Pothundy Dam View Point

Pothundy Dam View Point is one of the most famous tourist spots near Palakkad. In case you want to witness an engineering marvel along with a picturesque background, Pothundi Dam is an excellent choice for you. It is located around 42 km from Palakkad town. However, the earthen dam was built in the 19th century using a mixture of ‘jaggery’ and ‘quick lime’ instead of the usual concrete.
Nestled at the foothills of ‘Nelliyampathy Hills,’ the dam provides a grand area of irrigation (across 5,470 hectares) in the Palakkad district and also caters to the drinking water needs of Nemmara, Ayalur, and Melarcode panchayats. Constructed across the ‘Padipuzha’ and ‘Meenichiladipuzha’ rivers, the dam forms a reservoir covering an area of 30km. However, the area is a place where tourists gather nowadays. If you are visiting Palakkad, you can visit this place as well.

Attraction

It is really a beautiful dam situated at the foothills of Nelliyampathy. There is a well-maintained dam garden with rides and manicured trees. You can enjoy the stunning view of ‘Nelliyampathy Hills’ from the top of the dam. The nearby park area is also clean and beautiful with flowers, playground for kids, and ample walking space. The sky cycle ride and Polaris ride (at the renovated garden) are sure to give the tourists an adrenaline rush. Best part of this place is that it doesn’t end there, as the garden also has a shooting point as well, an open gym, a quad biking terrain, a 1.4km-long walkway and an open-air stage that can accommodate 4,000 people at a time.

Affordable entry ticket price is another attraction of this place along with an enjoyable experience for families. Besides, along with a wide range of attractions, amid a photographic environment, Pothundi dam and garden area is a first-class choice for a family outing. Consequently, many people visit this place every day.

History

The dam was constructed in the 19th century and is considered one of the oldest dams in all over India. It is providing irrigation to an area of 5,470 hectares in the Palakkad district and drinking water supply to the Nemmara, Ayalur, Melarcode Panchayat for years.
Built in the 19th century, ‘Pothundy’ is known for the unusual ingredients that eventually went into building it. However, the dam was constructed using a mixture of molasses as well as quicklime instead of the conventional concrete. It is built across Meenachadypuzha and Padipuzha rivers (which are tributaries of Ayalar River). And the life of those areas has changed after the construction of the dam.

Inside/Outside Views

The dam is located on route to Nelliyampathy Hills which is an easily accessible place. A beautifully landscaped, and well-maintained dam garden beckons the visitors at the entrance. With a plethora of rides as well as manicured plants, the garden is built to provide happiness to children as well as elders alike amidst lush greenery.
Spanning the garden will take one to the toe of the dam. The steps that will take you to the crest of the dam might look strenuous, but it’s worth the effort. A breathtaking view of Nelliyampathy Hills awaits visitors at the top of the dam. Take a stroll along the crest to get a panoramic and scenic view of the reservoir in the ‘backdrop’ of the hills on one side and green paddy fields on the other.

If you are craving a dose of adventure, then you can head back to the garden. The sky cycle ride and Polaris ride (at the renovated garden) are sure to give the tourists an adrenaline rush. The best part is it doesn’t end there, as the garden also has a shooting point as well, an open gym, a quad biking terrain, a 1.4km-long walkway, and an open-air stage that can accommodate 4,000 people at a time.

How to Reach

By road: It is situated in Palakkhad’s ‘Nemmara’ area. From the busy area of Palakkad, the Pothundy Dam is about 40 km away. Kerala is well connected with other major cities like Kolkata, Midnapore, Chennai, Siliguri, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Mumbai etc. of the country. And from Palakkad city, you will get local transports to reach the site.

By air: The closest airport, ‘Coimbatore International Airport’ (which is an international one), is almost 93 kilometres away from this area which is in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. You can visit this place from outside of India. Apart from that, there are airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Lucknow with direct flights in Kerala through ‘Cochin International Airport’, Kerala. From the airport, you can easily get local transports to reach the site.

By train: The closest railway station from the Pothundy Dam is about 40 km away at the ‘Palakkad Junction.’ This station is well connected with major areas of the country. From the station, you will get local transport so that you can reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

Please wear suitable and comfortable clothes according to both culture and seasons.
Don’t forget to follow the code of conduct.
If you are visiting Kerala for the first time, try to visit in a group for safety purposes.
Please stay away from total strangers.
Strenuous climb to reach the crest of the dam.
Presence of snakes has been reported inside the drainage area near the dam viewpoint.