Tenkasi

Tenkasi is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.
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 reinstated with the help of Sivanthi Adithan and others, and it was painted again in 2006 by the same group for a new look. However, the first few feet from the ground is not painted as that part is supposed to have survived the lightning strike. The gopuram or the entering gateway is supposed to be one of the highest in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The main deity at this temple is Kasi Viswanathar (Shiva). This temple has the uniqueness of having three Sannidhis, Sivan Sannidhi, Amman Sannidhi and Murugan Sannidhi. This temple has beautiful sculptures and also has musical stone pillars, that emit metallic sounds of different pitch when tapped with fingers. The entrance is so gigantic with heavy steps. One could view the majestic Temple Gopuram View when we enter Tenkasi. The entrance Gopuram of the temple will welcome the pilgrims with the pleasant cool breeze which waves through from Thirikooda Malai.
Tenkasi also boasts of another magnificent temple, Kulasekaranathar Temple, which has been in closed state for a few hundred years. It also has a temple pond in middle of the town, adjoining the Kannimaramman Temple. There are a row of houses along the Kannimariamman Temple, famous are the Justice and Advocate villas, such as Kuttalingam Pillai's residence.
Opposite to the main Kasi Visvanathar temple, there is a point selling Halwa (a wheat based sweet edible gel product) is available.
Tenkasi has 2 bus stands and a railway station. Now there is almost daily trains (Podhigai Express) which runs from Chennai to Tenkasi.
There is also Thenmalai (Honey Mountain) presence of many combs in the area, well know for a great lake and adventure trips.
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 its exotic waterfalls and healing spas.
Tenkasi is at the footsteps of Thirikooda Malai (Thiri koodal means the joining of three - it is the convergence of three mountains) - a picturesque place. The famed Thirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar hailed from this area.