Kallanai Dam

The Kallanai Dam is built over the River Cauvery in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. This dam covers a total area of 146.70 sq. km. It is also known as Grand Anicut and was built by the Chola King Karikalan in the 1st century AD. This dam is considered to be the oldest water regulator structure of world which is still in use. The origination of this dam was done with the purpose of string water that can be used for fertilising the delta region during irrigation.

The name of this dam means stone dam, which is significant with its structure. It is 329 m in length and 20 m in width and further from River Cauvery breaks into two channels after reaching Sri Rangam Island. Its northern channel is called Kollidam and it ends at Poompuhar, into the Bay of Bengal.