Nafakhum for the first time: what nobody tells you

Most people picture Nafakhum as a long trek — it is not. The real journey is the two-hour boat ride up the Sangu River from Thanchi, weaving between rocks that surface as the water level drops through the dry season.

The waterfall itself is loudest right after monsoon, when the current is strong enough that swimming near the base is not allowed. Bring sandals with a good grip; the rocks around it stay wet and slick all year.