Mallela Theertham is a small waterfall located in the Nallamala Forest in Nagarkurnool, Telangana. This place is located around 180 km from Hyderabad and 60 km from Hyderabad.  So, it is ideal getaway from Hyderabad for a weekend trek / trip.  This weekend, we did a day trip to the falls.  We (Pranesh, Madhu, Ram, and I) have started from Hyderabad around 6AM, and reached the falls by 10AM after breakfast stop in the mid-way.

Height of the fall is about 50 feet, with water directly falling from a high cliff on a Shiv Lingas kind of rock formations.  Since the water falls is surrounded by thick forest, experience is unique and blissful with pure sounds of nature.  Apparently, the water comes from a small stream which flows through the dense jungle and meets the Krishna River.

There are about 400 well laid steps that will help one reach to the bottom of the falls pretty effortlessly.  The pool below the falls is closed with fencing on all sides. However, there is a path to reach the bottom of the falls and play in the water, if the flow of the stream is not heavy.  We did walk to the bottom of the falls, though it is very tricky due to mold which make the walk very slippery (and caused both Madhu and Pranesh to slip and fall)

The water from main falls flow into another stream pool in the vicinity forming another small but cute waterfall as you can see from the video, though reaching bottom of this fall is not so easy.  I am told by the other trekkers, there are additional 4 to 5 stream / mini falls that can be seen if we walk further down.

It is said per wiki, that many sages have performed penances there for Shiva and Shiva has himself appeared there to many of his devotees. It is believed that many tigers visit there to drink water during summer

It was saddening to see the place littered with lots of plastic and other forms of waste.  We actually witness well educated folks discarding the plastic and feeding monkey with food which is not good for them.  We hope and pray that sense will prevail and fewer folks will resort to such damage to the pristine environment.