VanessaColls18 at 12:12, 14 February 2026

2026-02-14T12:12:14Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Coutrallam Falls
| alt_name = Coutrallam Falls
| photo_caption = Main Coutrallam Falls
| photo = Main Falls From Thalavai House Hotel.jpg
| map = Tamil Nadu
| map_width = 220
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|8|55|55|N|77|16|09|E|type:waterbody_scale:50000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Tenkasi district]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and Punalur taluk, Kollam district, Kerala
| type = Segmented Plunges
| elevation =
| height = {{convert|167|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height_longest =
| number_drops =
| average_width =
| average_flow =
| watercourse = [[Chittar River|Chittar]]
| world_rank =
}}

'''Coutrallam Falls''' (also called '''Kutralam/Kuttalam Falls''') is located in [[Tenkasi district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]] bordering [[Kollam district]], [[Kerala]]. The falls is located on the [[Western Ghats]] on the river [[Chittar River|Chittar]] and is considered a "medical spa" on account of the medical smell in the waters. {{clarify| What is a 'medical smell'?|date=December 2016}} It is located {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the nearest city [[Tenkasi]]. There are a total of nine falls of which Peraruvi, [[Aintharuvi]], Puli Aruvi and shenbaga devi being the most prominent.

The [[Tirunelveli district]] administration organises Saral Vila, an eight-day festival every year during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Adi'' (July - August). The falls is the most prominent tourist destination in the region and usually frequented by devotees of the [[Papanasanathar Temple]] and [[Sabarimala]]. The season starts with the South West monsoon from July to September. The [[Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation]] (TTDC) has a boat house that operates boating during season.

==Legend==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
| total_width = 300
| width1 = 802 | height1 = 1164
| width2 = 1173 | height2 = 1788
|direction=horizontal
|image1=0050 Fall at Courtallum (1801).jpg
|image2=35Courtallum Waterfall.jpg
|foot_notes=Historical image of the falls
}}
As per [[Hindu]] legend, during the divine wedding of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvathi]], there was heavy crowd at [[Kailash]], the abode of Shiva. Sage [[Agasthya]] could not view event and prayed to [[Shiva]] at this place to get him a view of the event. Shiva told him that he would offer darshan in Kutralam itself. [[Dvarapalas]], the gateway deities did not allow entry to Agasthya, which was originally a Vishnu temple. With his powers, he changed Vishnu to Shiva, conch to deer and Tulsi to crescent moon and pressed the head of Vishnu until it became a lingam, the iconic form of Shiva. On account of the heavy pressing, Shiva got a headache and it is believed that in modern times, the image of the presiding deity carries the hand marks of the sage. To alleviate the headache of Shiva, the sage prepared an oil with cow milk, green coconut and mixture of 42 herbs and applied it to Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva made the place his abode and came to be called Kutralanathar and the falls nearby the temple got the name of Coutrallam as Coutrallam Falls. The tradition is followed in the [[Kutralanathar Temple]] in modern times as well.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Kuttralanathar temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=601|year=2014|access-date=1 November 2015|publisher=Dinamalar}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Courtallam Five Falls Tirunelveli District.JPG|200px|Image of Aintharuvi, Five Falls|thumb]]
Coutrallam Falls is located in [[Western Ghats]] to the South of Coutrallam town and to the north of Coutrallam Lower, the first lake in the descent of [[Chittar River|Chittar]]. It is located {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the nearest town [[Tenkasi]] and {{convert|59|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the nearest city [[Tirunelveli]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Falls in Tirunelveli district|url=http://tirunelveli.nic.in/falls.html|publisher=Tirunelveli district administration|year=2011|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> The place is frequented by animals like [[Tiger]] and [[Leopard|Panther]], which are frequently spotted in the route from Coutrallam Falls to Papansam as both are located close to [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]].<ref name=hindu3>{{cite news|title=Animals come out in open even during day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/animals-come-out-in-open-even-during-day/article3710079.ece|publisher=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=1 August 2012|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> There are a total of nine falls namely, Peraruvi (Main Falls), Aintharuvi (Five Falls), Shenbaga Devi Aruvi, Thenaruvi (Honey Falls), Chitraruvi, Puli Aruvi (Tiger Falls), Pazhaya Aruvi (Old Falls), Puthu Aruvi (New Falls) and Pazhathotta Aruvi (Fruit Garden Falls), each of which is located within {{convert|1|km|mi|abbr=on}} radius. The falls receives its waters during the [[South-west monsoon]] from May to September, but the maximum amount of rainfall is received during the [[North-east monsoon]] during October to December. The [[Kutralanathar Temple]] is located close to the main falls.<ref>{{cite news|title=Feel the thunder|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/feel-the-thunder/article1408271.ece|publisher=The Hindu|date=18 February 2008|access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Boat House.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Boat House in the Falls]]
The [[Tirunelveli district]] administration organises Saral Vizha every year during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Aadi'' (July - August). The falls is usually frequented by devotees of the [[Papanasanathar Temple]], who take a holy dip in the falls before visiting the temple.<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Saaral Thiruvizha 2015’ celebrations postponed|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/saaral-thiruvizha-2015-celebrations-postponed/article7475732.ece|publisher=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=29 July 2015|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Make Courtallam a major tourism spot|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/make-courtallam-a-major-tourism-spot/article2289731.ece|publisher=The Hindu|location=Tirunelveli|date=24 July 2011|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> The falls is also frequented by tourists to [[Sabarimala]] during the November - December season in a religious circuit in the region and [[Agasthiyar Falls]].<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=Tirparappu falls attracts tourists|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tirparappu-falls-attracts-tourists/article7376643.ece|publisher=The Hindu|location=Nagercoil|date=2 July 2015|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> Various competitions like Swimming, pedal boating, row boating and debating are organised during the festival. There are also flower exhibits from [[Ooty]] and [[Kodaikanal]], light music shows, dog show and dance performance.<ref name=hindu4>{{cite news|title=Colourful start to ‘Saaral Thiruvizha’|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/colourful-start-to-saaral-thiruvizha/article4962509.ece|publisher=The Hindu|location=Courtallam|date=28 July 2013|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> The [[Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation]] (TTDC) has a boat house that boatincontrols during season.<ref>{{cite report|title=Potential and prospects in tourism sector in Tamil Nadu|url=http://www.spc.tn.gov.in/reports/TN_Tourism_new.pdf|format=PDF|page=11|publisher=State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil nadu|access-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119162610/http://www.spc.tn.gov.in/reports/TN_Tourism_new.pdf|archive-date=19 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of waterfalls]]
* [[List of waterfalls in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Courtallam waterfalls}}

[[Category:Waterfalls of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Tirunelveli district]]

Coutrallam Falls - Revision history

VanessaColls18 at 12:12, 14 February 2026