Hundru Falls from Ranchi - 45 km, 1 hr 30 min by cab
Jharkhand's most photographed waterfall
Hundru Falls is 45 km from Ranchi, about 1 hr 30 min by cab. Jharkhand's most photographed waterfall. Raahi Saarthi cab fares start at ₹1,999 round trip. The best time to visit is Aug - Mar (post monsoon).
Hundru Falls is where the Subarnarekha river drops 320 feet (98 m) off the edge of the Ranchi plateau, 45 km (about 28 miles) east of Ranchi - the tallest waterfall in Ranchi district and the most visited day trip from the city. Lodh Falls in Latehar is taller; Hundru is usually ranked second in Jharkhand. About 745 steps lead from the top viewpoint down to the pool at the base, and the climb back up is the real effort of the day.
How to reach Hundru Falls from Ranchi
Two roads from Ranchi are almost exactly the same length, 43-44 km from Ranchi Junction. One takes the Ranchi-Hazaribagh road (NH-20) to Ormanjhi and turns east through Sikidiri on MDR-105; the falls are 7-8 km past Sikidiri. The other takes the Ranchi-Purulia road through Namkum to Angara, then MDR-023 past Getalsud Dam for the last 21 km. Either way it is about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min by cab. No scheduled bus runs to the falls, and the small Jonha (19 km) and Gola Road (15 km) halts have few trains and no assured taxis, so a cab from Ranchi is the practical option.
Highlights
- 320 ft (98 m) drop on the Subarnarekha - the tallest waterfall in Ranchi district
- About 745 steps from the top viewpoint down to the base
- Two viewpoints: the lip where the river goes over, and the pool below
- Tea and snack stalls at the entrance
- Jonha and Sita Falls are both 24 km away for a longer waterfall day
Insider tips
- Wear grippy shoes - the rock-cut steps get slippery, and the lowest flight is closed at peak flow (the bottom 50 steps were shut in July 2025)
- Visiting hours are 08:00 to 17:00; start down by about 3 PM, because the climb back takes 30-40 minutes
- Stay out of the water - the pools below the fall and the river above it look shallow but are deep
- The flow depends on Getalsud Dam upstream as well as rain: when its gates open, Hundru goes into spate
- Avoid weekends if you want photos without crowds
Suggested itinerary
- 106:30 - Pickup from your Ranchi hotel
- 208:00 - Reach Hundru Falls as it opens; descend the steps
- 310:30 - Climb back up; breakfast at the stalls by the entrance
- 411:30 - Optional: Jonha Falls (24 km, 40-45 min), with Sita Falls 7.5 km beyond it
- 513:30 - Return to Ranchi for lunch (about 16:00 with the Jonha add-on)
- Distance from Ranchi
- 45 km
- Drive time
- 1 hr 30 min
- Best time to visit
- Aug - Mar (post monsoon)
- Type
- Waterfall
- State
- Jharkhand
- District
- Ranchi
- Cab fare
- ₹1,999 round trip
Distance to Hundru Falls from other places
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Ranchi Junction railway stationvia NH-20, Ormanjhi, Sikidiri (43 km via Namkum and Angara) | 44 km | 1 hr 15 min - 1 hr 30 min |
| Lalpur, Ranchivia Booty More, NH-20, Ormanjhi, Sikidiri | 42 km | 1 hr 15 min - 1 hr 30 min |
| Hatiavia NH-20, Ormanjhi, Sikidiri | 50 km | 1 hr 30 min - 1 hr 45 min |
| Birsa Munda Airportvia NH-20, Ormanjhi, Sikidiri | 49 km | 1 hr 30 min |
| Namkumvia Ranchi-Purulia road, Angara, Getalsud Dam | 37 km | 1 hr - 1 hr 10 min |
| Ramgarhvia NH-20, Sikidiri | 39 km | 1 hr 10 min |
| Hazaribaghvia NH-20, Ormanjhi, Sikidiri | 89 km | 2 hr |
| Bokaro Steel City stationvia NH-320, Gola (70 km on main roads via Sikidiri) | 60 km | 1 hr 45 min - 2 hr |
| Dhanbad Junctionvia Bokaro bypass, NH-320, Gola | 114 km | 3 hr |
| Jamshedpurvia NH-43, Ranchi bypass, Namkum, Angara | 156 km | 3 hr 15 min - 3 hr 30 min |
| Puruliavia Jhalda and the Gola side (114 km on the faster NH-18 and Bokaro road) | 97 km | 2 hr 45 min - 3 hr |
| Muri Junctionvia Gola side, last 2-3 km on a village road (51 km on main roads via Sikidiri) | 41 km | 1 hr 15 min |
| Rajrappa templevia Gola, last stretch on a village road (39 km via Sikidiri) | 29 km | 50 min - 1 hr |
| Deoghar (Baidyanath temple)via Giridih, Chas side, Gola | 211 km | 5 hr - 5 hr 30 min |
| Patratu Valley viewpointvia Pithoria, Ranchi Ring Road, NH-20, Ormanjhi | 60 km | 1 hr 45 min - 2 hr |
| Jonha Falls | 24 km | 40 - 45 min |
| Sita Fallsvia Past Jonha Falls | 24 km | 40 - 45 min |
| Dassam Fallsvia NH-43, Ranchi bypass, Namkum, Angara | 68 km | 1 hr 45 min - 2 hr |
| Ayodhya Hills (hill top)via Baghmundi, Tulin, Muri, Silli | 87 km | 2 hr 30 min |
Road distance, not straight line. Distances are measured over the OpenStreetMap road network unless marked otherwise; drive times are what a cab takes in ordinary traffic. The same figures are in /distances.json.
