Palaruvi Falls

Palaruvi Falls is one of those waterfalls that apparently have ayurvedic healing properties as we were told the stream meanders through some natural herbal groves further upstream. To make it easier for visitors to get the benefit of these ayurvedic properties by bathing in the waterfall's waters, we noticed there were changing rooms as well as designated gender-separated bathing areas in the stream.

As for photographing the falls, I found out that it wasn't easy as the most direct view of the falls was only available in the ladies only section so only the ladies could get it. The difficulty was exacerbated because the male-only side appeared to be off limits due to a rockfall and a washed out bridge. So I had to rely on Julie to go to the female section to take the more frontal photographs of the waterfall.

Beyond the bathing area, the walking path ascended a set of stairs leading up to a sheltered overlook. From that vantage point, it was difficult to capture the whole falls since it was too close to the falls and the waterfall itself was too tall. It was said that this falls was around 300ft tall, but we thought that might be a bit generous (though there was no denying that it was quite tall plus there were cascades and rapids further downstream).

There was also a sign near the turnoff from the main road proclaiming that this is the most beautiful falls in Kerala. Well, we thought that claim might be a bit boastful as we thought Athirappilly Falls was more scenic. Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I'm sure someone else could easily think otherwise.

The Palaruvi Falls are actually considered to be a member of a cluster of other waterfalls apparently with ayurvedic healing properties. This one was the only one in that cluster that I know of in Kerala while the others are across the nearby state border in the state of Tamil Nadu near the town of Courtallam (pronounced "kor-TALL-um").

I understand that the name Palaruvi means "stream of milk" in the local dialect. Like Dudhsagar Falls, I'm sure there's a bit of a religious Hindu tie-in with the milk reference.

Directions: Palaruvi Falls is some 4km from the mountain pass and state border at Aryankavu (sometimes the falls is called Aryankavu Falls). It's also 35km from Punalur, 75km from Kollam, and 152km from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram (I just had to get that one in there :) or you can just go by the British name of Trivandrum [pronounced "tree-VAN-drum"] for short).

It took us about two hours by car to get from Kollam to the car park for the falls.

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Finally made it to the car park for the falls

View from near the closure spot

View from the ladies only area

Looking up at Julie checking out the falls from the upper overlook

Sign proclaiming Ladies only

Approaching the falls

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Bottom up sweep of the falls as seen from the Ladies Only section


Bottom up sweep of the falls as seen from the upper overlook

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TRIP REPORTS

For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.

• November 19, 2009

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