Panoramic Views of Pothigai Hills at Courtallam - Waterfalls - 4

The famous waterfalls of Courtallam are Main Falls, Five Falls, Old Falls, Tiger Falls, Little Falls (Chitraruvi in Tamil language) and Fruit Falls (Pazhla Thotta Aruvi). Two more big waterfalls are also there but in higher altitudes: Shenbaga Devi Falls and Honey Falls.
These two falls could be approached only by trekking on tracks over the hills. Guides have to accompany you to reach the Honey Falls. I have gone to the Honey Falls climbing and hopping over rocks, and seen the water falling down from the top of a lofty hill cutting through a rock. There are unusually huge Honey bee hives attached to the cleavage walls of the hill through which the water falls down. Hence the falls is called as Honey Falls. You cannot go near the falls as there is a deep ditch down the falls site. So, you cannot take bath in it. But you can ‘taste’ the pure crystal clear and cool water flowing down as a stream towards you. From there I was able to view the beautiful scenes of the plains down and away the hills!

In the past, about once in four years people from the nearby districts there used to visit Courtallam. Nowadays with all the transport facilities available, people from all over South India visit the place regularly at least once in a year!

There are resorts in and around Courtallam for the visiting people to stay and enjoy. Cuisines of both Veg. and Non-Veg. types are served in the hotels and eateries.

For entertaining the kids playing parks, Aquarium and Mini zoo are there.

The Courtallam, ‘The Spa of South India’ at the foot hills of Pothigai Hills is a wonderful place to all those who seek Nature, Science and Medicine!

Panoramic Views of Pothigai Hills at Courtallam - Animals - 3

At Courtallam we can enjoy the antics of monkeys which come in troops – sometimes they seize the eatables from you, when you are unaware! You shall have to carry with you a stick to ward off them. You can also see often baby monkeys cuddling to the chests of their mothers!

Pothigai Hills have forests that show a wide and rich biodiversity: you can see Millipedes and Slugs of various sizes moving on in damp places.

One can hear the Beetles that make noise having a characteristic note and see the Fireflies as moving lights at night. Lizards crawl on the forest floor, and the Fruit Bats fly away every evening from their roosting places on the trees. The moist rocks are covered with Lichen and Moss . Ferns greet you with their fronds on the wayside.

If you have seen a similar wonder place with such all animals, insects and plants you can share here your experience.

Panoramic Views of Pothigai Hills at Courtallam - Flowers - 2

At Courtallam , everywhere we can see fragrant flowers in full bloom, larger in size than those in the plains. I should mention here specially about a flower, Champak or Shenbagapoo (Magnolia champaca), that is available here. It is yellowish and has heavenly fragrance! It is offered to the God, Thirukutrallanathar of the reputed Siva temple here. People used to buy these flowers preserved in transparent bottles and carry to the plains to place in the showcase of their house.


The children from the plains see this Touch-Me-Not or the Sensitive Plant ('Thottal Sinnungi' in Tamil) with wonder, and have the experience of touching its leaves that fold and retract themselves in response!

Various fruits are available here at Courtallam: Mangosteen, Carambola, Pample mousse, Rambuttan, Jack fruit,Java Plum (Naavel Pazhlam), Durian and the Mango ! You can share here your thoughts by posting comments.

Panoramic Views of Pothigai Hills at Courtallam - 1

Each year in July and August, South India receives seasonal rains by South West monsoon. Western Ghats have continuous rainfall at this time. Pothigai Hills are also on the Western Ghats.

The clouds always embrace the Pothigai Hills predicting good rains on their slopes. As a result, there is a copious flow of fresh and cool medicinal water down the hills to make the famous waterfalls at the place called Courtallam. Courtallam is at the foot hills of Pothigai Hills. Here at Courtallam there is always breeze whistling through trees, with fine drizzling called 'Saaral' in local language (Tamil).

The drizzles and the rains over the hills are absorbed on a sponge-like cover of medicinal herbs. As this water soaks the medicinal herbs it gets medicinal properties from them. Then it seeps and percolates down in small streams which join to form the great waterfalls down at the foot hills, Courtallam.

