October in Courtallam is the second peak window of the year — the unusual reverse-pattern Tamil Nadu town that benefits from BOTH monsoons. Rainfall 150-200mm in the upper catchment (the northeast monsoon arrives around October 15 and refills the catchment that was draining through September). Daytime 27-30C, nights 24-25C, water temperature 19-21C, humidity 80 percent. The 9 falls climb back from September's 60-70 percent to 80-85 percent of monsoon peak through the back half of the month. Main Falls (₹15 ticket) and Five Falls at full bath-flow; the smaller falls at workable. The Siddha-medicine therapeutic-water claim returns to strong — the NE-monsoon current carries forest-catchment herbs at the second-best-of-year concentration. Oil-massage practitioners (2,000-year-old tradition) at peak demand; ₹500-1,500 per session at the licensed therapists. Navarathri tail (the nine-night Devi festival running into early October) and Dussehra bring additional temple-circuit traffic. Hotel rates ease 25 percent off August: Hotel Vetri Mahal ₹2,200-3,500, Sundara Mahal ₹3-4,500, homestays ₹1,000-1,800. Dam-release alerts continue as a routine PA-system event.

Why October scores 10.0/10