The Waterfall at Papanasam, Tinnevelly District (Tamil Nadu)

'Upon turning the angle of a hill, which rose abruptly from the valley, the fall burst suddenly upon our sight. It was indeed a magnificent spectacle. The impression excited was so uncommon, that I was obliged to close my eyes for a moment, in order to recover from the sudden and almost astounding surprise. Though the roar of the cataract had been long heard before we reached it, so that we were not unprepared for something more than commonly imposing, the reality far transcended our expectations. It is precipitated from a height of one hundred and fifty feet, pouring over the steep a prodigious body of water, which, forcing its way betwixt intervening rocks, among which it boils and hisses with tremendous energy, falls into the deep, dark pool beneath with a din and turbulence that are almost deafening. ... There is a tremendous vortex just below the fall, caused by its sudden and violent pressure upon the surface below, so that no one can safely approach within reach of the spray. The waters of this spot are highly sacred, Puppanassum, the name which the place bears, signifying the washing away of sins. A great number of devotees are to be seen at all times bathing in this consecrated river. ... By the side of this celebrated fall there is a rock which is most highly venerated. It is covered with a rude bas-relief, before which pilgrims and other visitants to these holy waters prostrate themselves performing at the same time the most grotesque gesticulations that can be imagined. Fakeers are also to be found—and where are they not in India?—among the swarms of fanatics who daily practise their fantastic ceremonials before these mystical sculptures.' (The Oriental Annual, London, 1834, vol. I, pp.61-2)

The Daniells visited the falls in the then unmapped Tinnevelly District in Tamil Nadu on their tour of South India in 1792-3. There are three other pictures of the Falls by Thomas Daniell: the larger variant in the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta (Shellim, TD28, painted in 1792 and included in the Madras Lottery in 1793), and two more distant views (TD42, painted and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1800, and TD78, painted and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1812). Of the numerous drawings, most dated from 31 July to 2 August 1792, see M. Shellim, The Daniells in India and the waterfall at Papanasam, Calcutta, 1970, p.31-3.