How many of us know
that a Dam across River Kaveri was built almost 2000 years back to divert the
water for irrigation. It is more amazing
that the dam is still in use and helps irrigating the lands, the purpose for
which it was built then.
Kallanai (also
known as the Grand Anicut) is the dam built
(in running water) across Kaveri in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. Located at a distance of 15 km from Trichy, it was built by
the Chola King Karikalan, who had ruled the Chola Kingdom during 2nd
Century AD. The other old Dam structures existed in the world at that time are:
1. Lake
Homs Dam, Syria (1319–1304 BC)
2. Proserpina Dam, Spain
(1st or 2nd century AD)
3. Cornalvo Dam, Spain (1st
or 2nd century AD)
4. Kallanai Dam or Grand
Anicut, India (circa 2nd Century AD)
Kaveri, then was a perennial River with so many tributaries joining
her in the course of her journey. Kaveri’s tributaries are Shimsha, Hemavati,
Kabini, Arkavathy, Honnuhole, Lokapavani all in Karnataka and Bhavani,
Amaravati and Noyyal in Tamil Nadu.
The Dam is 329 metre long and 20 metre wide. Imagine, how this
was constructed when there was no concrete material like cement or steel available
at that time.
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