Tirunelveli - Tourist Information
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Tirunelveli - Tourist Information
Tirunelveli - whenever I hear the name, the vision of the hot halwa dripping with ghee comes to my mind. Being a Chennai-ite, I think that is so typical! Deciding to change this, I thought a trip to this famous town was in order. So I just packed my back and went down south, to the town of the tirunelveli halwa. Tirunelveli is about 2000 years old and is a town of old tradition. Next to Madurai it was an important city of the Pandya Kingdom, as it served as their Capital for some time. Situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani, it is on the way to Kanniyakumari from Madurai. It is a twin town - Thirunelveli and Palayamkottai.
The town is located roughly 400 kilometres from Chennai. It took me almost 12 hours to reach Tirunelveli (by bus) and I was so tired after that, that a rest stop was an absolute necessity before I could carry on any further! I had planned my travel to fit as many places as possible in one day. My itenerary looked something like Tirunelveli - Kazhugumalai - Sankarankovil - Tenkasi - Courtallam - Papanasam. My last stop was Papanasam, a well known religious spot, situated on Pothigai Hills in the Western Ghats. Legend has it that Lord Shiva appeared before the Sage Agasthya with his consort Parvathi. That is why the waterfall here is known as "Agasthiyar Falls". To commomerate this, a temple dedicated to the sage is built in this very place.
Kazhugumalai
It was one of the important centres of the jains. The bas - relief found here are the contribution of jains and are among the earliest of such works. The Vettuvan Koil (Siva Temple) the rock - cut cave temple is worth visiting.
Upper Kodiayar
It is located on the southern most tip of the western ghats bordering Kerala. It is a beatutiful area where nature is at its best with verdant forests. Tea, Rubber and Cardamom are grown here on a large scale. Manjolai is the best known place here. Kalachi, Nalumukku, Kuthiraiyerri, Ooothu are important places where one can have beautiful panoramic view.
Kutrakanather Temple
It is dedicated to lord Thirukutralanather (Siva). This temple contains many inscriptions about chola and Pandya Kings. Less than a furlog from here, is a small temple called Chitra sabha (Hall of Pictures) dedicated to Lord Nataraja. This temple is decorated with paintings for rural deities and devotes, puranic stories and religious events. The sabha is one of five sabhas where Lord Nataraja performed the cosmic dance.
Kulasekarapattinam
The Muthuraman temple 20Kms from Tiruchendru is known for the popular 'Dasara' festival where folk dance artists from all over the state participate in the festival. It is a coastal village with a fine beach.
Shengaltheri
Shengaltheri is located in Kalakadu Mountain area in Tiruelveli district. It is 20 Kms from Kalakadu village & 68 Km from Tirunelveli. This area comes under Kalakadu Wild Life sanctuary. This place is an important picnic spot & also popular for its natural beauty & salubrious climate, perennial falls which adds attraction for tourists. The origin of Manimutharu is only from this place. It is connected by all important pilgrim and tourist Centres. The nearest Railway station is Valliyoor & Nanguneri. For going to Shengaltheri, prior permission has to be obtained from Deputy Director of Wildlife Ambasamudram, Mundandurai & Kalakadu wild life sanctuary.
Coutrallam
Coutrallam, the "Spaof the South", is situated at an elevation if about 167 meters on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District. It is an excellent health resort. The waters of Coutrallam is believed to have medicine qualities as it flows through forests of herbs. Coutrallam is 160 Kms from Madurai, 137 Kms from Kanaya kumari and 112 kilometers from Trivandr. It is an excellent health resort. The picturesque surroundings with the backdrops of cloud capped spurs of the western ghats lend an unusual charm to the falls. The rapturous scene of the falls gets heightened by the cool breeze that wafts during seasonal months (June to September) along with intermittent drizzle and sunlight.
