Ambasamudram is the second biggest town of tirunelveli district and it lies 38 Kms away from tirunelveli, with the vatradha jeeva nadhi (Never drying river) Thamirabarani flowing on the shore of the town. The water of Thamirabarani is considered to be one of the sweetest water source available and people who drink thamirabarani are not easily prone to disease as it flows through a lots of medicinal herbals from Podhigai.... If there is someplace where you feel like you are lying in the natures lap, then its Ambasamudram. Its a town where every street has a temple. Though Ambasamudram might not have very interesting places apart from the river thamirabarani but it is a place where you can tent and go around.
You want to see green!!!!... go to Ambasamudram.... Even you'll realize the greenness in your breath once you enter my town which makes you fresh!!!!
The places around Ambasamudram are
1. Papanasam (7 Kms) which is has a famous temple of Lord Shiva and Parvathy and it is believed that if one takes a holy dip in the banks of thamirabarani at Papanasam all the sins gets washed away. Papanasam if translated into english sums up as demolishing sins!.... Apart from ju
st demolishing sins one can sit on the rocks of the flowing river and listen to the raagas generated by the flowing river along with the melodious cukoos and birds chirping around. Just watch out for the monkeys around.
2. Agasthiar Falls (11kms) which is just 4 kms uphill from Papnasam where you find a wonderul small, cute waterfalls where you have water falling around 365 days, beleive me fifteen years back the falls was only explored for the people around ambai and we had wonderful time there on weekends where we go, cook, eat and enjoy nice bath even in summers... now it has become a tourist spot.... One can also trek from Papanasam to Agasthiar falls and if you walk a few more meters above Agasthiar falls one can find its source Kalyana theertham where you see a huge wall kind of structure and the falls originates behind the wall.... so the entire origination of the falls is hidden by the wall.. and the wall is not built its a natural rock!!..... This is the place where its believed that Agasthiar a poet who was travelling south to balance the earth due to the havoc created by the crowd that gathered at Lord Shiva's marriage at Himalaya's got to see the marriage ceremony live though his vision. Agasthiar was 4 feet tall and Lord Shiva choosed him to walk to Podhigai to balance the imbalance created b
y the crowd.... apart from there there is a small hydropower unit which generates electricity for the villages around.
3. Karayar and Servalar Dam ( 22 Kms)... are a part of Mundandurai Tiger Sancturay which is located as the water saviour of Tirunelveli disctrict which is situated at some breathtaking point between the hills. Karayar dam has boating services which takes you through a half an hour ride where you get some surprise.....you feel like going on smooth backwaters and suddenly you have a point where the boat turns and you get to see a huge gigantic waterfalls which suddenly appears in front of you and you get to travel between the drizzles o
f those water which is distributed on air.... its hell of an experience!..... the boat ride might cost you a mere 50 bucks!. The huge waterfalls is called as Banatheertham... [theertham in tamil translates to holy water in english]. Its very risky to take bath in Banatheertham and when you go on the boat in the dam its recommended not to put hands on the water as the water reservoir has crocodiles in it.
4. Manimuthar Dam (8 Kms) which is another water reserviour on the foothills of Podhigai and a nice place to sit and enjoy nature.... its always amazing to
see the combination of water, mountain and cloud together and its a place where you get a perfect blend of them.... a few kilometer drive from there leads you to Manimuthar water falls where you can have nice bath and enjoy your stay in water with the nature.
5. Manjolai (35 Kms) is a tea estate where you see a lot of varieties of tea being cultivated.... its a perfect place to sit and think and an idea venue for writers. Though I don't have any images of it right now I'll try to post them
There are many more such small places around Ambasamudram. Take a weeks off and pack your bags and enjoy nature at its natural best!.. thankfully ambasamudram is a town and still have the smell of culture and intergrity in it. I pray that it exists....... for a long time
What to Eat?
Enjoy local foods like idly, dosa and especially medhu vada and filter coffees.. try out pongal in the breakfast and don't forget to get Parota's with salna at the dinner... Do visit Hotel Rehmat to have parota's and Hotel Rehmat was a famous hotel which provides meal at the cost of Rs. 2/- [till 2005, I don't have the data after that :P], when a normal meal outside costed Rs. 25/- [Stats according to Ambasamudram economy].
Where to stay?
Well Ambasamudram doesn't have luxorious hotels though but there are a few which is reasonably good and affordable as well. Hotel Gowri Shankar is the biggest hotel in the town.
How to reach?
One can reach Chennai / Madurai by Air and there are trains available from Chennai / Madurai to Tirunelveli. From Tirnelveli look for any buses which goes to Papnasam. There is a meter gauge train which connects Tirunelveli and Ambasamudram but I think that is not in operation as the work of lying a broad gauge is on.
How much would it cost?
Well it depends on how you choose to reach but the entire expenses at Ambasamudram including your food, travel and stay in a week might not exceed Rs. 6000 (for 4 person)......
Just ensure to a have a person who can speak tamil with you!!!......
The best thing you will earn / realize after you come back from your visit is PEACE.... which is invaluable....
You want to see green!!!!... go to Ambasamudram.... Even you'll realize the greenness in your breath once you enter my town which makes you fresh!!!!
