Courtallam is a place you go to get wet. From June to September, the southwest monsoon over the Western Ghats sends a fine, cool drizzle called saaral over the town. The falls, whose water is believed to be medicinal because it flows through herb-rich forest, run full. Everyone stands under them. It is noisy, cheerful and cheap. Tenkasi's great temple is five kilometres away, and Kerala's Palaruvi Falls is just over the border.
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When to go
June to September is the season, and the only time the falls are full. Outside it, they dwindle to a trickle. Bathing is suspended during flash floods, which happen with little warning in heavy rain.
Courtallam right now and the next 7 days
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Courtallam, planned for you
Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Courtallam · Main Falls (Peraruvi)
- TravelBus: Madurai / Tirunelveli → Tenkasi₹150
- 08:00Main Falls (Peraruvi)Free
- 09:30Five Falls (Aintharuvi)Free
- 11:00Old Courtallam fallsFree
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Courtallam on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Courtallam & Tenkasi · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Courtallam & Tenkasi in 1 day: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 08:00Main Falls (Peraruvi)1 h · free · The biggest. Separate bathing areas for men and women.
- 09:30Five Falls (Aintharuvi)1 h · free · Five streams side by side, 5 km uphill.
- 11:00Old Courtallam falls1 h · free · Quieter, with less queueing.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple1 h · free · A 15th-century Pandya temple with a huge gopuram.
- 15:00Thirumalai Kovil2 h · free · A Murugan hill temple with views over the Ghats.
How to get to Courtallam
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe Main Falls is in town.
Share auto
₹30Between the falls — Main, Five Falls, Old Courtallam and Tiger Falls.
Auto for the day
₹800A loop of all the falls.
Where to stay in Courtallam
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Budget
₹900/nightThere are dozens, and prices rise in season.
Mid
₹1,500/nightTenkasi is cheaper, with more choice and good food.
What to eat, and what it costs
Border parotta & chicken
₹120The famous parotta stalls at Sengottai, near the border. Crisp, flaky and legendary.
Tirunelveli meals
₹80Meals in Tenkasi.
Tirunelveli halwa
₹50The wheat halwa from nearby Tirunelveli, bought warm.
Jackfruit, rambutan and mangosteen
₹30Sold in season at the falls.
Places to visit and things to do in Courtallam
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Main Falls (Peraruvi)
FreeThe biggest. Separate bathing areas for men and women.
Five Falls (Aintharuvi)
FreeFive streams side by side, 5 km uphill.
Old Courtallam falls
FreeQuieter, with less queueing.
Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple
FreeA 15th-century Pandya temple with a huge gopuram.
Palaruvi Falls (Kerala)
₹100Over the border, 20 km away, with a forest-department vehicle to the falls.
Thirumalai Kovil
FreeA Murugan hill temple with views over the Ghats.
Day trips and next stops
Kanyakumari
₹200Bus via Tirunelveli
Madurai
₹200Bus or train
Thenmala (Kerala)
₹80Bus through the pass
Manimuthar & Manjolai
₹2,500Taxi
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Bathing is banned during flash floods and after heavy rain. Obey the police whistles. A flash flood at Old Courtallam in 2024 was fatal.
- From October to May, the falls are a trickle. Do not go expecting water.
- Keep valuables in the car or at the lodge. Pickpockets work the crowds at the falls.
Ways to spend less
- Stay in Tenkasi. It is cheaper, has better food, and is 15 minutes away.
- Go midweek in July. The weekend crowds are enormous.
- Border parotta at Sengottai on the way back is a pilgrimage in itself.
Say it in Tamil
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
English works in towns; Hindi much less.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Courtallam in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Courtallam & Tenkasi?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jun–Aug. June to September is the season, and the only time the falls are full. Outside it, they dwindle to a trickle. Bathing is suspended during flash floods, which happen with little warning in heavy rain.
How do I reach Courtallam & Tenkasi?
Train: Chennai → Tenkasi (Podhigai Express), 12 h, about ₹600 one way. Bus: Madurai / Tirunelveli → Tenkasi, 2–4 h, about ₹150 one way. Flight + road: → Thoothukudi (TCR) or Madurai, 1 h + 2–3 h, about ₹6,000 one way. From Kerala: Kollam → Sengottai → Courtallam, 3 h, about ₹150 one way.
How much does a 1-day trip to Courtallam & Tenkasi cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹800 on a shoestring, ₹1,500 mid-range or ₹3,000 in comfort over 1 day. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Madurai / Tirunelveli → Tenkasi) at about ₹150 each way.
How many days do you need in Courtallam & Tenkasi?
1 day is right for most people. That covers Main Falls (Peraruvi), Five Falls (Aintharuvi), Old Courtallam falls, Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple without rushing.
Is Courtallam & Tenkasi good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 4, couples 4, families 5, groups 5. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Courtallam & Tenkasi?
Easy. Meals and halwa everywhere. The parotta joints are mostly non-veg.
Will my phone and cards work in Courtallam & Tenkasi?
Phone signal: Good. Cards and UPI: Hotels in Tenkasi. Cash: Needed.
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Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Mdsuhail at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Aronrusewelt · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Noon Plastic · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Vinayaraj · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Dr.mohaideen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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