I have a thought on Long days that I have to Visit Coutralam and Kanyakumari. I made one plan to cover these areas in 2 days weekend trip. I booked the train ticket 2 months back and visited by December 16th 2011 with my friend. It was a very refreshing trip for me in a mechanical life.
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| Kutralanathar Temple |
About Coutralam
Coutralam water has medicinal properties since the water runs through the forests of herbs and the water has therapeutic qualities to cure physical ailments. During the season (period June to September in every year) thousands of tourists from far and near visit this place. This place has a chill and a superb climate with sizzling of rain drops over us removes the stresses in our mind. The pure wind that starts from pothigai malai (mountain) removes the tiredness from our body. 'The Fruit Garden falls' is the pampered kid of Courtallam. It is dedicated to Lord Thirukutralanathar (Siva). It is said that Lord Siva send saint Agasthiyar to the south to avoid imbalance due to overcrowding in the mount Kailas on his celestial wedding.
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| Main Falls |
Water Falls list in coutrallam 1. Peraruvi (Main Falls) The most popular and frequented waterfalls are the Main falls. Not only during the season, but also during the period November to January, the crest receives the Northeastern monsoon emptying itself on the slopes to swell the falls and the Chittar River. From a height of 300 ft., the Chittar River makes its last descent to the plains. 2. Chittraruvi Adjacent to the Main falls is a small cascade called 'Chittraruvi'. 3. Shenbaga Devi Falls A mile away from the Main falls is the Shenbagadevi falls, so called because of its location near to the temple of Shenbagadevi. During full moon days large crowds visit this temple. 4. Thenaruvi (Honey Falls) About 3 miles from the Main falls on the upper crusts of the rocks is the Honey falls. It is so called because of beehives on the promontory. It is a romantic place of solitude and those who seek seclusion come here to meditate on reality. 5. Aintharuvi (Five Falls) Connected by a good road about 3 miles from the Main falls are the Five falls, so named as the cascade spreads in five heads like a hooded cobra. This spot is venerated highly as it presents an image of Adishesha with several hoods. 6. Pazhathotta Aruvi 7. Puli Aruvi About 6 furlongs form the Main falls is the Tiger Falls with a temple for Shastha nearby. Bathing ghats have also been provided for pilgrims. 8. Pazhaya Courtallam About 4 miles from the Main falls is the Old falls, rarely frequented. Apart from all these falls the place is also famous for the Shiva shrive, Thirukootala nathar, ('Lord of three peaks'). 9. Puthu Aruvi Perched at an elevation of 1,00 ft, and one and half miles from the Main falls is the New falls amidst a sylvan landscape of wild forest. The panoramic view from this ledge is beautiful affording a sight of the entire town below.
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| Coutralam Falls |
Water Falls around Coutrallam: 1. Gundarau Falls 2. Kummaroutti falls 3. Paalaru 4. Agastiyar Falls 5. Baanatheertham.
Temples in and around coutrallam: 1. Kutraleeswar Temple - Coutrallam 2. Kashivishwanathar Temple -Tenkasi 3. Kumaran Temple -Ilanji 4. Thirumalai Kumarasamy Temple -Tirumalai koil 5. Shenbaga devi Temple - Near Senbagadevi Falls 6. Anjaneyar Temple - Krishnapuram 7. Thoranamalai Temple.
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| Five Falls |
We started from Chennai on Friday evening by Sengottai Exp (20.05pm)to reach Tenkasi first. From there we catched town bus to reach Coutralam (Fare Rs.6) . It is not a season in Coutralam but crowd was there due to Sabarimala season. Water also flowing from main falls is very good. Everybody said this is not the right season to visit coutralam(becoz water will not be more and it is a rainy/winter season), but i don't like crowd, so I planned this December. My plan was correct and I enjoyed my trip very well. I taken Oil massage there (Rs.140)and taken bath in main falls upto my thirst. The water was taken away all my pressures and relieved me to light experience.
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| Five Falls |
Then we went to 5 falls and taken some photos there. there is not much crowd and water was not that force as in Main falls. But good to bath there also without crowd. It is 5 kms away from Main falls and no connecting bus was there in non-season, so there is no crowd. There is share autos are reaching there for Rs.10 per head. If you need privacy in auto they ask Rs.100 for to and fro to 5 falls.
