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ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

Small is beautiful

All set to become an ideal picnic spot, says SOMA BASU

PHOTO: SOMA BASU

A PRETTY SIGHT The Thirparappu falls forming the backdrop

If you want to enjoy a leisurely drive along the beautiful countryside, then hop on to any of the town buses from Marthandam, Nagercoil or Padmanabhapuram Palace and head to Thirparappu Falls.

Despite several stops and the slow pace of the over-loaded bus, the hour's journey from Nagercoil gets over much faster than expected. As the bus winds its way along bends and curves, Nature's beautiful canvas unfolds before your eyes — mountains on one side and a valley on the other. Grey clouds float above and the green cover on either side adds to the charm.

I notice several buses and vehicles pass by, much to my disappointment. This means Thirparappu will be crowded and definitely not a `road less travelled.' Nevertheless, I am excited about checking out a new place as I walk on the narrow road from the parking bay to reach my destination. One side of the path is lined with stalls selling all kinds of items from cheap plastic toys to T-shirts and Bermudas, while the other side has a fortified wall of a temple, painted with red stripes.

Picturesque view

No waterfall in the State is complete without a temple. This means the place will be dirty, as it will attract more people. But soon my fear is dispelled when I take in the picturesque view. What strikes you is the entire setting of the place and its maintenance.

By far, this has turned out to be one of the cleanest waterfall sites I have seen so far, despite the crowd.

Thirparappu is not a big waterfall, rather it is a small one that cascades from a rocky riverbed. But, small is beautiful as I discover in Thirparappu.

The site is famous for one of the 12 Shivalayas built in the 9th Century here. Legend has it that the Lord took the form of Virabhadramurthi and destroyed the yagna of Dakshan before making this place his abode.

The Shiva shrine

The Mahadevar temple faces a range of hills and the Kodayur, a perennial river, gently flows in front.

The Shiva shrine is located on the left bank of the river in between the weir and the waterfall. It is a fine example of Kerala style architecture and attracts pilgrims and tourists alike. The Kodayur river leaves its 350 ft-long bank and gently falls over two boulders. The descent is from a height of not more than 50 ft and at the top, the water sparkles as it catches the rays of the sun. The place where the water hits the ground is naturally divided into two pools. The Special Grade Village Panchayat of Thirparappu is taking a lot of interest in developing and maintaining the area as a potential tourism destination. A well-manicured garden in front of the waterfalls, a mini aquarium, a children's park and a separate swimming pool for kids have been constructed. Construction of a jetty is nearing completion and soon, one can enjoy boat rides as well. With a lot of attention being paid to recreation activities as well as basic facilities such as parking space and washrooms, Thirparappu is all set to attract more tourists than ever before.

You can avoid the rush and the noise if you choose to stray a bit. Just follow the Kodayur into the forest behind. In fact, I bump into a group of youngsters who tell me they trekked through the forest from a place called Kuzhithurai. The farther you walk along the river, the deeper you get into a silent, green zone. You will find several spots on the way that are ideal for picnicking.

How to get there

Thirparappu is about 65 km from Kanyakumari, 40 km from Nagercoil and 25 km from Padmanabhapuram Palace. On the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil Highway, take a right turn at Thuckalay. Another road from Marthandam via Thiruvattur leads you straight to Thirparappu.

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