This year in the monsoon season I have Visited Coutralam and Palaruvi. July and August is the best season to visit these places. So we booked tickets for the last week of July. I made one plan to cover these areas in a weekend. Direct train was full at that time, so I booked the train tickets in two connecting trains with my friend and their family. It was a very refreshing trip and we enjoyed a lot.
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| Courtalam Falls |
Courtalam is in the Tirunelveli district of South India. It is famous for its numerous waterfalls. You can literally find people running around and taking bath in waterfalls with towels on their shoulders. The best time to visit is mid-June to September and October-January. Tenkasi is the nearest rail head. It is connected to Chennai and Tirunelveli by frequent services. You can hire a taxi or an auto from Tenkasi Railway Station to reach courtalam. Courtalam is just 6km away from Thenkasi Railway Junction. Special buses operated by the government ply directly to courtalam during the season.
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| Courtalam Falls |
We started from Chennai on July 26th Friday evening by Pearl City Exp (19.15pm) to reach VirudhuNagar. From there we boarded another train Podhigai exp around 5.45am Saturday to reach Thenkasi. We reached Tenkasi around 9.00am(Train was late around 1.30hrs). From the station we boarded a share auto to reach Coutralam (Fare Rs.20 per person). We already booked a railway guest house, so we left the luggage in our room and went for bathing in Main falls. (We had breakfast in the train itself as we brought from our home) It was a peak season in Courtalam, the crowd was huge all around the courtalam town. Water flowing from main falls was very good. We took Oil massage there (Rs.140) and taken bath in main falls. Due to crowd we are unable to take bath properly. So we returned after a quick bath in few minutes to our room for taking rest.
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| Five Falls |
Unfortunately there is no power in our room. We had some refreshments and decided to go for 5 falls. We boarded a share auto (Rs.10 per head) to 5 falls and reached there by 3.30 pm. It is 5 kms away from Main falls and special connecting buses are available in season times. Here also we saw lots of people are taking bath. Somehow we managed the crowd and taken bath. During this season 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.
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| Eco Park Near 5 Falls |
Apart from these two crowded major falls Peraruvi(Main Falls) and Anitharuvi(Five Falls), there are other 6 falls are there in and around Courtalam i.e. Chitraruvi(Small Falls), Shenbaga devi Falls, Thenaruvi(Honey Falls), Pazhathotta Aruvi, puli Aruvi(tiger Falls) and Pazhaya Courtallam(old Falls). Apart from the falls, Courtalam is also famous for the Shiva shrive, Thirukutrala nathar. The town name courtalam is derived from this god’s name Thirukutrala nathar.
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| Eco Park |
In my group others are want to go to our room, but I want to roam around the place. There was an Eco park near 5 falls maintained by Govt of Tamilnadu. I came to know that, on that day a special seasonal program to be conducted in that park in continuation of Saral Vizha. So I decided to go there with my friend Mano and Venkat. The entry fee was Rs.30 and it was worth a visit. When we entered the park, we saw there is some fruit and vegetable show is planning to organize. Inside the park there are only few people seen here and there. The park has some adventure games, stream walkway and lot of green trees/plants surrounded by the stream. The climate was very pleasant and we went up to the end of the park. It took 2 hours to visit the entire park. After that we boarded a Bus to Courtalam to reach our room. We had dinner and taken rest in the night.
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| Eco Park Near 5 Falls |
As per my pre plan, next day morning we vacated our room and proceeded to Palaruvi falls. There is no direct bus from Courtalam to Palaruvi, so we boarded a bus to Sengottai and from there we boarded a kerala bus to Aryankavu. Courtalam to Aryankavu is around 24 km by road. The bus dropped us near the Aryankavu checkpost and from that point we have to go further inside 4km to reach Palaruvi Falls. We boarded a share auto (Mahindra van) and he dropped us near palaruvi water falls by 10.45 am. (He charged Rs.250 for 7 of us for to and fro from Aryankavu checkpost). Entry fee to the water falls is Rs.10 per person. Vehicle entry fee is extra.
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| Palaruvi |
About 4 km from Aryankavu, Palaruvi is a slender thread of water hurtling down from a height of about 300 feet. Situated 75 km from Kollam town on Kollam-Senkottai road, this area was once a retreat for the Maharajas of Travancore. Palaruvi, which literally means 'stream of milk' collects in a little pool below, where visitors are allowed to take a dip.
It was a huge falls falling from a 300 feet hill and it was breath taking. When we were there, the flow was very high and the guards are denied us to enter near the main falls to take bath. Somehow me and venkat managed to enter in that area and taken a blissful bath in the cascade near the falls. No one can go near the falls as it was in full force and the pool below the falls was very depth. Others are taken bath below the other small cascades. The view of the falls is very spectacular and we take bath up to our thirst. We noticed there were changing rooms for ladies. Beyond the bathing area, the walking path ascended a set of stairs leading up to a sheltered view point.
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| Palaruvi Falls |
Besides bathing in the delightful waterfall, trekking is the main activity at Palaruvi which attracts a lot of tourists.
Palaruvi Trekking (7 am to 2 pm) - Covering 5 km, this trek to the top of the fall and back, covering streams, ancient caves, evergreen forests and reed breaks of the upper reaches will take about 3 hours. A minimum of 5 trekkers is required at the time of trekking.
