Seeing a new place, meeting different culture, people or trying local food, & witnessing one more weekend gateway, then why not in such a serene location in Tamil Nadu which is Mettur Dam or Stanley Reservoir!
Distance from Bangalore - 4 hr 22 min (199.2 km) via NH 44.
Distance from Chennai - 7 hr 30 min (362.4 km) via NH 48.
Mettur Dam is constructed across the Kaveri River in 1934 by the British Governor of Madras, Sir George Stanley. The water to this dam is supplied by Kabini Dam and Krishna Raja Sagar Dam, KA. It is one of the largest Dams in South India & is located in a town called Mettur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu. The Dam is surrounded by green hills and picturesque natural beauty. One of the most extraordinary features of the Dam is its design, which is a testament to the country's engineering genius.
Mettur Dam is a huge human-made marvel which spans over a massive length of 1700 mts (5600’ft), height of almost 120’ft and is a major hotspot where tourists visit from all across the country to relax and seek solitude. It provides irrigation & drinking water facilities for more than 12 districts of TN. It is also one of the important sources of electricity for TN and has 2 hydroelectric power stations.
Mettur Dam can be visited in any month of the year, but the peak seasons will be Public holidays & in the month of Aadi festival (July 17th–August 16th), festivity related to Goddess of Fertility & prosperity.
Ellis Park (maintained by the TN Public Works Dept.) located at the dam base. The 33-acre park is well maintained has several amenities, including a children’s play area and large lawn areas. Animals like Snakes, Deer, Aquarium, Rabbits, and few Reptiles are kept inside the Park. Together with Ellis Park and Hydroelectric power plant, the Mettur dam is a favorite among tourists. It is one of the most serene destinations in the region where one can enjoy the pristine charms of Hogenakkal. One can spend 3/4 hours of quality time with friends and family. If you are a seafood lover, then you must try out the famous fish fry at several eating joints near the park.
If you have enough time after Mettur, then do not miss the famous Hogenakkal Waterfalls, which is about 76.5 km from Mettur dam, & will take 2hrs roughly via NH 544H road. The gushing beauty of this cascade is one of a kind and is often quoted as being the ‘Niagra falls of India’. The Kaveri River forks into multiple streams & falls through multiple steps, making the sight mesmerizing. Drinking water can also be obtained from the falls & the water here is believed to possess medicinal properties. Boating is possible in coracles (basket-shaped boats made of bamboo) when water of the Kaveri river is in peace.
Nearest Railway Stations:
Erode Junction (~57 Km)
Salem Junction (~48 Km)
Nearest Airport:
Salem Airport (~43 Km)
Frequent bus services are operating from Erode and Salem.
Ticket Fare for Dam Park:
Rs.5/Person
Entry/Exit Timings for Dam Park:
Opened in All weekdays and weekends (Monday-Sunday).
Entry – 9.00 am
Exit – 5.00 pm
Parking Facility:
Parking is available for all types of Vehicles.
Credible sources: Wikipedia, Google information & Travel sites.
Illustrated by
Tumpa Datta Gupta
Educator - Founder - Blogger
Green Wings Pre-school Educational Network