Basudhara

BASUDHARA (MAHADAVSTHAAN).

"TURN AROUND AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL MANIPUR IS."
(13th April, 2014)

Beautiful waterfall named Basudhara or Mahadevsthaan under the dense Forest in a range of Koubru. This waterfall is also considered the main source of River Setikhola (Meaning- White River) or Thadou Kuki communities nearby the location named it Gangol (Meaning- probably Ganga) river which is purely a flow of portable water till it reach as a tribute of Imphal River (Narad Ganga). The trek-way estimated distance from nearby localities; Santolabari, Setikhola and Haipi Villages is about 5 km and about 8 Km from Kalapahar Bazaar, National Highway-2.

Basudhara Waterfall

Hindus believe these falls as a destination of pilgrimage; place where sign of Goddess Devi Ganga fall on knot of Lord Shiva's hair can be visualize and it was once popular destination for those who worship nature and one who enjoy trekking.

On the day of Chaitra Masanti (last day of the year according to Bikram Sambaat Calender), I along with my team made to re-opened the holy trekking after hosting symbolic religious flags and offering prayer to Naagraj and Lord Shiva. It was very adventurous and wonders all around, views of villages from hill top, narrowed and stony road, to & fro river crossing, wonderful natural pictures of concrete rocks, large woods & greenery all around, huts of wood cutters, blind caves, wild buffaloes, monkeys, singing birds, fruits, flowers, measurable small waterfalls along the river side, the cross in hill top, rainbows and many more things we had experienced. Moreover, it was very nature blessings as well challenging day for all of us.

After five hours tirelessly trekking we were welcomed by the stony gate and the shed to rest. Wonderful naturally created architect pull our attention for an hour just beside the freeze of tumbling cold water flows down the mountain and the green woods. After such a refreshing nature’s welcome we finally reached the spot within few minutes. Falls make us motionless for a while, it was breathtaking and eyes were unblinkingly toward the great fall. It was aquarium-blue which tumbling down the rocks with pounding to the divine-pool. The greeneries around the divine-fall were nodding gently, which added the scene more beautiful. Frog croaking nearby, birds, insects and our own reecho added the wonderful sounds. We couldn’t waited long to threw ourselves under the waterfall, it was freezing cold that we had started shuddering.

It was again life challenging to climb rocks from the plunge to catch the crest of the fall. The free-hand cliff climb gave us both physical and mental challenge with maximum danger as we were not equipped for basic safety. Utterly terrifying to think about the fact that if I fall or if rock falls I’ll die. My heart races and feels great about every step I successfully climbed. We moved forward and upward somehow by squeezing, pinching and gripping the available natural features of the rock and roots of the trees. At last with terrifying afford finally we catches the dreamed; crest of the waterfall.

Technically we are not sound to measure the fall but, we have estimated approximately 800-1000 feet determining height of falls by gravity method of measurement from the crest of the fall. As from the news source I have found Khayang/ Telly Waterfall in Ukhrul District bordering Myanmar is the biggest fall in Manipur measured 754 feet according to measurement survey provided by DC of Ukhrul. Basudhara falls can be claimed the biggest waterfall in Manipur if Government can get the actual measurement. Such a wonderful spot has remained unknown to people of Manipur just because it is located in a hill of disturb district of the state and most importantly due to lack of concentration from the state government.

Ramesh Bastola