Pothundi dam reservoir -Palakkad (Kerala)

Pothundi Dam :  is located about 8 km from Nemmara and 42 km from Palakkad; Nelliampathi, around 17 km away.Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala state, India. It was constructed in the 19th century. The dam is unusual in being constructed without a conventional concrete core, which is employed in most earth dams to counteract the force exerted by high water pressure. The core is, instead, an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime.It is the second dam in Asia constructed without using cement mixture. 

Tourist Places around Palakkad 

Malampuzha Dam :  is the largest reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad in south India with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background.The dam project was begun in 1949 and completed in 1955. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 6,066 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha, Kerala's second longest river. Malampuzha is a mini hydoro-electric project is also the biggest irrigation project in Kerala with a large network of canal systems. It is also one of Kerala's major tourist spots. The Malampuzha Garden and reservoir have a scenic setting with the forested hills of Western Ghats forming the backdrop, making it one of the foremost tourism centres in the State. Malampuzha situated 10 km from Palakkad , Kerala.

Tourist Attractions in Malampuzha

* Malampuzha Garden

* Fresh water aquarium

* Hanging Bridge

* Ropeway

* Rock Garden

* Snake park

* Fantasy Park

Silent valley national park :  situated 35 Km from Mannarkkad ( Palakkad Dist.) The park is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats montane rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forest in India. Contiguous with the proposed Karimpuzha National Park  to the north and Mukurthi National Park  to the north-east, it is the core of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve .

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :  is a  Protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district . Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills.  The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as part of the 390.88 square kilometres  Parambiculam Tiger Reserve on February 19, 2010. Parambikkulam is only accessible by road from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Palakkad to Pollachi is about 45 km; then Pollachi to Parambikkulam is about 65 km.

Nelliampathi : is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala, a small state in south India. It is surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and has excellent weather conditions. The journey toNelliampathi itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the first town ofNelliampathi, namely Kaikatty junction, is at a distance of 26 km. At the 9th kilometer is the Pothundi Dam, a small irrigation dam which provides water for the rice fields in the surrounding area.

Siruvani Dam: Siruvani dam & reservoir  are located at a distance of 40 km west of Coimbatore and 48 Kms from Palakkad in the Western Ghats. The Siruvani river is known for its tasty water,and it is claimed to be the second sweetest lake water in the world.It is one of the main sources of water for Coimbatore city. 

Attapady: Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area of the westernmost part of the  Attappadi block of Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala. Attappati is an extensive mountain valley at the headwaters of the Bhavani River nestled below the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It is bordered to the east by Coimbatore district in Tamilnadu, on the north by the Nilgiris, south by the Palghat taluk and on the west by Karimba, Pottassery and Mannarghat revenue villages of Mannarghat taluk of the Palghat District and Ernad taluk of the Malappuram district. Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal buffer zone bordering the Silent Valley National Park to the West. The elevation of Attappati valley ranges from 750 meters to the Malleswaram peak at. The Bhavani River flows from the Northwest around the mountain in a tight bend past Attappaddi village and continues to the Tamilnadu.

A Scene from Nelliampathi (Palakkad)

Nelliampathi : is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala, a small state in south India. It is surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and has excellent weather conditions. The journey to Nelliampathi itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the first town of Nelliampathi, namely Kaikatty junction, is at a distance of 26 km. At the 9th kilometer is the Pothundi Dam, a small irrigation dam which provides water for the rice fields in the surrounding area.

Tourist Places around Palakkad 

Malampuzha Dam :  is the largest reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad in south India with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background.The dam project was begun in 1949 and completed in 1955. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 6,066 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha, Kerala's second longest river. Malampuzha is a mini hydoro-electric project is also the biggest irrigation project in Kerala with a large network of canal systems. It is also one of Kerala's major tourist spots. The Malampuzha Garden and reservoir have a scenic setting with the forested hills of Western Ghats forming the backdrop, making it one of the foremost tourism centres in the State. Malampuzha situated 10 km from Palakkad , Kerala.

Tourist Attractions in Malampuzha

* Malampuzha Garden

* Fresh water aquarium

* Hanging Bridge

* Ropeway

* Rock Garden

* Snake park

* Fantasy Park

Silent valley national park :  situated 35 Km from Mannarkkad ( Palakkad Dist.) The park is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats montane rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forest in India. Contiguous with the proposed Karimpuzha National Park  to the north and Mukurthi National Park  to the north-east, it is the core of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve .

