Pazhaya Courtallam Falls (Old Courtallam Falls),
Courtallam, Thirunelveli
Old
Courtallam Falls, regionally known as Pazhaya Courtallam, is situated along with
the road to Tenkasi. The 200 ft. fall features steps that are cut out into the
rocks for breaking flow of cascading water. Pazhaya Courtallam is located 7 Kms
away from Peraruvi and Courtallam Bus Stand. This falls is rarely frequented by
the visitors. Along with separate bathing areas for men and women, tourists can
engage themselves in oil massages. Old Courtallam Falls is also known as
Shivamathungai Falls. The water flows through two rocks and drop into the
valley to form this waterfall.
Bathing
here is safe and is a popular activity. Road access is available close to the
falls and about 100 meters walk is needed to reach the falls from parking area.
Old Courtallam Falls will offer you much quieter experience compared to the
other Courtallam Waterfalls like Courtallam
Main Falls and Five
Falls as there were far
fewer people. So that will allow you to visit the falls and pay more attention
to the scenery as well as seeing how the locals enjoyed the Ayurvedic healing
properties of the water (as its feeding streams were said to pass through
groves of naturally growing herbs with medicinal qualities).
This
falls consisted of a somewhat naturally stair stepping upper tier before
continuing on in a lower man-modified tier. The man-modified characteristic of
the lower tiers appeared to be brought about because they artificially dammed
the plunge pool between the upper and lower falls so there were shallow pools
that were more like swimming or bathing pools. These pools were lined with
concrete along with stairs and railings in much the same way that we would
think of public swimming pools.
There
was also the option of walking past the pools and getting directly underneath
the waterfall itself for a drenching. It was about a 10-minute drive from Courtallam
Main Falls to the Old Courtallam
Falls. The drive will be along the outskirts of Courtallam town passing through
a somewhat idyllic agricultural area with rice paddies and palm trees fronting
the foothills of the Western Ghats. Pazhaya Courtallam Falls are seasonal
in nature and are best visited in the post monsoon months.
