A. Selvarani*, & P.Jeyabalakrishnan**
Tourist potential of a country or a place mainly depends on its climate, scenery, historical monuments, art, traditions, festivals and the people. If any place possesses all the above mentioned potentials or any one of these potentials we may call it as a tourist centre. In fact, Tirunelveli District has inherited all the above mentioned characters and it has become one of the major tourist centres in India.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has declared Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur, Courtallam, Sankarankoil, Krishnapuram, Papanasam, Mundanthurai, Koonthankulam, Ariyakulam and Ayyanar Sunai as major tourist spots in this district.1
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli is a town of hoary tradition and is about 2000 years old. Next to Madurai, Tirunelveli is an important city of the Pandyan Kingdom, situated on the banks of River Tambraparani. The ancient name of the city is Salaipathiyur.2 There is a story behind the name of the town Tirunelveli. Once there was a Brahmin in this town named Veda Sarma who was a great Siva Bhakta (devotee). Every day he went out begging and the alms thus gathered were used for offering Neivedya to the Lord. One day, the Brahmin was drying the paddy which he had collected for offering to Siva, it rained suddenly and it was feared that all the paddy might be washed away. The Brahmin became much distressed and prayed for help to the Lord who took pity on him and protected the paddy from the rain by covering it and standing around it like a fence. So this place came to be known as Tiru Nel Veli3 (Tiru means beautiful, Nel means paddy and Veli means fence). The Lord has also come to be known as Nellaiappar. The Devi is called Kanthimathi (Kanthi means lustre and Mathi means moon).
The temple, measuring 850 feet by 756 feet, is situated in the heart of the town. There are beautiful Mandapas and Teerthams in the temple. It is stated that there are 32 tanks in this Sthala of which 9 are considered to be very sacred. Special mention should be made of a Mandapam with 1000 Pillars, where the marriage festival of the Lord and the Devi is celebrated every year in the Tamil month of Aippasi corresponding to October – November. Vasantha Utsavam4 another festival is conducted here in the month of April – May in the Vasantha Mandapam specially constructed for the purpose. There is another Mandapam too, known as Mani Mandapam.5 The pillars in this Mandapam, numbering 48, give out unique musical sounds when struck gently.6 The Nandi in this temple is fairly big, similar to those at Tanjore and Rameswaram.
The 1300 years old Siva and Parvathi (Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi Amman) temple is at the heart of the city. Rare jewels, the Golden Lotus Tank, the giant car, musical pillars, the mirror room, the hall of the thousand pillars and abundance of fine sculpture in stone and mortar of this ancient temple are man’s wonderful creations and worth seeing.7
The Car festival of Tirunelveli held every year is one of the major crowd pullers of the district. Kurukkudurai Murugan Temple, Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Roman Catholic Churches, Protestant Churches, Mosques, Jain Temples and many more centres of worship are significant tourist spots in Tirunelveli. There are 9 standard Cinema theatres, one Music academy, and a number of literary and cultural Associations.
The Tirunelveli ‘Halwa’ (a sweet made with wheat, ghee and sugar) travels to many foreign countries.8 The double-decked over bridge of Tirunelveli is one among the two in the whole of Asia as far as its size and technical mastery is concerned.
Courtallam
Courtallam, an excellent health resort with a number of water-falls from the River Chittar, is the major tourist attraction of Tirunelveli District. It is 59 Kilometres away from Tirunelveli. Courtallam is considered to be the ‘Spa of South’. It is situated at an elevation of about 167 metres on the Palani Range of the Western Ghats in this district. Thousands of tourists visit Courtallam during June, July, August, September – the peak tourism period.9 There are nine main waterfalls in Courtallam.
1. Peraruvi (Main Falls)
2. Sitaruvi (Small Falls)
3. Shenbagadevi Falls
4. Thenaruvi (Honey Falls)
5. Aintharuvi (Five Falls)
6. Puli Aruvi (Tiger Falls)
7. Pazhaya Courtallam Aruvi (Old Falls)
8. Puthu Aruvi (New Falls)
9. Pazhathotta Aruvi (Fruit Garden Falls)
Courtallam is visited by the young and old a like. The waters of Courtallam have medicinal properties as they run through forests of herbs before their descent and hence have soothing effect. It has a miraculous effect on the old, as it helps them recoup their health at a rapid pace. In 1989, the T.T.D.C. has introduced boating facility in Courtallam. The water falls, the bracing climate and the natural beauty of the surrounding forests and hills have invested the place with a peculiar charm.10 Courtallam has a big temple dedicated to Lord Siva (Tirukuttalanathar). This 2000 year old temple contains many interesting inscriptions about Chola and Pandya Kings.11
Another landmark of Courtallam is the famous ‘Hall of Pictures’ (Chitra Sabha). This Hall is dedicated to Lord Siva (Nataraja, the Lord of Cosmic Dance) and decorated with rare paintings of rural deities, epic stories and puranic events. The ‘Chitra Sabha’ of Courtallam is one of the Five Divine Sabhas12 where Lord Siva performed the Cosmic Dance. They are
1. Chidambaram – Ponnambalam
(Kanakasabai)
2. Madurai – Velliambalam
3. Tirunelveli – Thamirasabai
4. Tirucourtallam – Chitrasabai
5. Tiruvalankadu – Ratinasabai
The Showers festival is celebrated during June and July every year.
