Papanasam

Travel to 47 km from Tirunelveli, to reach the small yet beautiful town of Papanasam. Because of its variety of inclusions, the place has become a popular tourist destination in Tirunelveli. From the varieties of places to visit at Papanasam, one is the famous temple The Papanasam Siva Temple. The temple sits on the shores of Thamirabarani River. The temple worships Lord Shiva and Parvati in the form of Papanasanathar and Ulagammai respectively. The temple has a beautiful Dravidian style of architecture. The temple also holds the prestige of being the one among the nine Kailash Kshetras – Nava Kailash and is dedicated to Sun God. So, the place is also popular as Surya Kshetra and Surya Kailash. The temple houses the Shiva lingam made up of Rudraksha and the local people have deep faith in it. The temple commences large gathering and celebration for 13 days during Chittirai Peruvila. Yet another attraction of this place is the Papanasam Dam, aka the Thamirabarani River Dam. The construction of the dam is thought to be during the British era but no fixed records have been produced. The Dam stands 240 m high, spreads 5.4 m wide and stretches 265 m long. The Dam has associated Hydroelectric Power Plant with a design capacity of 28 MW. The Dam is believed to be populated by crocodiles so going inside water for bathing or swimming is prohibited. Another thing that makes this place worth visiting is Agasthiyar Falls or Papanasam Falls. The Thamirabarani River curves through the rocky path of Podhigai Hills and falls from the height of 120 m, to create this mesmerizing fall. The water of the fall is considered sacred and believe to take away the sins of the people soaking in it. The mountains nearby are important in the medicinal point of view. The unique and rare herbs they habitat are not found anywhere else. The place provides an excellent weekend gateway away from the hustle-bustle of city life.