Tenkasi - India HillTop Trips - Cool and pleasant weekend trips

Tenkasi is a cool place. Thenkasi is a small pictursque town located near the famous waterfalls destination Kuttralam in India.

Tenkasi is a big town in Thirunelveli District of TamilNadu. It situated near the foothills of the Western Ghats. The famous Water Falls Coutrallam gains much popularity to the town. Tenkasi is noted for its Ulagamman Temple and its Shiva Temple. The Ulagamman temple was built by Parakrama Pandian, but was shattered by lightning. Sivanthi Adithan and others re-instated it. Now it was repainted by the same for new look.

Tenkasi (south kasi) is also famous for (saral) drizzling. May-August is a right time to enjoy the drizzling climate in Tenkasi.

Beside all this tourist favorite Coutrallam water falls is near to that district. It is a famous health resort. Every year June to September we can enjoy the falls season. It contains lot of herbs which are good for the health.

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The Hill Resort

Tenkasi means Dakshina Kasi and Varanasi of the south. This temple is dedicated to Viswanatha. The Pandya king Paranthaga Pandiyan after returning from the Benaras constructed this temple. It is situated 53 Km from Tirunelveli and 7 Km from Courtallam which is well known for its waterfalls. The water of these falls is considered to cure several diseases owing to the different herbs on its path.

Tenkasi literally means Varanasi of the South. Tenkasi town is dominated by the Vishwanatha temple which has remarkable sculptures. The sculptures dated to the end of 17C include 2m high figures of Shiva dancing Kali, Krishna, and Rati among others. The flagstaff of the temple 400 years old, is noteworthy for its sculptural beauty. Tenkasi was the home of the later Pandya chiefs in the 15C-16C.

Tenkasi (South Kasi) is famous for its Ulagamman Temple and its Shiva Temple. The Ulagamman temple was built by Parakrama Pandian, but was shattered by lightning. In the 1990s, the temple was restored with much financial assistance of Sivanthi Adithan and others, and it was given a fresh coat of paint again in 2006 by the same philanthropists. However, the first few feet from the ground has not been painted as that part appears to have survived the lightning. The gopuram or the entry gateway remains among the highest in southern Tamil Nadu. The main deity here is Kasi Viswanathar (Shiva). This temple has three Sannidhis,[an unique aspect]- Sivan,Amman and Murugan Sannidhis. This temple has beautiful sculptures and also has musical stone pillars, that emit notes of different pitch when tapped with fingers. The entrance is really grand, with heavy steps. One could view the majestic Temple Gopuram even while entering the town. The Gopuram of the temple welcomes pilgrims with a pleasant cool breeze straight from the nearby Thirikooda Malai.

Tenkasi has the other magnificent Kulasekaranathar Temple, which has been in a closed state for ages. There is also a temple pond in middle of the town, adjoining the Kannimaramman Temple. There are a row of houses along the Kannimariamman Temple, famous among them being the Justice and Advocate villas, such as Kuttalingam Pillai's residence.

Tenkasi has two bus termini and a railway station. There are daily trains such as the Podhigai Express from Chennai to Tenkasi, now it runs up to Shencottah (Sengottai).

Thenmalai, a famous eco-tourism spot in kerala state is a short travel away from Tenkasi. Thenmala is famous for its Deer rehabilitation center, dancing fountain etc.

Tenkasi is also famous for saral (drizzling). During May-August every year, people enjoy saral in Tenkasi.

The main tourist attraction of Tenkasi is Courtallam, with exotic waterfalls and healing spas.

Tenkasi is at the footsteps of Thirikooda Malai (Thiri koodal means the joining of three - convergence of three mountains) - a picturesque place.

History

The history and cultural traditions of the Tamils may be traced back to the earliest times of human history of the various dynasties that had shaped their destiny in the historic period. The Pandiyas were the most outstanding and the Southern most part of India had always been their main seat of power. While the second Pandya empire marked the zenith of their power, the advent of the Muslim rule in the South precipitated their decline. Yet they continued to exercise limited authority in the Tirunelveli region as late as the 17th century. It was Tenkasi region which witnessed the final blaze of their power before it flickered out. The Visvanatha temple provides an insight into the splendid glory of this phase of Pandiyan power.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Tenkasi had a population of 62,828. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. The average literacy rate is 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 67%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Shopping and Entertainment

Tenkasi is the main shopping and entertainment hub for the villages around tenkasi and for the tourists coming for coutrallam falls in season.the main shopping items available here are textiles, building materials, jewels, groceries, vegetables.etc.there are cinema halls for entertainment.