Papanasam
Papanasam is a noted pilgrim centre with temples, rivers, water-falls, a reservoir, a Hydro – Electric Power Station and a Textile Mill. It is 48 kilometres away from Tirunelveli. Hindus of all parts of the country who visit Rameswaram and Kanyakumari, visit Papanasam also. The name Papanasam implies ‘eradication of sins’.
The 500 year old temple of Lord Siva (Papanasar), the Agasthiar Temple, the Sorimuthaiyanar Temple and Holy Spring Banateertham, are all situated at the feet of the hill.13 The temples and places are richly blessed with the chill and pure waters of the holy Tambraparani and tourists enjoy the hilarious ‘Kisses of Nature’ here.
The ups and downs of Papanasam Hills provide a virtual feast to the visitors. The famous Mundanthurai Tiger Sanctuary, is just five kilometres away from Papanasam.
There are several Mandapams (halls) and Choultries (resting houses) in Papanasam. The river Tambraparani originates from the peaks of Agastiar Hills in the Pothigai ranges and runs through hilly terrains, rifts and valleys, before reaching the plains through a number of water- falls. Fishes of all sizes and of golden hue abound in the water and the pilgrims feed them during their visit to the temple in fulfilment of their vows taken for recovery from their illness. Nobody dares to catch the fish. The story goes that an European, who did not know the holiness of the fish at this sacred place, angled here and, for the violation of the sanctity, suffered a lot. It is said that if the fishes are caught from this river they turn into blood and affect the eye-sight of the persons who consume them.
The fishes are quite harmless and they come in shoals very near the bathers as if wishing to be fed by them. Fried fishes are readily available in the shops close by for feeding them. The Lower Dam at Papanasam is a picturesque spot giving a panoramic view of a wide area at the foot of the hill. It is an excellent place for a picnic.
Manimuttar
Manimuttar is 47 kilometres away from Tirunelveli. It has a big dam, wonderful park and a good waterfalls with a swimming pool. The salubrious climate and gorgeous gardens near the dam are capable of granting a soothing touch to those who go far away from the madding crowds. On the way to Manjolai from Manimuttar, there is a very beautiful place called “Dasan Pool” with plenty of fresh water, greens and a fine climate. The British officers in those days used to stay there and made some arrangements for boating.
Ayyanar Sunai
Ayyanar Sunai is located some 40 Kilometres, away from Tiruchendur. There is a natural ‘Spring’ where one can get fresh water throughout the year.14 A temple is dedicated to village deity Ayyanar. It is a fine tourist centre. Nearby is a forest with sand dunes.
Thus the water-falls of Tirunelveli District are a socio, cultural, environmental, melting pot which brought more and more tourists not only from India alone but also from abroad15.
References
1. Tirunelveli a folder published by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, Madras, 2004.
2. C.D. Maclean (ed.), Glossary of the Madras Presidency, New Delhi, 1982, pp. 895-896.
3. R.K. Das, Temples of Tamil Nadu, Bombay, 1991, p.42.
4. Vasantha Utsavam means holy marriage festival of the presiding deity in the summer season.
5. Mani Mandapam refers to the Mandapam very close to the sanctum – sanctorum of the temple.
6. John Howley, Holy places and Temples of India, Philadelphia, 1996, pp. 602-603.
7. R.K. Das, Loc.cit., p. 43.
8. Personal Interview with Mr. Vallinayagam Pillai, Proprietor, Santhi Sweet Stall, Tirunelveli, dated 10th January 2015.
9. C.D. Maclean, Loc.cit., p. 237.
10. South India, The Tourist Division, Government of India, New Delhi, 1957, p. 56.
11. Manoj Das, India – A Tourist’s Paradise, New Delhi, 1983, pp.486-487.
12. R.K. Das, Op.cit., pp. 44-45.
13. Nellai Archaeological and Cultural Post, September 1996, pp. 4-5.
14. S.K.M. Noohu Thambi Alim, Kayalpattinam Varalaru, Kayalpattinam, 1986, p. 107.
15. A. Ragavan, Konagar Korkai (Tamil), Tirunelveli, 1971, pp. 150-151.