Travellogue
Courtrallam
The spa of the south
Everybody's talking about Coutrallam now. The irrepressibly majestic waterfalls have put the tiny town on the international tourist map. This also happens to be the best time of the year to visit Courtallam – the temperature is just right and the roar of the waters, which are infused with rare herbs, cascading onto your body is guaranteed to chase your stress away.
Here is the Guide to the place known variously as Tamilnadu's Niagara and the Spa of the South!
Situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Coutrallam is a part of the Podhigai Hills of Tirunelveli district in Tamilnadu. This is one of the few waterfalls in the country where tourists are allowed to bathe. A cool breeze, a drizzle and the imposing range of Western Ghats greet you when you enter Coutrallam. The annual 'Saaral Vizha' marks the beginning of the tourist season.
The Must-See Waterfalls are:
1) Main Falls: This is the most popular and perennially crowded waterfall in the region. When water cascades down at its full strength, the stretch equals the width of 15 persons standing next to each other!
1) Main Falls: This is the most popular and perennially crowded waterfall in the region. When water cascades down at its full strength, the stretch equals the width of 15 persons standing next to each other!
2) Chittaruvi/ Forest Falls: Locals fondly call it the 'Bathroom Falls'. As the name signifies, you will find plenty of bathing rooms right beneath the falls, though only a few people can be accommodated at a time.
3) V.I.P/ Orchard Falls: Straight out of a beautiful dream – that is how picturesque the Orchard Falls are! But you require special permission from the tourism office to bathe here. Psst, several important personalities were denied the privilege.
4.) Five Falls:
Rated as one of the most popular falls, the temple nearby adds to the appeal. Water from the V.I.P Falls directly flows down here and gets diverted into five different falls and hence the name.
5.) Tiger Falls:
Untill 1950, water was flowing without restrictions here. But, thanks to the efforts of renowned industrialist Sri.Karimuthu
Thyagaraja Chettiar, the falls were made suitable for public bathing. He was the one who had constructed the tiger caves. It is believed that in those days, tigers use to rest in the caves at night.
6) Old Courtallam Falls:
Inaugurated by Shri K.Kamaraj in 1960 when he was the chief minister of the state, the Old Courtallam Falls has its own set of loyal fans.
7.)Shenbaga Devi Water Falls:
Named after the Shenbaga Devi Amman temple located nearby, water from the falls flows over a deep pool beneath. Dangerous rocks line in the floor of the pool. There have been several instances of deaths due to careless plunges. Still, even statistical displays of death tolls, haven’t stopped over-enthusiastic tourists from jumping in.
8.) Honey Falls:
Situated above Shenbagadevi Falls, you need to swim a few yards in a pool to bathe here. The falls are named after the cluster of bee hives above them.
9.) New Falls:
At an elevation of roughly 1000 ft, the New Falls are situated above 2 Kms from the Main Falls. The pristine waters and the sylvan landscape all around have ensured the popularity of the falls among tourists.
Apart from these, there are other waterfalls here which are in privately owned farmlands and gardens. Public transportation
is not available for all the waterfalls. You might have to trek.
A plethora of massage parlours dot Courtallam. For a taste of rustic boho, get a vigorous massage, bathe in the falls, have a spicy meal and sleep all the day exactly in that order.
Mythical Courtallam? Yes, that too!
When all the gods and goddesses converged at Mount Kailash to witness the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, their combined weight was so heavy that the northern plate tilted. Lord Shiva summoned Maharishi Agasthya and asked him to proceed south of the Vindhyas to balance the weight. So immense was the Maharishi’s yogic powers that the north-south balance was quickly restored.
With his divine vision, Agastya witnessed the wedding right from Courtallam. There are many who still believe that he still lives in the jungles.
Another narrative has it that the deity at Courtrallanathar temple was initially that of Lord Bramha. It was later transformed into the deity of Lord Vishnu. In its current form, it is the deity of Lord Shiva. The Lord and his Consort are Parvathy are known here as Courtalla Naadhar and Kuzhalvaimozhi. Courtallam is also known as ‘Chitra Sabha’, one of the five celestial dancing halls in which Lord Natraja performed his divine dance.
References to the Courtallam temple are found in the literary compositions of the last Sangam era. Many miracles are attributed to the place. In the year 1949, a 12-year-old speech-impaired girl named Meenakshi suddenly found herself cured of the disability. Devotees believe that Mother Parvathy had cured the little girl. The fact that the news was published in London journal named ‘prediction’ in 1950 might make you want to reconsider the instinct to dismiss it as gossip.