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| Temple Entrance |
After 5 falls we came back to Tenkasi and travelled by another bus to our next destination Nagercoil. (around 120km) We reached there by evening and went to Nagaraja Temple. (The Nagercoil name came from this temple). There some peoples are doing some rituals to remove their sins / dhosam. By Spreading turmeric powder and pouring milk to the Nager statues. In that temple mens are not allowed with shirts/Vests. They have to remove their Shirts to enter the temple. Because the temple is under Kerala control some time back and they performing pooja in Kerala style now also.
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| Nagaraja Temple |
In the late evening we went to Kanyakumari for Night Halt.(20Km). We went to Vivekananda Kendra first in Kanyakumari. The next day morning we wake up very early and refreshed ourselves and went to Sea to see Sunrise. It was cloudy in the morning so Sun was not seen upto 6.40 am. But there was lot of crowd was there, again due to sabarimala season. On 6.50am the Sun was risen and everybody enjoyed it. We saw Thiruvallur statue, Vivekanada Rock and Gandhi Mandapam there and came back to our place. That day there is heavy wind was there and somebody said, boat will not to be operated due to wind, so we did't waited for boating.
Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise can be seen in Kanniyakumari through out the year at Bay of Bengal. Sunset can be seen from View Tower through out the year except the months of June, July and August.
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| Sunrise Near Thiruvalluvar Statue |
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| Tsunami Rememberance |
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| Vivekananda Kendra |
We then arranged on Indica car on sunday morning for our day tour in Kanyakumari District. We went to Suchindram Temple, Padmanabha Palace, Mathur Tank Bridge and finally went to Thirparappu Falls.
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| Suchindram Temple |
Suchindrum
Suchindrum is a small village about 12 km. from Kanyakumari and about seven kilometres from Nagercoil. This holy place is located on the bank of the river Pazhayar, adjoining fertile fields and coconut groves and the temple is dedicated to Sri Sthanumalayan. The word denotes Siva, Vishnu and Brahma as. Sthanu represents Siva, Mal represents Vishnu while Ayan represents Brahma i.e. Siva, Vishnu and Brahma in “One Form”. A big Anjaneya Statue also is there in the temple.
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| Padmanabhapuram Palace |
Padmanabhapuram Palace
The ancient historical town Padmanabhapuram is one of the four municipalities in the district is 55 Km. south of Trivandrum, about two km. east of Thuckalay and 35 km. from Kanyakumari on the Trivandrum-Cape Comerin road. This town is surrounded by a fort with an area of 187 acres. The ancient capital of Travancore might be constructed before AD 1601. The palace with an area of seven acres, is situated in the very centre on the Padmanabhapuram Fort, amidst hills, dales and rivers. The palace which is situated in Kanyakumari District is under the control of a Curator of the Archaeological Department of Kerala Government.
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| Inside Padmanabhapuram Palace |
Entry Fee Rs 25 for Adult and Rs.10 for Children.
Mathoor Hanging Bridge
The Mathoor Hanging Trough is the tallest as well as the longest trough bridge in Asia, having a height of 115 feet and a length of around one kilometre. Constructed in 1969, this bridge has become a place of tourist importance and hundreds of tourists visit this place. This is situated in Mathoor, hamlet of Aruvikkarai revenue village in Thiruvattar Panchayat Union.
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| Mathoor Hanging Bridge |
The bridge has been constructed at Mathoor across the river Parazhiyar at a cost of Rs. 12.90/- lakhs and the trough canal (Pattanamkal canal) on the bridge carries water for irrigation from one side of a hill to the other side of a hill. The trough has a height of seven feet with a width of seven feet six inches. The canal is being shouldered by 28 huge pillars.
Tirparappu Water Falls
The Kodayar makes its descend at Tirparappu and the water fall at this place is about 13km. from Pechiparai dam.
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| Tirparappu Water Falls |
The river bed is rocky and about 300 feet in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet and the water flows for about seven months in a year. The whole bed above the falls is one rocky mass which extends up to a distance of about quarter of a kilometer upstream where the famous Thirparappu weir has been constructed for supplying water to the paddy fields. On either side of the river, on the left bank of the river in between the water falls and the weir, there is a temple dedicated to Siva enclosed by strong fortification.
Finally the car driver is dropped us in Nagercoil Railway station by 4.30 pm and we then travelled in Kanyakumari express to reach Chennai. Our Journey Ends...