1. Papanasam (7 Kms) which is has a famous temple of Lord Shiva and Parvathy and it is believed that if one takes a holy dip in the banks of thamirabarani at Papanasam all the sins gets washed away. Papanasam if translated into english sums up as demolishing sins!.... Apart from ju
st demolishing sins one can sit on the rocks of the flowing river and listen to the raagas generated by the flowing river along with the melodious cukoos and birds chirping around. Just watch out for the monkeys around.2. Agasthiar Falls (11kms) which is just 4 kms uphill from Papnasam where you find a wonderul small, cute waterfalls where you have water falling around 365 days, beleive me fifteen years back the falls was only explored for the people around ambai and we had wonderful time there on weekends where we go, cook, eat and enjoy nice bath even in summers... now it has become a tourist spot.... One can also trek from Papanasam to Agasthiar falls and if you walk a few more meters above Agasthiar falls one can find its source Kalyana theertham where you see a huge wall kind of structure and the falls originates behind the wall.... so the entire origination of the falls is hidden by the wall.. and the wall is not built its a natural rock!!..... This is the place where its believed that Agasthiar a poet who was travelling south to balance the earth due to the havoc created by the crowd that gathered at Lord Shiva's marriage at Himalaya's got to see the marriage ceremony live though his vision. Agasthiar was 4 feet tall and Lord Shiva choosed him to walk to Podhigai to balance the imbalance created b
y the crowd.... apart from there there is a small hydropower unit which generates electricity for the villages around.3. Karayar and Servalar Dam ( 22 Kms)... are a part of Mundandurai Tiger Sancturay which is located as the water saviour of Tirunelveli disctrict which is situated at some breathtaking point between the hills. Karayar dam has boating services which takes you through a half an hour ride where you get some surprise.....you feel like going on smooth backwaters and suddenly you have a point where the boat turns and you get to see a huge gigantic waterfalls which suddenly appears in front of you and you get to travel between the drizzles o
f those water which is distributed on air.... its hell of an experience!..... the boat ride might cost you a mere 50 bucks!. The huge waterfalls is called as Banatheertham... [theertham in tamil translates to holy water in english]. Its very risky to take bath in Banatheertham and when you go on the boat in the dam its recommended not to put hands on the water as the water reservoir has crocodiles in it.4. Manimuthar Dam (8 Kms) which is another water reserviour on the foothills of Podhigai and a nice place to sit and enjoy nature.... its always amazing to
see the combination of water, mountain and cloud together and its a place where you get a perfect blend of them.... a few kilometer drive from there leads you to Manimuthar water falls where you can have nice bath and enjoy your stay in water with the nature.
5. Manjolai (35 Kms) is a tea estate where you see a lot of varieties of tea being cultivated.... its a perfect place to sit and think and an idea venue for writers. Though I don't have any images of it right now I'll try to post them
There are many more such small places around Ambasamudram. Take a weeks off and pack your bags and enjoy nature at its natural best!.. thankfully ambasamudram is a town and still have the smell of culture and intergrity in it. I pray that it exists....... for a long time
What to Eat?
Enjoy local foods like idly, dosa and especially medhu vada and filter coffees.. try out pongal in the breakfast and don't forget to get Parota's with salna at the dinner... Do visit Hotel Rehmat to have parota's and Hotel Rehmat was a famous hotel which provides meal at the cost of Rs. 2/- [till 2005, I don't have the data after that :P], when a normal meal outside costed Rs. 25/- [Stats according to Ambasamudram economy].
Where to stay?
Well Ambasamudram doesn't have luxorious hotels though but there are a few which is reasonably good and affordable as well. Hotel Gowri Shankar is the biggest hotel in the town.
How to reach?
One can reach Chennai / Madurai by Air and there are trains available from Chennai / Madurai to Tirunelveli. From Tirnelveli look for any buses which goes to Papnasam. There is a meter gauge train which connects Tirunelveli and Ambasamudram but I think that is not in operation as the work of lying a broad gauge is on.
How much would it cost?
Well it depends on how you choose to reach but the entire expenses at Ambasamudram including your food, travel and stay in a week might not exceed Rs. 6000 (for 4 person)......
Just ensure to a have a person who can speak tamil with you!!!......
The best thing you will earn / realize after you come back from your visit is PEACE.... which is invaluable....
how do you reach it from bangalore?
ReplyDeleteTake a train from Bangalore to Tirunelveli!... Nagercoil express runs 4 days in a week which connects Bangalore with Tirunelveli. You can directly take a bus from Bangalore to Ambasamudram as well. There is one or two state government bus operated from Bangalore to Papanasam which connects Ambasamudram. State Government buses are operated between Bangalore and Tirunelveli as well. It takes around 15 hours in bus to reach Tirunelveli from Bangalore.
ReplyDeleteHi Selva,
ReplyDeleteI was also born in Ambai but unfortunately never got to visit my birth place ever after. I really want to take a visit there from Chennai along with my parents. Can you tell me if there are any home stays there?...if not what are the boarding and lodging options available there?
Hey can we have some more places Mr. Exploring Indian.
ReplyDeleteAdd Chail - it would be fresh in your mind!
Hi, just one question..Is it true the Karaiyaar dam has crocodiles in it?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for making aware of my chidhood heaven to everyone.I miss ambai where i lived and studied till my seventh std.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such wonderful articles with details. Can you please confirm which waterfalls was used in tamil movie Roja.
ReplyDeleteThere is a metal fence shown in the movie. The heroine holds to a metal fence while singing under water falls. Where is it located? Is it Manimuthar Dam? Agasthyar falls? or Banatheertham falls?
Thank you
Hi
ReplyDeleteSelva , Can you please let me know the Bus facility Bangalore to Ambas. Checked KSRTC & KPN , Both don`t have direct service to Ambas.
Appreciate a fast response ( selvakumaran.p@gmail.com ) as I am leaving tommorrow.
hey the falls used in Roja is near sundarapandiya puram... Mr. Selvakumaran I just saw your comment.. sorry couldn't suggest you... there is TNSRTC buses which operate from Bengaluru to Papnasam which stops at Ambasamudram
ReplyDeleteOnline Bus Ticket booking. Chennai, popularly regarded as the Gateway to the South, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, you would find a modern metropolis with a clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks and historic landmarks.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete