Flood water gushes down Thalaiyar (Rat Tail) Falls, Tamil Nadu's highest waterfall

25 October 2026 · English Tamil Nadu

Topics: Tamil Nadu · 25 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

After the north-east monsoon set in on 15 Oct 2026 (IMD), heavy rain in the Palani Hills has sent flood water gushing down Thalaiyar Falls in Dindigul district – Tamil Nadu's highest waterfall. Dropping about 297 m (975 ft), the falls can be seen from the Dum Dum Rock viewpoint on the Batlagundu–Kodaikanal ghat road; there is no road to the falls themselves.

Key facts

Background

• Geography: the Palani Hills are an eastward spur of the Western Ghats; Kodaikanal here is called the 'Princess of Hill Stations'. Silver Cascade and Bear Shola falls are in the same area.
• River: water from Thalaiyar flows on as the Manjalar, a tributary of the Vaigai. Other Vaigai tributaries include the Suruliyar, Varahanadhi and Mullaiyar. The Vaigai flows past Madurai to the Ramanathapuram Big Tank.
• Climate: Tamil Nadu gets the bulk of its annual rain from the north-east monsoon (Oct–Dec); during the south-west monsoon it lies largely in the rain-shadow of the Western Ghats.

Tamil Nadu link: Courtallam – Chittar river, Tenkasi ('Spa of the South'); Hogenakkal – Kaveri, Dharmapuri; Suruli and Kumbakkarai – Theni; Agaya Gangai – Kolli Hills (Namakkal); Kiliyur – Yercaud (Salem); Catherine – Kotagiri (Nilgiris); Monkey Falls – Aliyar (Coimbatore).

Source: Tamil Nadu Tourism; Vajiram & Ravi (July 2026); The Week/IMD (monsoon, 16 Oct 2026); Tenkasi district website (Courtallam)

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