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :  is a  Protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district . Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills.  The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as part of the 390.88 square kilometres  Parambiculam Tiger Reserve on February 19, 2010. Parambikkulam is only accessible by road from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Palakkad to Pollachi is about 45 km; then Pollachi to Parambikkulam is about 65 km.

Pothundi Dam : is The dam is located about 8 km from Nemmara and 42 km from Palakkad; Nelliampathi, around 17 km away.Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala state, India. It was constructed in the 19th century. The dam is unusual in being constructed without a conventional concrete core, which is employed in most earth dams to counteract the force exerted by high water pressure. The core is, instead, an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime.It is the second dam in Asia constructed without using cement mixture. 

Siruvani Dam: Siruvani dam & reservoir  are located at a distance of 40 km west of Coimbatore and 48 Kms from Palakkad in the Western Ghats. The Siruvani river is known for its tasty water,and it is claimed to be the second sweetest lake water in the world.It is one of the main sources of water for Coimbatore city. 

Attapady: Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area of the westernmost part of the  Attappadi block of Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala. Attappati is an extensive mountain valley at the headwaters of the Bhavani River nestled below the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It is bordered to the east by Coimbatore district in Tamilnadu, on the north by the Nilgiris, south by the Palghat taluk and on the west by Karimba, Pottassery and Mannarghat revenue villages of Mannarghat taluk of the Palghat District and Ernad taluk of the Malappuram district. Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal buffer zone bordering the Silent Valley National Park to the West. The elevation of Attappati valley ranges from 750 meters to the Malleswaram peak at. The Bhavani River flows from the Northwest around the mountain in a tight bend past Attappaddi village and continues to the Tamilnadu.

Malampuzha Dam

Malampuzha Dam is the largest reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad in south India with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background.The dam project was begun in 1949 and completed in 1955. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 6,066 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha, Kerala's second longest river. Malampuzha is a mini hydoro-electric project is also the biggest irrigation project in Kerala with a large network of canal systems. It is also one of Kerala's major tourist spots. The Malampuzha Garden and reservoir have a scenic setting with the forested hills of Western Ghats forming the backdrop, making it one of the foremost tourism centres in the State. Malampuzha situated 10 km from Palakkad , Kerala.

Tourist Attractions in Malampuzha

* Malampuzha Garden

* Fresh water aquarium

* Hanging Bridge

* Ropeway

* Rock Garden

* Snake park

* Fantasy Park

Tourist Places around Palakkad 

Silent valley national park :  situated 35 Km from Mannarkkad ( Palakkad Dist.) The park is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats montane rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forest in India. Contiguous with the proposed Karimpuzha National Park  to the north and Mukurthi National Park  to the north-east, it is the core of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve .

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary :  is a  Protected area in Chittur taluk in Palakkad district . Established in 1973, it is in the Sungam range of hills between the Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills.  The sanctuary is the home of 4 different tribes of indigenous peoples including the Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar and Mala Malasar settled in six colonies. Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as part of the 390.88 square kilometres  Parambiculam Tiger Reserve on February 19, 2010. Parambikkulam is only accessible by road from Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. Palakkad to Pollachi is about 45 km; then Pollachi to Parambikkulam is about 65 km.

Nelliampathi : is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala, a small state in south India. It is surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and has excellent weather conditions. The journey to Nelliampathi itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the first town of Nelliampathi, namely Kaikatty junction, is at a distance of 26 km. At the 9th kilometer is the Pothundi Dam, a small irrigation dam which provides water for the rice fields in the surrounding area.

Pothundi Dam : is The dam is located about 8 km from Nemmara and 42 km from Palakkad; Nelliampathi, around 17 km away.Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near a small village in Palakkad district of Kerala state, India. It was constructed in the 19th century. The dam is unusual in being constructed without a conventional concrete core, which is employed in most earth dams to counteract the force exerted by high water pressure. The core is, instead, an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime.It is the second dam in Asia constructed without using cement mixture. 

Siruvani Dam: Siruvani dam & reservoir  are located at a distance of 40 km west of Coimbatore and 48 Kms from Palakkad in the Western Ghats. The Siruvani river is known for its tasty water,and it is claimed to be the second sweetest lake water in the world.It is one of the main sources of water for Coimbatore city. 

Attapady: Attappadi Reserve Forest is a protected area of the westernmost part of the  Attappadi block of Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala. Attappati is an extensive mountain valley at the headwaters of the Bhavani River nestled below the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. It is bordered to the east by Coimbatore district in Tamilnadu, on the north by the Nilgiris, south by the Palghat taluk and on the west by Karimba, Pottassery and Mannarghat revenue villages of Mannarghat taluk of the Palghat District and Ernad taluk of the Malappuram district. Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal buffer zone bordering the Silent Valley National Park to the West. The elevation of Attappati valley ranges from 750 meters to the Malleswaram peak at. The Bhavani River flows from the Northwest around the mountain in a tight bend past Attappaddi village and continues to the Tamilnadu.

