Tamil Nadu: Courtallam waterfalls reopen for tourists after flood-induced bathing ban lifted
Tenkasi, August 2
Tourist activity resumed at the popular Courtallam waterfalls in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi district on Sunday after authorities lifted the bathing ban at the Main Falls and Five Falls, which had been imposed following a rise in water levels due to heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats.
The restriction had remained in force for the past two days after heavy rains increased the flow of water at the waterfalls. With water levels receding, officials withdrew the ban at the Main Falls and Five Falls, allowing visitors to resume bathing.
Tourists were seen enjoying baths at the Main Falls, Five Falls, Puli Aruvi and Chitraruvi after the restrictions were eased. However, the bathing ban at Old Courtallam Falls continues as a precautionary measure due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, a large number of tourists visited Courtallam over the weekend, leading to severe traffic congestion on roads connecting to the tourist spots. Vehicular movement was particularly affected on the road leading to Five Falls and along the Main Courtallam Road, with traffic congestion extending for nearly two kilometres.
Visitors urged the authorities to deploy additional traffic police personnel during weekends and holiday seasons to manage the heavy inflow of tourists and ease traffic congestion.
Courtallam, popularly known as the "Spa of South India", is one of Tamil Nadu's major tourist attractions and draws thousands of visitors, especially during the monsoon season, when its waterfalls are in full flow.
Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar said the state government is taking steps to transform Courtallam into a world-class tourist destination, with a focus on strengthening tourism infrastructure, improving sanitation facilities and making the popular tourist spot "Plastic-Free" and "Garbage-Free".
Speaking to reporters after inspecting ongoing tourism development works, the minister said infrastructure projects are being implemented across various tourist locations in the region.
"Development works are underway at Periya Eri in Keelapavoor, including a boating facility, tourist amenities and modern toilets. Works worth around Rs 11.50 crore are being carried out at Main Falls, Five Falls, Tiger Falls and Small Falls to establish modern toilets, food courts and other basic facilities for visitors," the Tourism Minister said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The traffic is a nightmare! We drove from Coimbatore and sat bumper-to-bumper for almost 2 km near Five Falls. It took us an extra hour just to reach the parking spot. 😤 The minister talks about world-class facilities, but they need to fix the roads and parking first. And yes, more traffic police on weekends is a must!
"Spa of South India" – well deserved! 💆♂️ The water is so refreshing after all the rain. Good move by the tourism department. Also, the plastic-free initiative is long overdue. Courtallam used to be a health paradise, and I'm glad they are focusing on cleanliness. But please also address the food stalls' waste, not just the visitor's litter.
As someone who loves visiting from the UK, Courtallam's charm is unmatched. But the infrastructure is definitely a pain point. The toilet facilities and food courts renovation worth Rs 11.50 crore sounds promising. Let's just hope they actually finish the work before the next season! 😅
I think banning bathing at Old Courtallam Falls is still the right call—safety over thrill, always. But c'mon, they need to announce these things better. We travelled all the way from Bangalore only to find half the falls closed. Clear communication and a basic app with live updates on water levels would help tourists plan better. 👍
The traffic jams are getting worse every year. It takes the fun out of the trip when you are stuck with honking vehicles and heat. The minister's upgrade plan for boating and
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