Madikeri : Thousands of tourists are making a beeline to Abbey falls to take a glimpse of picturesque waterfalls on the outskirts of Madikeri town after incessant rains lashed the area in the last couple of days.
Tourists could only view the sparkling white water hitting large black rocks while flowing downhill during the summer, returned disappointed. However the district received extensive rainfall in the last few days after a dry spell in the month of June and the famous Abbey falls regained immediately its pristine beauty.
Tourists can be seen enjoying the scenic beauty of the place holding umbrellas braving heavy downpour.
Abbey falls is located in K Nidugade village panchayat which is about 8 km from Madikeri. There is no public transport from Madikeri town and tourists have to takes autos, jeeps or own vehicles to reach the spot. One can get a glimpse of the stream flowing through the estates from a distance and one reaches the parking lot after going through the winding road downwards. From there one can hear the sound of water flowing down hill hitting rocks.
If one walks down few more steps through the estate one can see Abbey falls displaying its natural splendor as the stream flows from eighty feet height between the vast rocks. A bridge is built across the stream for tourists to get a closer view and enjoy the beauty of the falls.
Abbeyfalls is inside coffee and cardamom plantations owned by Neravanda Nanaiah . The British had visited this place before Independence and enjoyed the beauty of falls, and named it Jessy falls. Incidentally Jesse was the daughter of the firts British pastor to visit Kodagu. It is said, locals previously called it Mutharmutu Tore, Madikeri Tore. (Tore means stream in local dialect)
However, today it is known as Abbey falls and the recent rainfall has given a new opportunity for tourists to enjoy the breathtaking view of the falls.
