| Kallanai Dam | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kallanai Dam with its floodgates open | |
| Location | [[Thanjavur district]], Tamil Nadu, India |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | c.150 CE |
| Built by | Karikala cholan of Chola dynasty |
| Operator(s) | Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Barrage |
| Impounds | River |
| Height (foundation) | 5.4 metres (18 ft) |
| Length | 329 metres (1,079 ft) |
| Width (base) | 20 metres (66 ft) |
Kallanai (also known as the Grand Anicut) is an ancient dam built by Karikala of Chola dynasty in 150 CE. It was built (in running water) across the Kaveri river flowing from Tiruchirapalli District to Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Even though it is nearer to Trichy,the dam is located in Thanjavur district, [1][2] 15 km from Tiruchirapalli and 45 km from Thanjavur.[3][4][5] It is the fourth oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structure in the world and the oldest in India that is still in use.[6][7] Because of its spectacular architecture, it is one of the prime tourist spots in Tamil Nadu.
- ^ "Flowing waters for fertile fields". The Hindu. India. 29 August 2011.
- ^ Singh, Vijay P.; Ram Narayan Yadava (2003). Water Resources System Operation: Proceedings of the International Conference on Water and Environment. Allied Publishers. p. 508. ISBN 81-7764-548-X.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Saqafwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Incredible India! A 2,000-year-old functional dam". India Today. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Karikalan cholan memorial inaugurated - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Christopher V. Hill (2008). South Asia: An Environmental History. ABC-CLIO. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-1-85109-925-2.
- ^ "Kallanai Dam || Thanjavur Tourism". www.thanjavurtourism.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018.