from the government. This designation represented an important step in establishing environmental conservation practices in the country.

The name Ripaljka comes from the local verb 'ripnuti', meaning 'to jump', used in this part of Serbia. The waterfall is a popular attraction for visitors to Sokobanja, and the best time for a photograph is early spring, when snowmelt and rain swell the Gradašnica.

The falls lie just below the entrance to the Ozren special hospital, about 5 km from Sokobanja. Cars and buses reach them by an unpaved access road, with a restaurant at the parking area above the falls. From Sokobanja a walking trail follows the Gradašnica. The Gradašnica dries up in summer and autumn, and the falls can disappear.

The waterfall reaches maximum flow during spring when snowmelt feeds the Gradašnica River with extra water, creating the most spectacular display of the year. Few visitors realize this seasonal variation makes spring the best time for viewing.