There are eight places where water pours down torrentially with varying velocity and force according to the height of the precipice. They are Main Falls, Five Falls, the Shenbhaga Falls, the Tiger Falls, old Courtallam Falls, Honey Falls, Orchard falls and Sitraruvi. Visitors to this place like to have bath in these falls from dawn to dusk. One can have bath at anytime in a day and one would not get sneezing or cold as the water is said to possess medicinal qualities of the herbal plants grown in this mountain. Those suffering from rheumatic joints, chronic headache, nerve disorder get cured by a lengthy stay at Courtallam.
1. Main Falls
2. Small Falls (Sitraruvi)
3. Five Falls
4. VIP Falls or (Palathotta Falls)
5. Tiger Falls
6. old Courtallam Falls
7. SebahaDevi Falls
8. Honey Falls (thean aruvi)
Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Wild Life sancturies
The Mundanthurai-Kalakad wildlife sanctuary in Tirunelveli district is developed as a National Tiger Reserve from the year 1988 with a total area of 817 sq. km in the south most western ghat ranges. The nearest stations are Cheranmahadevi, and Ambasamudaram which are 20kms and 15 kms respectively from Tirunelveli. The nearest airports are Madurai and Trivandrum. One can reach this place by road also from Ambasamudaram and Kalakad. Frequent buses are plying from Ambasamudaram and Kalakad to this place. Out of 817 sq. kms.459 sq.kms is in core zone and 358 sq.kms. is in buffer zone.
The mountainous undulating to topography is the characteristic feature leading to tropical dry deciduous forest on the lower slopes and tropical wet evergreen forests on the upper reaches. The climate is dry humid and hot at plains and pleasant cold in the higher elevations. The reserve is the southernmost habitat of the tiger. Other predators like panthers, jungle cats, civets, dholes, jackals, striped hyenas are also found here.
India is the home of 18 non-human primate species of which five primates occur in this reserve namely lion-tailed macque, slender loris, Nilgiri langur common langur and bonnet macaque. Other endangered species found here are Nilgiri tahr, sloth bear, Indian bison, Indian elephant, Malabar giant squirrel, mouse deer, pangolin etc. In addition to that sambar wild boar, spotted deer, porcupine and mangooses are also found here.
We can also come across reptiles and amphibians like king cobra, common krait, russels, viper, darkpit viper, monitor lizard, garden lizard, tortoise, crocodiles and rare species of frogs. Regarding avifauna there are more than 80 species of birds found in this region. To mention a few spotted frequently here are egrets, herons, jungle fowl, spurfowl, partridge, quails, emerald dove, minivets, bee caters, sparrows, owls, night jars, kites, paradise flay catchers, and parakeets etc.
There are 24 identified nature trails which is spread over the reserve. It gives a thrilling experience to trekkers. This Tiger Reserve is open on all days between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the year. However the best season is September to January. Forest Rest Houses and dormitories are available at Mundanthurai and Thalayanai. District Science Centre, Tirunelveli (National Council of Science Museums, Government of India). The District Science Centre is unique Institution situated on the banks of Tamiraprani. Popularising Science, inculcating the spirit of enquiry, fostering creative talents and infusing scientific temper in life, are its objectives.
This autonomous body is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, attached to the Department (HRD)Government of India. This is one among the 124 centres in the country.The centre has 3 permanent galleries on ocean, a semi permanent gallery on popular science and a six acre science park where numerous exhibits help create awareness of scientific development among the people.
A good collection of films and video cassettes on nature, wildlife computers etc. given face lift to the centres. It organises video and planatorium shows ( a planatorium shows the night sky during day time). The centre gives heart-beat demonstration at the animatorium, has a sky observatory to view heavenly bodies through telescope and science demonstration and lectures on everything from electronics to salts. Kits are also lent to schools for effective classroom communication. In addition to the above facilities the District Science Centre is also organising the following programmes Mobile Science Exhibition, Planetarium, Film Show, Temporary Exhibitions, Science Drama and Science Fair.
Tirunelveli - Tourist Information
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