Have you ever felt being bit by the travel bug, in the middle of the work and moreover, in the middle of your sales meeting?

Well, that is exactly what happened to me last week. And with the strong urge to simply run away from the mundane work and to relax body and soul with some pampering, I decided to visit Courtrallam, the Spa of South India on the weekend. Courtrallam is situated on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli districit of Tamil Nadu. There are innumerable waterfalls that cascade down along with the ubiquitous health resorts have and thus it is no wonder that Courtrallam is indeed the Spa of South India.

Nestled in the Western Ghats, the hillocks of Courtrallam disappear into the blue mist of Agasthiarmalai. The mountain is named after the sage who has made immense contribution to Tamil literature. A 5 km drive away from the Tensaki Railway Junction, Courtrallam has a scenic charm about it. The fabulous location but at cheap expense, earned this place the name of the ‘Poor Man’s Paradise’.

Apart from the scenic beauty, the numerous waterfalls and the abundant health resorts makes this place a must visit to relax yourself and soak in the calmness.

Peravui is the biggest waterfall in Courtrallam with a height of 60 metres. It is also called the Main Falls. The flow of water is interrupted by a 19 mentre deep crater called Pongumakadal. The interruption of the crater reduces the impact of waterfall thereby making a bath safe. The temple which is very near the Main Falls is a must visit one for tourists. The detailed architecture of Thirukutraalanaadhar Temple had me speechless with its beauty. My favorite, however, was the Karayar Dam and Falls. A wonderful waterfall inside the dam, this place will make you feel giddy and amazing. It was about a 15 minute boat ride from the shore and it was nothing short of a treasured experience.

At Shenbagadevi Falls, the water traverses through shenbaga trees. The trees bear pretty orange flowers and I might have plucked a few of them, but somehow restrained myself. I also visited the temple dedicated to Shenbagadevi Amman here.

I had a lot of fun in the Five Falls. It is a single waterfall but the water while falling down, splits into five branches and the delightful scene attracts most of the tourists here. The Boat Houses lets you enjoy a boat ride on the water with the beautiful mountain in the backdrop. If you don’t mind getting a little out of breath, Honey Falls, a very serene place, is the place to be. It is considered to be very pure as it is the first in a series of waterfalls. Honey Falls is a 2 hour trek away from Courtrallam.

A weekend trip to Courtrallam can do wonders to your mind and soul. The serene locale along with the beauty of the landscape and the amazing waterfalls, makes this one of the best places for a short trip away from the city life.