Coracle on the Hogenakkal waterfalls ( Tamilnadu , India )

Coracle on the Hogenakkal waterfalls ( Tamilnadu , India )

Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge. The coracles are about 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) in diameter but still can take a load of eight persons at a time. These coracles are made of bamboo. The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic.These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making them unique. The coracles are locally called parisal in Tamil , either teppa or harigolu in Kannada and Kottavanchi in Malayalam. Indian coracles  are commonly found on the rivers Kaveri and Tungabhadra in Southern India.  Indian coracles are considered to have been in existence since prehistoric times,and are a major tourist attraction at the Hogenakkal falls on the Kaveri river.

Hogenakkal Falls ( Hogenakal Falls )  is a waterfall in Tamilnadu ,at the borders of Karnataka, about 46 kms from Dharmapuri, the headquarters of the district of the same name. The river Kaveri which enters in Tamil Nadu as a big river flows here as natural falls. Dharmapuri district of the state of Tamil Nadu, about 180 km  from Bangalore .It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India". It is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.  The River Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in Kodagu district in Karnataka and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as 20 m and Soon after the falls the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mettur Reservoir. Hogenakkal Falls is a quiet and beautiful waterfall and is a good picnic spot.  Hogenakkal is located about 750 feet above sea level amidst the Melagiri Hills. Tourists can take a coracle trip from one corner of the river to the other. Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge.

Tourist Places around Hogenakkal is,

*Yercaud
*Shivanasamudram
*Bangalore
*Ooty
*Palanihills

Hogenakkal waterfalls ( Tamilnadu , India )

Hogenakkal Falls ( Hogenakal Falls )  is a waterfall in Tamilnadu ,at the borders of Karnataka, about 46 kms from Dharmapuri, the headquarters of the district of the same name. The river Kaveri which enters in Tamil Nadu as a big river flows here as natural falls. Dharmapuri district of the state of Tamil Nadu, about 180 km  from Bangalore .It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India". It is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.  The River Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in Kodagu district in Karnataka and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as 20 m and Soon after the falls the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mettur Reservoir. Hogenakkal Falls is a quiet and beautiful waterfall and is a good picnic spot.  Hogenakkal is located about 750 feet above sea level amidst the Melagiri Hills. Tourists can take a coracle trip from one corner of the river to the other. Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge.

Tourist Places around Hogenakkal is,

*Yercaud
*Shivanasamudram
*Bangalore
*Ooty
*Palanihills

Island in Upper Sholayar Dam Reservoir, (Tamil Nadu,India)

Island in Upper Sholayar Dam Reservoir,  (Tamil Nadu,India)

Upper Solaiyar ( Upper Sholayar Dam ) is situated 20 km  from Valparai  on the way toAthirapally. Valparai , a hill station in the Anaimalai Hills of the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu , India. Sholayar Dam  is the second deepest dam in Asia. A part of the hydroelectric project of Tamil Nadu. Valparai is located 64 km (40 mi) from Pollachi and 55 km from Chalakudy.

Interesting Things to visit Chalakkudy-Pollachi route

Athirappalli Waterfalls

Athirappally Waterfalls are often referred to as the Niagra falls of India. They come crashing down from a hight of 80 feet.

Vazhachal Waterfalls

The vaazhchal waterfalls are located very close to the Athirappilly Waterfalls in Chalakkudy river.

Charpa Waterfalls

The Charpa Waterfalls is located on the way from Athirappilly to Valparai, is located just 5 km away fromAthirappilly waterfalls. This seasonal waterfalls in Chalakkudy river in between Athirappilly and Vaazhchal falls.

Valparai


Valparai  is a hill station  in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. This is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats, at a distance of 95 km from Coimbatore and 55 km from Pollachi. There are 42 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar.

Malakkapara tea gardens

Located in 51 km from Athirappilly waterfalls on Chalakkudi- Valparai rout. This tea garden has picturesque surrounding and sometimes one can spot wild life here.

Places to visit- Chalakkudi to Pollachi rout and Approximate distance from Chalakkudi in km

Dreamworld Watertheme park -10

Athirappilly- 28 

Lower Sholayar riservoir -58

Malakkapara- 73

Sholayar Saddle Dam -77

Valparai town -98

Aliyar Dam -143

Pollachi -167