Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam from a distance
Location Kerala, India
Opening date 1958
Operator(s) Government of Kerala
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Gravity
Height 56 m (184 ft)
Length 294 m (965 ft)
Dam volume 105,000 m3 (3,708,040 cu ft)
Spillway capacity 809 m3/s (28,570 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity 1,060,000,000 m3 (859,356 acre·ft)
Active capacity 1,010,000,000 m3 (818,820 acre·ft)
Surface area 91 km2 (35 sq mi)

Neyyar dam (Malayalam: നെയ്യാര്‍ അണകെട്ട് )is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram.[1] It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot. Lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, Neyyar Dam has a scenic lake.

Geography

Neyyar dam is situated at Kallikkad Panchayath of Kattakkada Taluk of Trivandrum district. The peak Agasthya kooodam is very near to Neyyar dam. The dam was built in the land given by an agriculturist known as Karuvachiyil Krishan Panicker, Father of Janaki Thankamma, Maruthummoottil family, and his other family members for irrigation purposes. One canal of Neyyar flows to western districts of Tamil Nadu. The main river Neyyar flows through Kallikkadu, Ottasekharamangalam, Aryancode, Kezharoor, Perumkadavila, Marayamuttom, Neyyattinkara and Poovar and ends at the Arabian Sea. Kallikkadu panchayath has more cultural and historic heritages. The Travancore King Marthanda Varma's footprints are here. he fought against Ettuveettil Pillais and he had to flee from his palace. He walked through the mountains of Kallikkadu such as Agasthakoodam with the Aborigins, Kanikkar. They saved the king and they were rewarded with 36,000 acres (150 km2) of land. this is known as Kanipatt. after the democratic reign Kanis lost the land and it came under the controle of local land lords. there was a famous strike, Kanipattu Samaram led by Karshaka Sangham. Kallikkad Gangan (Gangadharan) CPIM leader & Polit Bureau Member, Kallikkad Ramachandran, the famous writer and film maker, K R Ajayan the Journalist and writer of meny travelogues and studies, Manu Kallikkadu, 4 times the Limca Book Record holder ( he create a new style of art"biographical collage"and soil painting 'VARAYANAM' about ramayana) are the products Of Kallikkad. A yoga centre, Sivanantha Ashram, is near to this place, which provides classes about meditation, yoga etc. for foreigners as well as for natives. Several temples are near Neyyardam, including the Veeranakavu Sreedharma Shastha temple and the Mangara Muttom Siva temple.

Design

The Neyyar Dam is a Rubble masonry gravity-type dam with a height of 56 m (184 ft) and length of 295 m (968 ft). Its structural volume is 105,000 m3 (3,708,040 cu ft). The dam creates a reservoir of 106,200,000 m3 (86,098 acre·ft) of which 101,000,000 m3 (81,882 acre·ft) is active (useful) capacity. The reservoir's surface area is 91 km2 (35 sq mi) and the dam's spillway has a 809.40 m3/s (28,584 cu ft/s) maximum discharge capacity.[2]

Wildlife

Panorama of neyyar reservoir.
Panorama of Neyyar river

Wild life includes gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cat and Nilgiri langur, wild elephants and sambar deer.

Activities

Watch tower at Neyyar Dam
Yoga

Neyyar Dam is home to the beautiful and peaceful Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram where you can take courses in Yoga and practice meditation. The trees that are growing inside the Ashram are astonishing by their height and vigor, which is due to both care by the people.Try drinking the juice from a local coconut and eating the white milky lining. On the journey from Trivandrum you will see rubber plantations and the local harvest of the white latex that comes from the trees.

Boating

Tourists can hire a speed boat for Rs 250 per head to view the surrounding forests.[1]

Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre

A crocodile farm was set up in 1977. It also includes a habitat for otters near the administrative complex. The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was named initially by the Kerala government after the late naturalist Steve Irwin as Steve Irwin National Park.

Attractions

Transport

The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (38 km) and the nearest railway station is at Thiruvananthapuram (30 km).

How to Reach Neyyar Dam:

There is a regular Bus Service from the city of Thiruvananthapuram and the nearest Railway Station is also Thiruvananthapuram, 32 km from the Neyyar Dam. One can also come via the International Thiruvananthapuram Airport to Neyyar Dam, which is just 38 km away.

References

  1. 1 2 South India Handbook By Roma Bradnock
  2. ↑ "National Register of Large Dams - India" (PDF). Central Water Commission. p. 84. Retrieved 2 April 2011.

Coordinates: 8°32′5″N 77°8′45″E / 8.53472°N 77.14583°E / 8.53472; 77.14583

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