Bhagyalakshmi groups run 4 theatres in Tenkasi. The biggest &popular textile showroom in tenkasi is Bombay Stores which celebrated its 75th anniversary recently other textile showrooms includes ALN,haji mustafa, India silk house and K S A emporium.

Schools

Tenkasi also boast of many well reputed schools. There are good number of schools in Tenkasi and Courtallam

ICI Govt Boys Hr Sec School

Thirumathi Manjammal Girls Hr Sec School

A G Matriculation School

Bharath Matriculation School

Emmanuel Matriculation School

Hilton Matriculation School

Seventh Day Adventist Matriculation School

Parasakthi Higher Secondary School

Kattu Bava School, Tenkasi

Ramaswany Pillai Higher Secondary school,Ilanji,tenkasi taluk

M.M.Higher Secondary School Idaikal

Colleges

Sri Ram Nallamani Yadava College of Education, Tenkasi

Al - Hidhaya Womens Teacher Training Institute, Tenkasi

Arulmigu Senthil Andavar Polytechnic College, Tenkasi

S. Chattanatha Karayalar College of Pharmacy, Tenkasi

Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtrallam

Elevation

It has an average elevation of 143 metres (469 ft).

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Location Details

It is located in the heart of the town. Meter gauge line connects Tenkasi with Tirunelveli-Shengottai line and Virudhunagar-Kollam line. Just 6 Km from the railway station is the famous tourist spot, Kuttalam Waterfalls.

Tirunelveli Junction Railway Station is 54 Km east of Tenkasi.

Tenkasi is

50 Km west of Thirunelveli
155 Km south from Madurai
125 Km north from Kanniyakumari and
118 Km northeast from Thiruvananthapuram.

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

During May-August every year, people enjoy saaral in Tenkasi.

How to Reach There and Distances

By Air

The nearest air port is Tiruvandrum International Airport, Kerala.

By Rail

There are three train services (Southern Railways) available in Tenkasi (Tenkasi- Madurai, Tenkasi-Tirunelveli, Tenkasi-Sengottai (actual line goes to Kollam Kerala).

By Bus

There are different bus services available to Tenkasi from Tamil nadu and Kerala. The popular routes are Tirunelveli-Tenkasi, Madurai-Tenkasi, Tiruvandrum-Tenkasi, Kollam-Tenkasi. Frequent bus service is available and most of the buses are run by state government.

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Tourist places near Tenkasi

Places To Visit

Courtallam

Courtallam, the 'Spa of the south', is a panchayat town situated at an elevation of about 167 m on the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu, India. Numerous rivers such as the Chittar River, the Manimuthar River, the Pachaiyar River and the Tambaraparani River originate here. It is famous for its waterfalls and has a number of health resorts.

Courtallam is 22 Km from Kadayanallur, 6 Km from Tenkasi, 160 Km from Madurai, 137 Km from Kanniyakumari and 112 Km from Thiruvananthapuram, 64 Km from Rajapalayam. The nearest airport to Coutrallam is Tuticorin Airport (TCR) approximately 86 Km away. The nearest railway station to Courtallam is Tenkasi which is just 5 Km from here. Either private auto, bus or share van can be taken from Tenkasi to reach Courtallam.

Courtallam temple is dedicated to Lord Thirukutralanathar (Siva). This temple contains many inscriptions about Chola and Pandya Kings. Less than a furlong from here is a small temple called Chitra Sabha. Chitra Sabha (Hall of Pictures) dedicated to Lord Nataraja and decorated with paintings of rural deities and devotees, puranic stories and religious events. The Sabha is one of the five Sabhas, where Lord Nataraja is said to have performed the cosmic dance.

Ulagammai Kasi Viswanatha Swamy Temple

Tenkasi is very famous for its Kasi Viswanatha Swami Temple also known as "Ulagammai Temple" which was built by king Parakkrama Pandyan 400 years back. Built in a unique architectural style, the temple features a large gopuram (Mahagopuram), the monolithic pillar, sculptures and musical pillars. The tower is decorated with many carved features, plasters and a few koshta figures. Other important attractions in the temple are the magnificent and elegant figures of Nrithamurthi in Lalata Tilaka pose and Krishna as Madanagopalan, playing the flute . The principle linga shrine has its outer walls adorened with pilastered niches that frame images of dakshinamoorthi, Shiva and Bramha. The colonnades surrounding the shrine on four sides incorporate sets of nayanmars on south, sanctuaries of Ganapathi(Vinayagar) and subramanian(Murugar) at the two west corners, a small cistern on the north.The columned pavilion in front is animated by leaping Yalis at the corners, a pair of guardinas on the west.