The Europeans were the first to call it the ‘Spa of the South’. In memory of Lord Casa Major, a neighbouring village was named Kasimejapuram. You will also find many magnificent bungalows built by the English officers of the East India Company and the subsequent rulers. The British were also the ones who had constructed the arch through which water flows to the main falls.
Water conservation:
There are about 70 tanks to save the water from the falls for irrigation and drinking. Courtallam hills also boast of about 350 rare and exclusive herbs.
Accommodation and Food:
There are as many as seventy lodges, 100 hotels and 450 houses with paying guest/ cooking options to choose from. Book in advance, else you might not find a place to stay! Visitors often end up buying properties in the area to construct expansive retreat-style homes.
You might find the local cuisine very spicy. Fret not, because all the extra spice will prepare your body for the cold waters!
Prominent places of stay are:
1.) Isakki High View Resorts-04633283773
2.) Kurinji Villa – 04633 083267
3.) Dalavoi House – 04633 283027, 04633283447
4.) Hotel Tamilnadu – 04633 283003
Shopping…..
Don’t expect to do any exotic souvenir shopping in Courtallam. Still, you might want to buy fruits like mangosteen, custard apple and of course , the local spices. Chilli bajji is the most popular local snack. And don’t forget to treat yourself to the inimitable Tirunelveli Halwa!
Season:
June to August is the peak season for tourists, but the best time to visit is September. This is the month when Courtallam is not very crowded and you can enjoy your trip in leisure. It is not a good idea to visit Courtallam between October and December; the water would freeze your bones!
Other places of interest near Courtallam:
Kasi Viswanathar Temple: 5 Kms
Milk Falls at Ariyankavoo , Kerala : 30 kms
Upper Dam at Papanasam : 54 Kms
Nellaiappar Kovil at Tirunelvelli : 60Kms
Kanyakumari : 140 Kms
Transport:
Madurai Airport is 120 kilometers away while Trivandrum Airport is 160 Kilometers away from Courtallam.
The spa of the south
Everybody's talking about Coutrallam now. The irrepressibly majestic waterfalls have put the tiny town on the international tourist map. This also happens to be the best time of the year to visit Courtallam – the temperature is just right and the roar of the waters, which are infused with rare herbs, cascading onto your body is guaranteed to chase your stress away.
Here is the Guide to the place known variously as Tamilnadu's Niagara and the Spa of the South!
Situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Coutrallam is a part of the Podhigai Hills of Tirunelveli district in Tamilnadu. This is one of the few waterfalls in the country where tourists are allowed to bathe. A cool breeze, a drizzle and the imposing range of Western Ghats greet you when you enter Coutrallam. The annual 'Saaral Vizha' marks the beginning of the tourist season.
The Must-See Waterfalls are:
1) Main Falls: This is the most popular and perennially crowded waterfall in the region. When water cascades down at its full strength, the stretch equals the width of 15 persons standing next to each other!
1) Main Falls: This is the most popular and perennially crowded waterfall in the region. When water cascades down at its full strength, the stretch equals the width of 15 persons standing next to each other!
2) Chittaruvi/ Forest Falls: Locals fondly call it the 'Bathroom Falls'. As the name signifies, you will find plenty of bathing rooms right beneath the falls, though only a few people can be accommodated at a time.
3) V.I.P/ Orchard Falls: Straight out of a beautiful dream – that is how picturesque the Orchard Falls are! But you require special permission from the tourism office to bathe here. Psst, several important personalities were denied the privilege.
4.) Five Falls:
Rated as one of the most popular falls, the temple nearby adds to the appeal. Water from the V.I.P Falls directly flows down here and gets diverted into five different falls and hence the name.
5.) Tiger Falls:
Untill 1950, water was flowing without restrictions here. But, thanks to the efforts of renowned industrialist Sri.Karimuthu
Thyagaraja Chettiar, the falls were made suitable for public bathing. He was the one who had constructed the tiger caves. It is believed that in those days, tigers use to rest in the caves at night.
6) Old Courtallam Falls:
Inaugurated by Shri K.Kamaraj in 1960 when he was the chief minister of the state, the Old Courtallam Falls has its own set of loyal fans.
