Kutladampatti Falls,
Madurai
Kutladampatti Falls is
a waterfall located in the village of Kutladampatti near Vadipatti in Madurai
district about 30 km (19 mi)
northwest of Madurai, Tamil
Nadu, India. This Waterfall is in a reserve
forest managed by the Department.
The water falls from a height of about 27 metres (89 ft). This cascade is
a small local attraction, where one can spend an inexpensive evening, with
fewer crowds, but due to the lack of human frequency, it can prove to be unsafe
too, at times.
It is basically an artificial
waterfall and is a famous tourist destination in the region. It is nestled in a
picturesque location and known for its scenic beauty. The waterfall has gained
popularity following some serious media coverage in the early 2000s. Over the
years, it has established itself as a major attraction and is now visited by
many local as well as distant tourists throughout the year.
A 2 kilometers step trek from
the highway, leads to the Kutladampatti Falls, which have been recently
constructed by the governing authorities of the area. The falls get their name
from the village Kutladampatti, in which they are located. This village and
Kutladampatti Falls are distanced at 30 kilometers from the district
headquarters, less than an hour by road.
On the way to the Kutladampatti
Falls, one can come across beautiful huge rocks. The fresh water stream that
descends down the rocks as the Kutladampatti Falls rejuvenates the mind and
soul of the visitor. People practice nature photography of the
surrounding wilderness of the falls and enjoy bathing at the
platforms under the cascade. This waterfall seeks a lot of visitors during its
prime months.
Kutladampatti Falls form part of the
Sirumalai Reserve Forest, protected by the state government. The height of
these falls is 27 meters. It takes a double drop from the rocks, before hitting
the ground below. They are distanced at a stretch of 8 kilometers from the town
of Vadipatti. The peak season, when the tourism flourishes at the falls is from
the months of September to February. This cascade is usually dry in the summer
months or even in the absence of rains. Local people, residing in various areas
of Madurai district, visit the Kutladampatti Falls as their weekend getaway.
This waterfalls lies in the Village
called Kutladampatti of Vadipatti block which comes under the operational area
of Palamedu Vattara Kalanjiam.
The Kutladampatti waterfalls lies
near the foot hills of Sirumalai and it comes under the reserve forest area.
Variety of medical plants, sandal wood trees, oak trees, besides jack and mango
trees are in the hills. Animals like deer, wild boars, and large squirrels
exist in the forest.
The walk to the waterfall is
enchanting as you traverse the forest – narrow pathways, some boulder strewn,
bordered by dense foliage makes it quite an adventure! Closer to the
waterfalls, steps have been constructed making them easily accessible. As you
ascend the steps, you will see huge boulders on either side. The clean mountain
air and the chirping of birds, makes the ambience all the more enchanting. And
then you come upon the rumbling waterfall gushing down in all its frothy, misty
glory!
When you are here, you could check
out the Sathiyar Dam which is close by. Also nearby is the 500 year old temple
dedicated to Thadaagai Amman known as Thadagai Nachiamman Temple.
Kutladampatti is a serene village
and is home to two spiritual centers – a Buddhist meditation center and the
Ramangiri Ashram (which was founded by a German follower of the renowned holy
man, Ramana Maharishi. The ashram is an ideal place to unwind, meditate and
recharge your batteries. Surrounded by mango farms, it is a charming place and
you can see many beautiful peacocks strutting around.
Geographical Position:
Kutladampatti Falls in Madurai is
located at 10°08'01.7"N 78°01'02.6"E or 10.133813, 78.017397.
Connectivity:
Tourists from Madurai can take a
direct bus from the Periyar bus stand. Tourists may also come via Vadipatti, travelling by bus
number 71. The falls are 8 km (5.0 mi) from Vadipatti. State Mini bus
services are available from the Vadipatti bus stand.