Kurishumala Trekking (7 am and 11 am) - A distance of 8 km will be covered during this six-hour trek which involves climbing up to the top of the fall, crossing streams, caves, evergreen forests and reed breaks of the upper reaches of the fall. Visit to the special habitat of the endemic and endangered Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica) in its natural setting through Vilakkumaram-Rajacoupe up to the state border gives a glimpse of the neighboring Tamil Nadu. A minimum of 5 trekkers is required at the time of trekking.
Aryankavu Shastha Temple is located near the Palaruvi falls on the Sengottai – Punalur Road, where the Lord Ayyappa's Thirukalyanam festival celebrated.
After that we returned to Aryankavu check post through our arranged vehicle. From Aryankavu we boarded another bus to Thenmala and reached there by 2.00pm. Actually I have a plan that we have to visit Thenmala Eco Tourism sanctuary Adventure Zone. But we don’t have much time to spend there. So we visited only deer park.
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| Thenmala Deer Park |
Thenmala (the hills that flow with honey) is situated about 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 30 km from Senkottai on the Senkottai- Punalur Road. Thenmala is home to India's first planned eco-tourism project. The nerve-center of a chain of ten satellite eco-tourism destinations scattered across the hill ranges of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts, Thenmala is spread over acres of evergreen forest. A natural habitat of diverse flora and fauna, this unique eco-tourism habitat lies 500 m above sea level. The rugged terrain of this land harboring a fragile ecosystem packs plenty of adventure activities. Nature trails dotted with delightful waterfalls and enchanting picnic spots attract naturalists, conservationists and adventure seekers. With its forests, rubber estates and tea plantations, Thenmala provides the perfect background for leisure activities.
Ecotourism Activities
The Thenmala Ecotourism Facilitation Centre has enough activities to entertain both adults and children.
Culture Zone
Amphitheatre - For local art forms and other cultural performances.
Shop Court - Managed by local women self-help groups for selling local forest products, souvenirs, local handicrafts etc.
Musical Dancing Fountain - A rhythmic ballet of water, sound and light in a natural ambience. (7.00pm)
Adventure Zone (9 am to 5.30 pm on all days)
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| Thenmala Eco Park |
Nature Trail - Winding trail through various elevations in the zone.
Canopy Walkway - Elevated path through a canopy of trees that helps explore the ecosystem and the level changes of the area.
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| @ Virudhunagar |
Lotus Pond - A water body that exhibits various forms of aquatic plants.
Mountain Biking - A 2 m wide, 1000 m long bike path facilitates mountain biking with various levels of difficulty.
Recreational Rock Climbing & Rappelling - Rocks of different heights and sizes are equipped with pegs and ropes to facilitate rock climbing and rappelling.
River Crossing - Ropes are tied at a height across the river for adventurous river crossing activities.
Hill Thrills - Valley crossing, spider net, shot range, trust fall, pedal boating etc.
Resting Points - Quiet spots in the wilderness to take a break.
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| Thenmala Deer Park |
Leisure Zone (8.30 am to 6.30 pm)
Pathways - Winding trails leading tourists to various sites.
Boardwalk - 250 m riverfront built of wooden planks that gives the visitor a close view of the stream below.
Sway Bridge - An unsupported bridge, made of wooden planks and hung from ropes across the river.
Sculpture Garden - Based on the theme 'Man and Nature', this garden depicts the relationship between the two in the serene backdrop of the forest.
Resting Points - Quiet spots in the wilderness to take a break.
Deep Woods - Soft trekking and biking programme to explore the two patches of Niptica swamp forest (2 to 4 hrs).
Boating at the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary: Battery-operated vehicles to the boat landing from where begins an exciting boat cruise. Watch wildlife at close quarters and be prepared for surprises.
Deer Rehabilitation Centre
An opportunity to befriend a deer and understand their delicate ecosystem. The deer that stray out from the forest are rehabilitated here. Spotted deer and the sambar are the main inhabitants. The Centre also has a children's eco-park with treetop huts, swings etc.
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| Thenmala Deer Park |
Other Attractions
Trekking
One to three-day guided trekking tours and bird watching trails in the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bird Watching Trail: Two-day program in the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary.
Pilgrimage Tourism: An eco-pilgrimage connecting the three surrounding Ayyappa shrines at Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Achankovil can also be arranged from Thenmala.
Environment Education Centre: This Centre facilitates various activities inside the forest area, using the potential features of the site to educate the visitors.
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| Thenmala Train Bridge |
One-day Ecotourism at Palaruvi: The eco-trip to the 300 ft waterfall is managed by the local community.
Ecotourism programs are also available at the ten satellite spots that fall under a 50 km radius of Thenmala.
Places to be seen in and Around Thenmala:
Hanging Bridge, Punalur (22 km) is en route to Thenmala from Kottarakkara. Achankovil is one of the major temples of Lord Ayyappa and along the way lies in the Manalar Falls, a tiny strip of cascading water that is usually visible only after the rains. A little further is the Kumbavurutty Falls, to get to which you need to trek for half a kilometer. This is a nature interaction center and it even has tree houses for children.
Finally by 4.30 pm we boarded a bus to Thenkasi and reached around 6.30pm. We boarded Podhigai train to reach Virudhu Nagar and from there pearl city express to reach Chennai. The journey ended with chilled memories….
