Thirparappu Waterfalls, Kanyakumari

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