Thirparappu
Waterfalls, Kanyakumari
Thirparappu Waterfalls are
located in Kanyakumari district, Tamil
Nadu state, India. The Kodaiyar River makes its descent at Thirparappu. The water fall at this place is about 13 kilometers
(8.1 mi) from Pechiparai
Dam. The river bed is rocky and about
300 feet (91 m) in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet
(15 m) and the water flows for about seven months per year. The whole bed
above the falls is one rocky mass which extends 250 metres (820 ft)
upstream where the 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 waterfalls and the weir, there is a
temple dedicated to Shiva enclosed by strong fortification. The District
Administration has recently constructed a swimming pool which is very popular
among the children. Other more serene waterfalls in this area are Vattaparai
Falls and Kalikesam falls.
Thirparappu Waterfalls is a lovely
spot for a picnic or just to enjoy the beauty of nature. The falls are
surrounded by thickly wooded hills. On the left bank of the river, sandwiched
between the waterfalls and the weir, is a beautiful temple dedicated to Shiva
enclosed by sturdy buttressing.
Visitors can avail of the boating
facilities at the lake behind the dam. There is a lovely garden here and kids
will just love the unique elephant playground slide which is close to the
waterfall. They will also enjoy swimming in the scenic pool which has been
constructed for kids. It is located at a distance of 5 km from kulasekaram
(Kanyakumari District).
After reaching Kanyakumari, there
are a number of buses, auto rickshaws and taxis that connect people to
different parts of the city. To reach Thirparappu Falls, the Trivandrum highway
route through the village of Nagercoil can be accessed. The falls lies close to
Kulasekara village.
A small temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva is situated on the banks of the river. There are strong walls and
fortifications that surround the temple. Recently, a swimming pool has been
constructed nearby, so that children can enjoy their trip from Kanyakumari to
Thirparappu Waterfall to the fullest.
The fall can be visited throughout
the year, but specifically monsoon season is the best time to visit. The fall
is open all days of the week from 07:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Location:
Thirparappu Falls is located in
Thotti Palam in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. “Kumari Kuttalam” is the
other name for Thirparappu Waterfalls.
Activities to Do:
Boating facility is available near
Thirparappu falls for tourists. The fall has detached bathing provision
available for men and women under the waterfall; kids’ swimming pool has been
created near Thirparappu falls. Kalikesam falls and Vattaparai Falls are other
waterfalls located in the nearby vicinity. Other local tourist spots are
Padmanabhapuram Palace Udayagiri Fort, Chitharal Malai Kovil Padmanabhapuram
Palace and Udayagiri Fort. The waterfall is ideal place for hikers, adventure
seekers and photographers.
Attractions:
Thirparappu Falls Tourism Festival:
This is a recent initiative of The
District Administration and the Tourism Department at Thirparappu. It’s a
lively festival with many colorful folk dances. College kids participate as
well adding to the fun and festivity.
Mahadevar Temple:
Adjacent to the waterfalls, or
actually adjacent to the river upstream there is a temple known as Mahadevar
Temple, A Mahadevar Kovil located near
this fall is the third one of the twelve Sivalaya's. The lord after destroying
the yagyam of dhaxan as Veerabhadra Murthi has taken abode over here. This
lord, who is very sweet for the sincere worshippers, is in a fierce form. There
are many old inscriptions in this temple including the one of the Pandiya king dated
ninth century. This temple is built around A.D. 9th Century. This is famous for
its Kerala Architecture.
Boating Facilities:
There is boating facility available
for tourists. Pedal boats are available at affordable rent and tourists are
allowed to travel through the river. It is a pleasant experience due to the
spectacular scenery (thick vegetation) on the both sides of the river. After
spending our half day, we returned to Trivandrum with a clean and pleasant
mind.
Swimming Pool:
Another attraction is a well
maintained swimming pool near the waterfall. The water is fresh as it flows
from the water falls so there is no need to worry about the hygiene. The only
problem we faced was the presence of huge crowd as its peak time.
Facts:
Operating Hours:
Mon-Sun: 06:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Season: Throughout the
Year.
Address: 5 Km from
Kulasekaram, Thuckalay, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.
Altitude: 50
Ft
Parking Fee:
Bike: Rs.5/- Car: Rs. 10/- Van: Rs. 40/- Bus: Rs. 75/-
Entry Fee:
Rs. 4/-
Still Camera Fee:
Free
Connectivity:
Thirparappu falls is well connected
to Kanyakumari, Nagercoil & Trivandrum via Road. The district of
Kanyakumari is well connected to all major cities by road.
Routes:
Trivandrum: Trivandrum
- Marthandam – Thiruvattar - Kulasekaram -Thirparappu - 57km
Trivandrum: Trivandrum
– Kattakada – Kallikkad – Neyyardam – Vellarada – Kaliyal –Thirparappu - 52km
Nagercoil: Nagercoil-Thucklay-Azhakiyamandapam-Verkilambi-Thiruvattar-Kulasekharam-Thirparappu
- 42km
Nearest Railway Station:
Marthandam (Kuzhithurai) & Nagercoil
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum
International Airport & Madurai Airport
