Banateertham Falls, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu India

Banatheertham Falls are situated in the Western Ghats, above the Karaiyar Dam in the Tirunelveli district of the state of Tamil Nadu. The Banatheertham Falls are perennial, unlike Courtallam, which are seasonal falls. The Tamirabarani River meets the Karaiyar Dam at Banatheertham Falls. The waters of Tamirabarani River are believed to have traces of copper in it, thus giving the river its name. Legend has it that the Sage Agasthya, known to us as the Father of Indian Plant-Based Medicine, used to traverse across these hills in search of herbal medicine. An idol of the sage can also be found on the hill near the dam. Nestled inside the Mudanthurai Tiger Reserve, these spectacular falls were well-hidden from the public view till the 1990s, when a part of the acclaimed Bollywood movie, ﾑRojaﾒ was shot here. Many locals even refer to these falls as ﾑRoja Fallsﾒ! To get close to the falls, one can take a boat ride from the Karaiyar Dam across the lake. This boat ride takes approximately 20 minutes and the view of the magnificent falls as the boat makes its way through the dense forest is more breath-taking than of the falls up-close. The surrounding verdant hills are an absolute treat to the eyes! Another 10-minutes trek will take you right up to the falls and you can feel the full force of these cascading waters. The best season to visit these perennial falls is from December-January as the temperatures are highly pleasant during this time and one can escape the humidity.