Soon, tourists who seek adventure can enjoy zip line rides across Jog Falls in the district, where the Sharavati river plunges from a height of 830 feet.
The Jog Management Authority plans to introduce zip lining from the British Bungalow viewpoint to the viewpoint near the main entrance gate of Jog. The waterfall has four distinct cascades — Raja, Rani, Roarer, and Rocket. Hanuma Naik, Assistant Director of the Department of Tourism, who is also a member of the authority, told The Hindu that at present, there are three main viewpoints from where the resplendent beauty of the waterfalls can be enjoyed. Zip lining will enable tourists to soar across the sky and have a closer view of the waterfalls and the Sharavati river valley. Zip lining will offer views of the waterfall and the Sharavati river valley, that has so far been inaccessible to visitors, he said.
He said that preliminary technical survey for work on installation of zip lines, including testing soil strength and studying wind movement patterns, were completed recently and the places where pillars and decks would be installed for the operation of zip lines have been identified. According to preliminary assessment, the work is estimated to cost around ₹60 lakh. It is likely to be commence after the conclusion of the monsoon season. Three parallel zip line cables will be installed here. Mr. Naik said the service would be offered by June 2020.
The Jog Management Authority also plans to develop a children’s park, additional parking slots, a food court and a toilet complex here, all at a cost of ₹10 crore. An action plan for these works has already been prepared and the State government’s approval is awaited, he said.
More than 10 lakh tourists visit Jog Falls every year.