All those visiting Courtallam never miss to have a bath at the waterfalls, and thereby to have a fresh mind, wonderful and sensational experiences, and all those benefits resulting out of it!

Health Enhancing Wonder - Cordyceps!

When I found ants float on the cow’s milk or when dead caterpillars were found in the dishes made with cereals or beans, my grandmother encouraged relishing the drink or the dish, explaining about the enhanced nutrients they provide: they are good for the eyes and kids’ growth! The Chinese had tasted such dishes that we rejected with fear and distaste, and found medicinal properties in them! Yes, I refer from here the Vegetable Caterpillar Fungus (Cordyceps sinensis). It is a vegetable on a non-vegetable! The fungus infects the caterpillar and converts it as its dwelling, preserving the caterpillar form (parasitism).

It is said that Cordyceps fungus is used in Chinese traditional medicines. More than that: its consumption is attributed to have made the Chinese athletes break many world records in their National Games in 1993, by improving their performances! Its derivatives are also used to aid in human organ transplantations. It is more powerful than the ‘Ginseng’ root in healing.

Such a wonderful fungus having many health benefits is abundant in the high altitudes of Himalayan plateau.

Another source of Biodiesel - Pongam Tree!

There is another source of biodiesel apart from the Jatropha plant. It is the Pongam Tree (Pongamia pinnata). Its seeds contain up to 30% of oil. This oil is called Pungam Oil or Honge Oil, and it is used in electric generators for lighting and water pumping, and also as medicine in a host of diseases.

The tree is drought resistant and is raised for its canopy in avenues that gives shadow in the sun shine. Strikingly, its leaves bear brownish galls of pea-size. These galls are formed after the affection of its leaves with insect pests, giving these peculiar nodular surfaces to the leaves!

The Pongam tree is a wonder tree with multiple uses for the mankind. That is why the Indian farmers are being encouraged to grow them a lot.

The Enchanting 3 D

As a boy, in 1970s I have come across 3 D pictures, for the first time. These three dimensional pictures have depth information also for our viewing! My elder brother allowed me then to view in 3 D the photos that were on a disc reel, through his ‘View-Master .’ Still I remember Saachaa Nehru (former Prime Minister of India then) in his long white coat with a rose adorned on it! As the disc reel was rotated each photo came into my eyes for giving 3 D perception.

Then 3 D photos on photo paper were in circulation. Another version of 3 D effect is felt when you stare close at a bizarre image – a 3 D image lifts itself up and stands out from the paper! It is called Autostereogram or Magic Eye Images .

Next films came with 3 D effects that are to be experienced by wearing special glasses. Now even these glasses themselves have been disposed off: you can view directly 3 D films on special TV screens in near future!

Recently Laser 3 D TV has also been researched to get this 3 D effect for us. I wonder that soon we may have to search and distinguish our own real eye view of our world from those images in the 3 D world!

A Mark Guaranteeing a Standard Product!

We all see this mark, CE on most of the electronic and other products in every place of the world. What is this and what is the use of this mark?

It is an abbreviated form for the French words “Conformite’ Europeene.” It means “European Conformity.”

If a product bears this CE mark, it is guaranteed that you have a quality product as it complies with European standards of health, safety and environmental protection. Such a marked product of any country can be purchased in the open market anywhere in the world! No restrictions are imposed on the movement of these products within selected countries. Even the Government departments can place them directly in the market for sale, away from its production countries.

This mark is a wonder everywhere!

Touring the World on Verve Earth! - 2

I am continuing here my account of touring the world on Verve Earth satellite!

I find many blogs are not updated frequently. One such blogger says in his post that he has moved to Wordpress but will keep on visiting the Blogger blog then and there!

In a blog from Russia I found a post that mentioned about disposable mobile phone! A Chinese blog from Shanghai exhibited beautiful photos and photos only – a bamboo tree, swans and others!

An Australian blog post showed a photo of a VIP vomiting on the road from his car. A Malaysian fun blog quotes Einstein’s third law to catch a lion: first present yourself to the lion ……..! Then the lion will come to you – to be caught!

It was really a wonderful tour to view all these wonder blogs of the world!