Jamuna Prapat (Bee Fall)

About Jamuna Prapat (Bee Fall)

Jamuna Prapat is the most popular waterfall in Pachmarhi, and it is more than scenery: the stream that feeds it provides the town's drinking water and is one of the substantial sources of water for the whole of the Pachmarhi hills. The fall is barely 2 km from Jaistambha.

The stream runs across the plateau and then jumps into the valley from a height of about 100 feet. The sound it makes as it comes down is said to resemble thousands of bees humming, which is where the English name Bee Fall comes from. Dense forest surrounds the fall on all sides. The bathing pools above the drop are very popular, and standing under the cold water as it comes off the height is the reason most visitors remember this place.

The fall and the pools above

The main drop

The water falls roughly 100 feet into the valley below and the sound fills the whole hollow. Viewing platforms give you the fall from the front. In full monsoon the volume is considerable and the spray reaches a long way back.

The bathing pools

Above the fall, the stream collects in pools that are the most used bathing spots in Pachmarhi. The water comes straight off the height and is cold at any time of year. These pools, not the viewpoint, are where most people spend their time.

The forest walk down

Reaching the fall involves a descent on steps through dense forest from the road. The walk is part of the visit and the shade is welcome on the way back up, which is the harder direction.

Planning your visit

The fall is about 2 km from Jaistambha and the last stretch is on foot, down a long flight of steps through forest. Budget energy for the climb back.

• Wear footwear with grip; the steps and the rock are wet year round.
• Carry a change of clothes if you intend to bathe in the pools above the fall.
• Go early. This is the busiest waterfall in Pachmarhi and it fills up by mid-morning.
• Do not enter the water immediately above the lip of the fall.

Best time to visit

The fall is strongest during and just after the monsoon, from July into October, which is also when the steps are most slippery. The winter months from November to February give safer footing and clear weather with a reduced but steady flow. Mornings are quieter than afternoons in every season.