Thalaiyar Falls

2025-07-24T10:07:27Z

2409:408D:3400:2798:E918:898F:6B1:79EC:

{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2020}}
{{single source|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Thalaiyar Falls
| photo = Rattail falls.jpg
| photo_caption = Rat Tail Falls
| location = [[Palani Hills]]
| coords = {{coord|10|13|25|N|77|35|54|E|type:landmark|display=inline, title}}
| elevation = {{convert|820|m}}
| type = Horsetail
| height = {{convert|297|m|abbr=on}}
| height_longest =
| average_width =
| number_drops = single
| average_flow =
| watercourse = [[Manjalar (River)|Manjalar River]]
| world_rank = 267, '''India''': #3
}}
'''Thalaiyar Falls''', also known as '''Rat Tail Falls''' is a waterfall in [[Dindigul District]], located on the [[Manjalar River]], one of the tributaries of [[Vaigai River|Vaigai river]] which flows in the south of [[Tamil Nadu]] State, [[South India]]. It is {{convert|297|m|abbr=on}} tall and is the highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu, the [[List of waterfalls in India by height|eighth]]<ref>https://byjus.com/govt-exams/highest-waterfalls-india-list/</ref> highest waterfall in [[India]] and the 267th highest in the world.<ref>World Waterfall Database, [http://www.world-waterfalls.com/database.php?pageNum_wwdSearch=7&totalRows_wwdSearch=919&s=N&t=H&orderby=height&sortLimit=300 World's Tallest Waterfalls]</ref>

==Description==
On a clear day Rat Tail Falls is visible from the [http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=10.2139931&lon=77.6289654&z=15&l=0&m=b Dum Dum Rock viewpoint] on the [[State Highway 156 (Tamil Nadu)|Batalugundu-Kodaikanal Ghat Road]], {{convert|3.6|km}} away to the west. It appears across the valley as a long thin white strip of cascading water on a background of black rock cliff face that juts out of the foothills.

The very edge at the top of the Falls has a low concrete wall on either side concentrating the flow of water to focus the falls into a better rat tail shape. One can walk along the wall and get near the center of the falls. Just below one wall is a large flat rock about {{convert|1.5|m|abbr=on}} wide. One can get down to the edge of the rock to look directly straight down to see a little river at the bottom continuing placidly through the forest. Looking back up to the side, one can watch the water in freefall, mostly silent. The noise of the crashing water below doesn't rise up. The only noise is the water pushing around the stone walls, and some smaller falls just upstream.<ref name="Strother">
{{citation
|author=Purdy, Strother
|url=http://mondaugenslaw.blogs.com/mondaugenslaw/2006/10/rat_tail_falls.html
|title=Hike description
|work=Mondaugen's Law
|date= 2006
}}</ref>

The river water coming to the falls, though {{convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on}} downstream from Perumal Malai village and apparently clear, may be polluted, and visitors to the area are advised to avoid drinking it.

==Access==
[[File:Manjalaru Dam, Theni District.jpg|thumb|285px|Manjalar Dam (left)<br />
Manjalar Reservoir- {{convert|2.1|km}} long (center) <br />[[Manjalar (River)|Manjalar River]] (right). <br />Thalaiyar Falls are {{convert|2.8 |km}} more to the right.]]
Rat Tail Falls is considered inaccessible to the general public, as there is no road to it. The top of the falls is a rewarding and challenging hike destination.<ref name="Strother"/> Hikers should be cautious, as two Western tourists died in 2006 when they fell from the top of the Falls.<ref name="Purdy">
{{cite web
|url=http://mondaugenslaw.blogs.com/.m/mondaugenslaw/2007/11/hike-to-the-bas.html
|title=Hike to the Base of Rat Tail Falls
|last=Purdy
|first=Strother
|date=November 12, 2007
|work=Mondaugen's Law
|accessdate=29 March 2010
}}</ref>

It is possible to hike to the bottom of the falls in the dry season, beginning at the Manjalar Dam. This difficult hike proceeds along a path through Mango orchards and potato fields around the Manjalar Reservoir and up along the stream as far as a small shrine, dedicated to the [[Goddess]] [[Kamakshi]]. The legend is that Kamakshi was born here at the foot of the falls in a bamboo bush and hence she is called Moonkilanai Kamakshi. This place is called Amma Machhu, meaning in the middle of a grove of teak trees.

Beyond this point one must climb up along the stream, going up, over and around increasingly large boulders with difficulty, till arriving at the bottom of the falls, where there is a pool about {{convert|30|m}} by {{convert|60|m}}. The return hike is more difficult. The full hike there and back covers about {{convert|15|km}} and takes a full day.<ref name="Purdy"/>

Manjalar Dam is at the end of Manjalar Road about {{convert|5.5|km}} north from [[List of State Highways in Tamil Nadu|SH-36]] at [[Devadanapatti]] town beginning along Kamatchi Amman temple road.

==See also==
* [[List of waterfalls]]
* [[List of waterfalls in India]]

==External sources==
*[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=12321652&id=874005533 Top of the falls] (part of Rattail Falls gallery)
*[http://mondaugenslaw.blogs.com/.m/mondaugenslaw/2007/11/hike-to-the-bas.html?p=12 Base of the falls - 1], Photos
*[http://mondaugenslaw.blogs.com/.m/mondaugenslaw/2007/11/hike-to-the-bas.html?p=14 Base of the falls - 2], Photo

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park#Waterfalls|Waterfalls in Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]]
*[[List of waterfalls in India]]
*[[List of waterfalls in India by height]]

{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Waterfalls of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Horsetail waterfalls]]

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Thalaiyar Falls