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Question 6 of 12 · Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India
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The largest waterfall in Kerala is:

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Answer: Option D — Athirappilly Falls

Detailed Solution

Athirappilly Falls is the largest waterfall in Kerala.

About Athirappilly Falls:

  • It is located on the Chalakudy river, in the Thrissur district of Kerala, at the entrance to the Sholayar ranges of the Western Ghats.
  • It is about 24-25 metres (80 feet) high and about 100 metres wide during the monsoon season.
  • Because of its width and power, it is often called the "Niagara of India" (a title also used for Chitrakote Falls in Chhattisgarh).
  • It lies near the Vazhachal Falls, about 5 km upstream, and both are popular tourist destinations.
  • The surrounding forests are rich in biodiversity and are home to animals such as elephants, tigers and lion-tailed macaques, and birds such as the great hornbill.
  • It is the only place in the Western Ghats where four species of hornbills (great, Malabar grey, Malabar pied and Indian grey) are found together.
  • It has appeared in many films, including "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015), "Raavan" and "Dil Se".
  • A proposed hydroelectric project on the Chalakudy river near the falls was strongly opposed by environmentalists and local people because of its likely impact on the falls and the forest ecosystem.

Other waterfalls of Kerala:

  • Meenmutty Falls: Wayanad district.
  • Soochipara Falls (Sentinel Rock Waterfalls): Wayanad district.
  • Thommankuthu Falls: Idukki district.
  • Palaruvi Falls: Kollam district.

Other notable waterfalls in India:

  • Kunchikal Falls: Karnataka; often listed as the highest waterfall in India.
  • Jog Falls (Gersoppa Falls): Sharavathi river, Karnataka; one of the highest plunge waterfalls.
  • Dudhsagar Falls: Mandovi river, Goa-Karnataka border.
  • Nohkalikai Falls: Meghalaya; the tallest plunge waterfall in India.
  • Chitrakote Falls: Indravati river, Chhattisgarh; the widest waterfall in India.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Meenmutty Falls is in Wayanad.
  • ✗Soochipara Falls is in Wayanad.
  • ✗Thommankuthu Falls is in Idukki.

Quick tip

Remember: Athirappilly Falls = largest in Kerala (Chalakudy river, Thrissur; "Niagara of India"); Jog Falls = Sharavathi, Karnataka; Nohkalikai = Meghalaya; Chitrakote = widest, Chhattisgarh.

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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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