Devdari is a place to slow down. Most of what there is to do is simple: look, listen, walk a little, photograph and enjoy the forest. That simplicity is the point.
1. Take in the falls from the viewpoints
The classic Devdari experience is standing at the rim and looking down at the water dropping into the gorge, with layered cliffs on either side. Spend time here; the view changes as clouds move, light shifts on the rock and birds circle below you. Use designated viewing areas and stay well back from unfenced edges.
2. Photography
Devdari rewards photographers in every season: roaring brown water and spray in the monsoon, clear pools and long shadows in winter, golden forest in spring. Bring a wide lens for the gorge and a zoom for birds on the cliffs. Our photography tips cover light, spray and drones.
3. Birdwatching and wildlife spotting
Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary records around 150 bird species. The UP Eco-Tourism Board notes a colony of vultures nesting in the cavities of the Devdari cliffs, so scan the rock faces with binoculars. Peafowl, parakeets, bulbuls, mynas, eagles and cuckoos are among the birds listed for the sanctuary. Larger animals such as chital, nilgai, wild boar and jackals are most likely around dawn and dusk.
- Bring binoculars and keep your voice low.
- Watch only from permitted areas; never follow animals into the forest.
- Never feed wildlife, including monkeys.
4. Nature walks on permitted trails
Short walks along established paths near the falls let you see the forest up close: tree bark, wildflowers, butterflies and seasonal streams. Longer forest trails need local permission and ideally a local guide; do not wander off-trail alone. See Local Guides.
5. See Rajdari as well
Rajdari Waterfall is a short distance away in the same sanctuary, a broad, stepped cascade that contrasts nicely with Devdari's plunge into the gorge. Many people visit both in one trip.
6. A picnic, where it is allowed
Families have long come here for a day out with home-cooked food. Check whether eating is allowed in the area you are in, sit away from edges and the water, and carry every scrap of rubbish back out. Food and refreshment tips are on Food & Restaurants.
7. Add nearby attractions
- Latif Shah Dam: a reservoir completed in 1921, near Chakia, and the nearby tomb of Sufi saint Latif Shah.
- Chakia Kali Mandir: a long-established temple of Maa Kali, especially lively at Ramnavami.
- Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary: the wider forest, its history and wildlife.
What not to do
Never
Swim, dive or wade in strong currents; climb wet rocks or cliff edges for selfies; enter the forest off-trail; feed animals; leave litter.
Please avoid
Loud music and speakers, drones without forest permission, plastic bags and bottles you will not carry back, and visiting during storms.
Full guidance: Safety & Rules.