The short answer
Mainapi Waterfall: what visitors should know first
Go if you can walk 9 to 10 km in a day on a broad but mostly uphill forest track. Start early, as there is a last entry time for Mainapi. Monsoon access is often closed or restricted, so confirm before travelling.
History and context
The story behind Mainapi Waterfall
Mainapi is one of the waterfalls of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary in Sanguem taluka. Two drownings here in July 2023 led the Goa Forest Department to close forest waterfalls until safety measures were in place.
Useful facts
Mainapi Waterfall facts at a glance
- Location
- Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanguem taluka
- Altitude
- Low forest trail; no significant altitude
- Experience type
- Waterfall trek
- Known for
- Three-tiered falls at the end of a long forest track
- Time or schedule
- About 4 to 5 hours on foot; early last entry
Why it matters
Why Mainapi Waterfall is worth your time
Mainapi shows the wilder side of Netravali, a 211 sq km sanctuary of moist deciduous and evergreen forest that forms part of a Western Ghats corridor. The walk is long enough to leave the roadside behind, which is the point for most people who make it.
It is also where Goa's waterfall rules were rewritten. Goa's forest waterfalls are often closed to visitors in the monsoon. After two people drowned at Mainapi in July 2023, the Forest Department barred entry to waterfalls in its areas, then reopened a list of low-risk falls with guards and ticketed entry; in 2024 it again told visitors to stay away from sanctuary waterfalls, and the minister later said monsoon access depends on periodic risk assessments of water levels and weather. Respect closures and stay out of fast water.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Three-tiered falls
The trail ends at a cascade dropping in three steps into the forest.
- 02
Long forest track
A broad track through Netravali's forest, with distance boards every 500 m.
- 03
Netravali village
The bubbling lake by the Gopinath Temple is an easy stop on the way in or out.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
The walk begins at the Matoni gate of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, the main gate for both Savari and Mainapi. Mainapi is the longer of the two: about 4 to 5 km each way, mostly on a wide, straight forest track with boards every 500 m showing the distance left. The last 500 m drop down a run of rough steps to the falls, a three-tiered cascade in deep forest.
Allow two to three hours to walk in and a little less to walk out. There are streams along the way, and the track can be marshy in wet weather. Gates close in the late afternoon and there is an earlier last entry for Mainapi, so arrive in the morning; if you also want to see Savari, do Mainapi first. Visitors may not go under the falls in the monsoon.
The Goa Forest Development Corporation runs a jeep safari to Savari or Mainapi through the Netravali canteen, which can shorten the outing; ask how much walking remains before booking. Its own notes advise people with breathing or other health problems to avoid these waterfall treks.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Arrive in the morning; last entry for Mainapi is early afternoon
- Carry plenty of water and food
- Wear shoes with good grip
- No plastic or smoking inside the sanctuary
- Confirm monsoon closures before leaving
- No mobile network inside
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanguem taluka, from the Matoni gate
- Time needed
- About 4 to 5 hours on foot, plus the drive
- Best time
- After the monsoon, from about October to February, subject to forest department rules
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- This is a long walk, mostly uphill on the way in, with a final descent on rough steps of branches and nails. It is not suitable for anyone who tires on long walks or struggles with uneven steps. Older parents can see the Budbudyanchi Tali bubbling lake in Netravali village, an easy stop, while fitter family members walk to the falls.
- Tickets and access
- Entry is through the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary gates, where a forest entry fee is charged and visitors register. The Goa Forest Development Corporation also sells a jeep safari to Savari or Mainapi. Plastic and smoking are not allowed. Confirm current fees, gate hours and monsoon closures locally.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Mainapi Waterfall
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
This is a long walk, mostly uphill on the way in, with a final descent on rough steps of branches and nails. It is not suitable for anyone who tires on long walks or struggles with uneven steps. Older parents can see the Budbudyanchi Tali bubbling lake in Netravali village, an easy stop, while fitter family members walk to the falls.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
How long is the Mainapi walk?
About 4 to 5 km each way from the Matoni gate, usually 2 to 3 hours in and a little less out.
Is Mainapi open in the monsoon?
Often not, or only with restrictions. The forest department closed Goa's forest waterfalls after drownings here in 2023; confirm the current rule.
Is there a jeep option?
The Goa Forest Development Corporation offers a jeep safari to Savari or Mainapi; check how much walking it leaves.
Sources and further reading
- Roundglass Sustain: Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary guide
- Goa Forest Development Corporation: Nature safari
- ThePrint: Goa forest dept bans entry to waterfalls (2023)
- Twinsontoes: Mainapi and Savri waterfall hike
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
