Herbal falls
HERBAL FALLS COURTALLAM
Courtallam waterfall brings together nine
different falls under its net as it reaches the ground, making it one of the
biggest waterfalls to watch out for. The three primary falls, i.e. Main Falls,
Old Courtallam Falls, and Five Falls are the only ones reachable by road. The
rest either require a trek into the mountains or are restricted to the public
for safety reasons.
The other important falls at Courtallam are Fruit Garden or Orchard Falls (Pazhathotta Aruvi); and New Falls (Puthu Aruvi), situated amidst forests gives beautiful views of Courtallam town and is very attractive. Then there is the Agasthiyar falls, more than half an hour away, the first waterfall on the way to Courtallam by road.
Peraruvi Falls (Main Falls): This constitutes the most important falls, where the flow of water is slowed down by a 19-metre large crater "Pongumakadal" higher up in the mountain. The force of water gets reduced to a secure level, enabling people to safely take a bath under it
Pazhaya Courtalla Aruvi (Old Courtallam Falls): These were the original falls that would come from within the mountains and flow uninhibited into the valley. Later, some rocks were broken and restructured to collect the water into a large pool open to bathing for tourists. This was later torn down again to let the water flow unrestricted
Aintharuvi Falls (Five Falls): This cascade flows into the ground distributed across five tributaries, earning itself the name Five Falls
Chitraruvi Falls (Small Falls): As the name suggests, this is a small cascade acting as a subsidiary to the main falls.
Shenbagadevi Falls: This fall is named after the trees of Shenbaga (Michealia Champak) through which it flows. The Shenbagadevi Falls eventually flows into the Chitraruvi falls. Shenbagadevi is believed to be powerful Goddess, which is why there is also a temple erected to her name near the falls.
Thenaruvi Falls (Honey Falls): The Thenaruvi Falls are located at a distance of 3km from the Shenbagadevi Falls. It has an elevation of 40 metres and flows between two large stones. As per nature's bounties, there are big honeycombs in the vicinity that make it unsafe for tourists to engage in the nearby area.
Pazhathotta Aruvi Falls: This is an isolated waterfall that flows only in the upper reaches of the mountain but is nevertheless a part of the more extensive web of Courtallam Falls
Puli Aruvi (Tiger Falls): This is a decent fall with a moderate amount of water that collects into a lake at the bottom. The water from this lake is then distributed for irrigation purposes, while also serving as a source of water for wildlife in the neighbourhood. It is believed that tigers also come here for drinking water, and hence it was coined Tiger Falls.
The other important falls at Courtallam are Fruit Garden or Orchard Falls (Pazhathotta Aruvi); and New Falls (Puthu Aruvi), situated amidst forests gives beautiful views of Courtallam town and is very attractive. Then there is the Agasthiyar falls, more than half an hour away, the first waterfall on the way to Courtallam by road.
Peraruvi Falls (Main Falls): This constitutes the most important falls, where the flow of water is slowed down by a 19-metre large crater "Pongumakadal" higher up in the mountain. The force of water gets reduced to a secure level, enabling people to safely take a bath under it
Pazhaya Courtalla Aruvi (Old Courtallam Falls): These were the original falls that would come from within the mountains and flow uninhibited into the valley. Later, some rocks were broken and restructured to collect the water into a large pool open to bathing for tourists. This was later torn down again to let the water flow unrestricted
Aintharuvi Falls (Five Falls): This cascade flows into the ground distributed across five tributaries, earning itself the name Five Falls
Chitraruvi Falls (Small Falls): As the name suggests, this is a small cascade acting as a subsidiary to the main falls.
Shenbagadevi Falls: This fall is named after the trees of Shenbaga (Michealia Champak) through which it flows. The Shenbagadevi Falls eventually flows into the Chitraruvi falls. Shenbagadevi is believed to be powerful Goddess, which is why there is also a temple erected to her name near the falls.
Thenaruvi Falls (Honey Falls): The Thenaruvi Falls are located at a distance of 3km from the Shenbagadevi Falls. It has an elevation of 40 metres and flows between two large stones. As per nature's bounties, there are big honeycombs in the vicinity that make it unsafe for tourists to engage in the nearby area.
Pazhathotta Aruvi Falls: This is an isolated waterfall that flows only in the upper reaches of the mountain but is nevertheless a part of the more extensive web of Courtallam Falls
Puli Aruvi (Tiger Falls): This is a decent fall with a moderate amount of water that collects into a lake at the bottom. The water from this lake is then distributed for irrigation purposes, while also serving as a source of water for wildlife in the neighbourhood. It is believed that tigers also come here for drinking water, and hence it was coined Tiger Falls.
1. Legend features of courtallam
According
to folklore, during the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, a
huge crowd gathered to celebrate the historic event, due to which the renowned
sage Agasthya could not get a clear sight of the marriage. He prayed to the
Lord to allow him a view to which Shiva replied that He would grant the great
sage a darshan (blessing) at Kutralam temple itself. However, the sage was
denied entry to the temple by Dvarapalas (the Gateway deities), as the temple
was an abode of Lord Vishnu and not Lord Shiva.
Determined to seek the Lord's blessings, the sage prayed with intense devotion, pressing the head of Vishnu's idol until it turned into a lingam, the ultimate form of Lord Shiva. It is said that he pressed the head so hard that Lord Shiva got a headache. The sage then prepared a mixture of cow milk, green coconut and an amalgam of 42 herbs. This soothed the headache and the Lord, pleased by the sage's devotion, made the place his abode and named it 'Kutralanathar'. The nearby falls were declared to be holy and named as Courtallam Falls. The head pressing tradition continues to exist in the Kutralanathar Temple even today
Determined to seek the Lord's blessings, the sage prayed with intense devotion, pressing the head of Vishnu's idol until it turned into a lingam, the ultimate form of Lord Shiva. It is said that he pressed the head so hard that Lord Shiva got a headache. The sage then prepared a mixture of cow milk, green coconut and an amalgam of 42 herbs. This soothed the headache and the Lord, pleased by the sage's devotion, made the place his abode and named it 'Kutralanathar'. The nearby falls were declared to be holy and named as Courtallam Falls. The head pressing tradition continues to exist in the Kutralanathar Temple even today
Note: Enjoy the trip by breathing healthy and bathing in herbal falls.
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