7.)Shenbaga Devi Water Falls:
Named after the Shenbaga Devi Amman temple located nearby, water from the falls flows over a deep pool beneath. Dangerous rocks line in the floor of the pool. There have been several instances of deaths due to careless plunges. Still, even statistical displays of death tolls, haven’t stopped over-enthusiastic tourists from jumping in.
8.) Honey Falls:
Situated above Shenbagadevi Falls, you need to swim a few yards in a pool to bathe here. The falls are named after the cluster of bee hives above them.
9.) New Falls:
At an elevation of roughly 1000 ft, the New Falls are situated above 2 Kms from the Main Falls. The pristine waters and the sylvan landscape all around have ensured the popularity of the falls among tourists.
Apart from these, there are other waterfalls here which are in privately owned farmlands and gardens. Public transportation
is not available for all the waterfalls. You might have to trek.
A plethora of massage parlours dot Courtallam. For a taste of rustic boho, get a vigorous massage, bathe in the falls, have a spicy meal and sleep all the day exactly in that order.
Mythical Courtallam? Yes, that too!
When all the gods and goddesses converged at Mount Kailash to witness the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, their combined weight was so heavy that the northern plate tilted. Lord Shiva summoned Maharishi Agasthya and asked him to proceed south of the Vindhyas to balance the weight. So immense was the Maharishi’s yogic powers that the north-south balance was quickly restored.
With his divine vision, Agastya witnessed the wedding right from Courtallam. There are many who still believe that he still lives in the jungles.
Another narrative has it that the deity at Courtrallanathar temple was initially that of Lord Bramha. It was later transformed into the deity of Lord Vishnu. In its current form, it is the deity of Lord Shiva. The Lord and his Consort are Parvathy are known here as Courtalla Naadhar and Kuzhalvaimozhi. Courtallam is also known as ‘Chitra Sabha’, one of the five celestial dancing halls in which Lord Natraja performed his divine dance.
References to the Courtallam temple are found in the literary compositions of the last Sangam era. Many miracles are attributed to the place. In the year 1949, a 12-year-old speech-impaired girl named Meenakshi suddenly found herself cured of the disability. Devotees believe that Mother Parvathy had cured the little girl. The fact that the news was published in London journal named ‘prediction’ in 1950 might make you want to reconsider the instinct to dismiss it as gossip.
The Europeans were the first to call it the ‘Spa of the South’. In memory of Lord Casa Major, a neighbouring village was named Kasimejapuram. You will also find many magnificent bungalows built by the English officers of the East India Company and the subsequent rulers. The British were also the ones who had constructed the arch through which water flows to the main falls.
Water conservation:
There are about 70 tanks to save the water from the falls for irrigation and drinking. Courtallam hills also boast of about 350 rare and exclusive herbs.
Accommodation and Food:
There are as many as seventy lodges, 100 hotels and 450 houses with paying guest/ cooking options to choose from. Book in advance, else you might not find a place to stay! Visitors often end up buying properties in the area to construct expansive retreat-style homes.
You might find the local cuisine very spicy. Fret not, because all the extra spice will prepare your body for the cold waters!
Prominent places of stay are:
1.) Isakki High View Resorts-04633283773
2.) Kurinji Villa – 04633 083267
3.) Dalavoi House – 04633 283027, 04633283447
4.) Hotel Tamilnadu – 04633 283003
Shopping…..
Don’t expect to do any exotic souvenir shopping in Courtallam. Still, you might want to buy fruits like mangosteen, custard apple and of course , the local spices. Chilli bajji is the most popular local snack. And don’t forget to treat yourself to the inimitable Tirunelveli Halwa!
Season:
June to August is the peak season for tourists, but the best time to visit is September. This is the month when Courtallam is not very crowded and you can enjoy your trip in leisure. It is not a good idea to visit Courtallam between October and December; the water would freeze your bones!
Other places of interest near Courtallam:
Kasi Viswanathar Temple: 5 Kms
Milk Falls at Ariyankavoo , Kerala : 30 kms
Upper Dam at Papanasam : 54 Kms
Nellaiappar Kovil at Tirunelvelli : 60Kms
Kanyakumari : 140 Kms
Transport:
Madurai Airport is 120 kilometers away while Trivandrum Airport is 160 Kilometers away from Courtallam.
posted by M.D.S.PRABU at 4:55 AM
1 Comments:
It was wonderful description of the place, bringing out the beauty and sense if devotion.
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