June to September — the opposite of what you would expect.

The Western Ghats block the southwest monsoon from reaching most of Tamil Nadu, which is why the state depends on the northeast monsoon in October to December. But at Aryankavu there is a gap in the range, and rain spills through it onto Courtallam. So from June to September the falls run hardest while the plains around Tirunelveli are dry and hot.

That is the Courtallam season, and it is when the town fills. October and November bring a second, smaller flow from the northeast monsoon. From January to April the falls reduce considerably and some dry up entirely — you can still visit the temple and the Chitra Sabha, but you would not come for the water.

We will tell you honestly which cascades are likely to be flowing on your dates.

Generally yes, with real caveats that you should take seriously.

The bathing terraces at Main Falls and Five Falls are managed, with lifeguards and police presence during season, and flow is controlled by an alert system. When rain is heavy in the upper catchment, the falls are closed — sometimes for hours, occasionally for days. Those closures exist because flash floods here have killed people, and they are not negotiable.

Our office monitors water levels daily during monsoon dates and we brief you each morning. If the falls are closed, we restructure the day around the temple, the Chitra Sabha and Papanasam rather than waiting at a barrier.

Practical points: the water pressure at Main Falls is genuinely strong, Five Falls is gentler and is where families and older visitors go, and you should not bathe if you cannot swim or have a heart condition.

Yes — separate enclosures for men and women at both Main Falls and Five Falls, which is standard and strictly observed.

Nobody bathes in swimwear here. Men wear a lungi or shorts; women wear a saree, a nightdress or a salwar. You will see all three. Bring a change of clothes and a towel, or buy them in the bazaar — half the shops sell nothing else.

Changing rooms and lockers are available at both main falls and the charges are included in your package. Do not take valuables to the terraces; leave them locked or in the vehicle.

Seven are commonly listed, and they are not equal.

Main Falls is the big one, roughly 60 metres, with the strongest pressure and the largest crowds. Five Falls (Aintharuvi) splits into five streams and hits far more gently — this is the family choice. Old Courtallam Falls, three kilometres upstream, is quieter and set back in forest. Tiger Falls (Puli Aruvi) needs a short walk through cardamom slopes and is the most peaceful.

Honey Falls (Thenaruvi) and Shenbaga Devi Falls both require a proper trek with a forest permit, and neither is included here — tell us if you want them and we will arrange the permits separately.

Your itinerary covers the four accessible ones. Which are flowing depends on the month, and your falls card will say.

Tuticorin (TCR) is closest at 90 km, roughly two hours, but has limited flights. Madurai (IXM) at 145 km and three hours is the practical choice for most travellers, with far better domestic connections. Trivandrum (TRV) is 140 km and worth considering if you are combining with Kerala.

By train, Tenkasi Junction (TSI) is only 5 km from Courtallam, with direct services from Chennai, Madurai and Tirunelveli. Tirunelveli Junction (TEN) at 60 km is a bigger station with wider connections.

We pick up and drop at any of these. Tenkasi Junction is the easiest if your schedule allows an overnight train.

Honestly: modest. Courtallam is a bathing town rather than a hill station, and the accommodation reflects that.

Budget properties are basic lodges in the town, close to the falls and adequate rather than comfortable. Mid-range hotels sit slightly out of the centre with better rooms and reliable hot water. The upper tier is a small number of resort-style properties on the Tenkasi road, which are the best available and still not luxury.

If comfort matters more to you than proximity, we base you at Tirunelveli — 60 km away, with genuinely good hotels — and drive in each day. It adds ninety minutes of travel and considerably improves the stay. Tell us at booking which you would prefer.

During peak season in July and August, everything books out weeks ahead and rates rise sharply.

A sedan is entirely adequate for most of it — the roads to Courtallam, Papanasam and Tirunelveli are good, and there are no serious ghat sections.

An SUV or Innova Crysta is worth it if there are four or more of you, mainly for luggage and comfort on the Papanasam and Manimuthar approaches, which are narrower.

A Tempo Traveller works for groups and is common on this route, though parking near Main Falls during peak season is tight and you will walk further from the drop point.

One practical note whatever you choose: you will get in and out of the vehicle wet. Bring a spare towel for the seat, and your driver will not mind.

It is a genuine local tradition, practised by masseurs who work the same rocks their families have worked for generations, using herbal oils made in the town.

It is not a spa treatment. You sit on a rock, in your bathing clothes, in the open, and the massage is vigorous rather than relaxing. Most people find it worthwhile precisely because of that.

Two practical things. Agree the price before you sit down — it is negotiated, not fixed, and rates rise in peak season. And it is not included in your package, deliberately, because we would rather you chose your own masseur than have us take a commission.

Separate male and female masseurs are available.

Yes, with the right falls.

Five Falls is where families go — the water splits into five streams and hits far more gently than Main Falls, and there are shallower areas for children. The approach is level and the changing facilities are good.

Main Falls is a different matter. The pressure is strong, the rocks are slippery, and the crowds during season are heavy. We would not recommend it for young children or anyone unsteady on their feet.

Tiger Falls involves a walk of about twenty minutes on an uneven path, which we skip for guests who would find it difficult, substituting a longer visit to the Chitra Sabha and temple.

Tell us at booking who is travelling and we will build the days accordingly rather than sending everyone to the same terrace.

Because a day trip gets you Main Falls and a queue.

The falls close without warning during heavy rain, and if your single day is the day they close, you have driven three hours for nothing. Four days means the closure costs you an afternoon rather than the trip.

It also means seeing what is actually here beyond the water. The Chitra Sabha is one of only five halls where Shiva is said to have danced as Nataraja, and the only one whose panels are painted on wood rather than carved in stone — it is a genuinely rare thing and almost nobody visiting for a day sees it. The conch-shaped Thirukutralanathar temple, Papanasam on the Thamirabarani, and Manimuthar at the edge of a tiger reserve all sit within an hour.

And the falls themselves are different at different hours. Main Falls at four in the afternoon is a different place from Main Falls at noon. That is worth a night rather than a drive.