Irupu Falls, Waterfall in Kodagu district, India

Irupu Falls is a waterfall in the Kodagu district of India where the Lakshmana Tirtha River drops around 52 meters through multiple stages. The cascades sit within dense Western Ghats forest and form pools between rock steps.

Texts from Hindu mythology mention the site as a sacred spot connected to the Ramayana. Over centuries, the falls became a destination for pilgrims long before it drew other visitors.

The name comes from Sanskrit and refers to an episode in the Ramayana epic when Rama helped his brother Lakshmana. Pilgrims bathe in the water below the cascades and light oil lamps along the rocks, especially during religious festivals.

The trail through the forest is about one kilometer long and can be slippery in places, so sturdy shoes and caution during wet conditions are necessary. The strongest water flow comes during and shortly after monsoon season between June and September.

The falls are also called Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, after the river that begins here and later joins the Cauvery. A forest trail continues from the falls up to Brahmagiri Peak in southern Kodagu, and the Rameshwara Temple stands on the riverbank on the way to the cascade.