Nearby attractions
- Jonha Falls (24 km, 40-45 min)
- Sita Falls (24 km, 40-45 min, past Jonha)
- Getalsud Dam (14 km)
- Rajrappa temple (29 km)
- Birsa Zoological Park (45 min)
FAQs about Hundru Falls
How many steps (stairs) are there at Hundru Falls?
About 745 steps lead from the top viewpoint at Hundru Falls down to the pool at the base. No official count has been published and figures in print run from 650 to 800; 745 is the only exact count in a recent news report (ETV Bharat, July 2025), and the round numbers seen elsewhere are rounded from it. Going down takes about 20 minutes and the climb back up 30-40 minutes, and the lowest flight is closed when the river is in spate.
How far is Hundru Falls from Ranchi in km and miles?
Hundru Falls is about 45 km (roughly 28 miles) from central Ranchi by road - the figure Jharkhand Tourism and the Ranchi district administration use - and about 1 hr 30 min by cab. Measured over the road network it is 44 km from Ranchi Junction, 42 km from Lalpur, 49 km from Birsa Munda Airport and 50 km from Hatia.
How far is Hundru Falls from Ranchi railway station?
Hundru Falls is 44 km from Ranchi Junction railway station by road, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min by cab, via NH-20 to Ormanjhi and then Sikidiri. The other road, through Namkum, Angara and past Getalsud Dam, is almost identical at about 43 km. Ranchi Junction is the realistic railhead: the closer halts at Jonha and Gola Road have few trains and no assured taxis.
What are the Hundru Falls timings and entry fee?
Jharkhand Tourism lists Hundru Falls visiting hours as 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visitors in 2026 reported an entry fee of about ₹10 per person and car parking of about ₹30; no official fee notice is published, so treat these as reported figures rather than a rate card. Start down the steps by about 3 PM to be back up before closing.
Is Hundru Falls open now?
As of 23 September 2026 Hundru Falls is open but running in spate. Getalsud Dam upstream opened four gates on 1-2 September 2026, and on 23 September 2026 the Ranchi district administration issued a safety advisory for Hundru, Jonha, Dassam, Sita and Remix falls; no formal closure was reported. Keep to the marked areas, follow the tourist guards, and expect the lowest steps to be shut at peak flow, as they were in July 2025.
Can you bathe or swim at Hundru Falls?
No - stay out of the water at Hundru Falls. There is no formal permission to bathe, tourist guards keep visitors away from the danger spots, and the pools below the fall (Jogiya Dah and Bhandar Dah) and the river above it look shallow but are deep. People drowned bathing above the falls in October 2023 and October 2024, and guards pulled three students out at Jogiya Dah in April 2026.
Is Hundru the highest waterfall in Jharkhand?
No. At 320 ft (98 m), Hundru is the tallest waterfall in Ranchi district and one of the tallest in Jharkhand, but Lodh Falls in Latehar district is higher, and Hundru is usually ranked second in the state.
What is the best time to visit Hundru Falls?
August to March, the season Jharkhand Tourism gives. August and September bring the biggest flow, but the steps are wettest then and the district issues safety advisories when Getalsud Dam releases water; October to February gives strong water with safer steps.
How far is Hundru Falls from Jonha, Sita and Dassam Falls?
By road, Jonha Falls and Sita Falls are both about 24 km from Hundru Falls (40-45 minutes; Sita is 7.5 km past Jonha), and Dassam Falls is about 68 km away on the other side of Ranchi. A one-day loop from Ranchi Junction to Hundru, Jonha and Dassam and back is about 157 km, or 165 km with Sita Falls.
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