The Temple and the Town

There are very few good lodges in Kanchipuram. This is because not many travelers stay in the city itself. So, building a lodge is not a very good business. Luckily, the situation is changing now. There still are very few lodges, but most of them are good. The good hotels are easily accessible from the Kanchipuram Bus Stand. Just ask the locals which is the best place to stay. The answer is almost always unanimous - the name of the best hotel. The locals know if anything better comes up. Although they never are going to stay in these hotels, they quickly make a comparison between the best hotel so far and the new one that just came up, to determine the better one. And, gossips carry the message along.

Politicalsovereignty

The epigraphical records noted in the temple, indicate that the Tenkasi Pandyas exercised independent authority in this region. The very fact that Parakrama Pandya could undertake and complete the construction of this temple town and make it his capital, bears testimony to his high political authority and enormous financial resources. His meykirti'Bhumisai Vanithai' not only lists his achievements but also affirms his soverignty as an independent ruler, even if it were of a very limited area. He is said to have scored a number of victories over his enemies, including the Chera ruler, which fact is corroborated by an account of the same given in a Sanskrit work, "Pandyakulodayam" of one Mandala Kavi. Parakrama's successors were crowned in the Tenkasi temple and their generous endowments to the temple as recorded on its walls throw light on the successive rulers of the Tenkasi region. The last record in the name of a Pandya ruler is dated AD 1615 and refers to a yaga performed by Varaguna Srivallabha alias Kulasekharan and to the conservation of an image called Yagnasa Vignesvara. Almost all the inscriptions of these rulers expect the Tamil verses and three dated in Kollam era, are recorded in a set pattern and style peculiar to the Tenkasi Pandyas. None of them either refer to a higher authority or bear a non-Pandya insignia. Most of the rulers assumed high sounding titles and epithets. Though they sound hollow in the political context of Vijiyanagar and they could assume them and get them inscribed as royal edicts seems as Pandya rulers.

Architectural Glory and Innovative Features

The plan, architecture and sculpture of the Visvanatha temple stand as tangible proof of the genius and skill of the later Pandya artists. They had not only preserved the ancient traditions but had added new innovative features as revealed by the Maha gopuram, the monolithic pillar scuptures and the musical pillars. The extended adhisthana or basement of the tower, which remained intact even after the destruction of the tower contains elaborately carved features., plasters, Kumba Panjaras and a few koshta figures. This basement itself isso very imposing that one can very well imagine what a grand spectacle it would have been when the nine storeyed Gopuram had majestically risen over this, before it was struck down by lightning. The monolithic pillar, sculptures of Tenkasi form a class by themselves and they have come to occupy an important place among the noted sculptures of Tamilnadu, though they have unpublished till recently. Each and everyone of the eight monolithic sculptures found in the Bali Mandapam is a gem by itself. A special mention may be made of unique form of Nrithamurthi in Lalata Tilaka pose, an awe-inspiring figure and the rare and elegant mani festation of Krishna as Madana gopalan, playing the flute and charming the world like Madana. This beautiful representation literally hyponotises the beholder, who can almost experience the ecstasy or of music flowing, from the frozen form of the divine flute player.

Musicalpillars

The two sets of musical pillars found in the Tenkasi temple are another notable feature. They are found in the Mandapams of the Central Shrine of Sri Visvanatha and of Subramaniyar. The former is clearly of earlier period. These clusters of musical columns produce notes which must have provided the percussion accompaniment for the dancing girls, who performed dance as a part of the daily offerings to the deity. The temple has a collection of exquisite bronzes which include the image of Parakrama Pandyan, the builder of the temple and a very impressive Kankalamurti. They prove that the artists of this region were experts in making icons also.

Thirumalaipuram

This place is situated 16 Km from Tenkasi. A rock-cut temple here with Ganesa, Vishnu and dancing Shiva can be seen here. Here, Shiva is seen in a different dance pose i, e, in chatura pose with his right hand thrown in a 'Mirgasirsha' attitude. A dwarf near his feet plays the 'Chandala Vallaki' instrument. The murals in the ceiling of the temple are badly damaged.

Puliangudi

Puliangudi is a municipality in Tirunelveli district of the Indian State Tamilnadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats. 45 Km south from Rajapalyam and 30 Km north of Coutrallam on NH 208 from Madurai to Kollam. Nearby towns include Sankaran Kovil 16 Km, Kovilpatti 45 Km, Tenkasi 30 Km, Kadayanallur 12 Km

Puliangudi is also known as "Lemon City",-Maa Nagar due to varieties of lemon species cultivated around Puliangudi and its high contribution to the town's Agri-business led economy.

Puliangudi has 18 Higher Secondary schools and the students come to study from nearer municipalities of sankarankovil, kadayanallur and vasudevanallur.

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