Panchghagh Falls, Natural waterfall in Khunti district, India

Panchghagh Falls is a waterfall in Khunti district, Jharkhand, where the Banai River splits into five streams over hard, jagged rock. The water drops from a modest height rather than a great fall, hitting the rocks turbulently. In the photograph the stream starts narrow at the upper left, widens across layered grey and brown slabs, and lands in an opaque greenish-grey pool.

The falls lie in Khunti district, a largely rural area where 91.5% of residents lived in villages in 2011. Nearby Ulihatu is the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and Dombari Buru was the central point of his activity. The Banai River splits into five streams over the hard, jagged rock.

The area has long been home to indigenous communities whose way of life continues in the surrounding villages and farmland. Visitors can see how local people maintain their connection to the land through agriculture practiced in the fields nearby.

The location sits roughly 8 kilometers from Khunti town and about 55 kilometers from Ranchi, making it accessible from either direction. Water flow is strongest after rains, so timing your visit around the monsoon season offers the best experience.

The Hindi name refers to five separate falls, and the Banai River splits into five streams over the rocks. Because the drop is lower than at Jonha or Hundru Falls, the branched streams hit the stone in a turbulent rush, and the roar of the water can be heard as you approach.