Not many are aware that Kabbargi village in Kushtagi taluk of Koppal district hides a natural treasure, a spectacular waterfalls that has been a major tourist attraction and a picnic spot.
For, it is difficult even to imagine a falls amidst an arid region in the district which has been facing scanty rainfall and is among other chronically drought-prone districts.
Yet, the waterfalls known as Kapilatirtha, though seasonal, located in the midst of a forest area with lush green bushes and rocky terrain in the surroundings, has been attracting people of all ages. On seeing the spectacular view, one would be under the impression that they are in the Malnad region of the State.
As legend has it, the waterfalls got created after sage Kapila did penance on top of the rocky hill and brought the Ganga down.
One has to trek a distance of about 2.5 km, which is not strenuous, to reach the waterfalls and one is awestruck seeing water gushing out from between the boulders from a height of about 20-25 feet. Taking a shower under the waterfalls will only further one’s joy. There is a place to sit together to have lunch.
Enquiries with locals revealed that the waterfalls is active only during the rainy season, spread over a span of 60 to 90 days or even more at times depending upon good rainfall in the neighbouring Gadag and Bagalkot districts.
By word of mouth, the waterfalls has become very popular in and around Koppal district with a large number of people from Koppal, Ballari, Gadag and Bagalkot districts thronging the area during the rainy season even without any basic infrastructure. If proper facilities are provided, the waterfalls would attract much more tourists, locals feel.
However, being a reserve forest area, the possibilities of providing infrastructure are remote and naturalists such as H. Sharat are of the view that facilities provided would only disturb the “naturalness” of the place and that it should be left as it is. He also underlined the need to ensure that the visitors did not litter plastics and other material to maintain cleanliness at the spot.
