Vaigai Dam
About Vaigai Dam
Far From City: 60 kms from city center
Cost:
About Vaigai Dam
Weather:
Time Required:2-3 hrs
Open Time:6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Cost:No entry fee
Vaigai Dam Park
The children's park in the vicinity of Vaigai Dam is quite famous and a popular picnic hub for families. It offers rides and slides for children, and the well-maintained grass and plants surely delight tourists. The park also offers magnificent views of the dam which makes it a must visit while on a tour of the Vaigai Dam.
History of Vaigai Dam
The Vaigai Dam was inaugurated by K. Kamaraja, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1959. It was proposed as a Major Medium Irrigation Project as part of a five-year plan and was implemented chiefly to provide water for Drinking and Irrigation and Hydroelectric purposes in Madurai. The actual cost of the project was over INR 34.5 million, and it is covered under the Command Area Development Authority (CADA scheme) and the Extension, Renovation and Modernization (ERM scheme).
Engineering and Layout of Vaigai Dam
Vaigai Dam is a gravity dam that has been made of concrete and stonework with a strong foundation that runs 34 metres deep. The dam has been constructed on River Vaigai in Tamil Nadu and comes under the Major Medium Irrigation Project. The regions irrigated from the water reserved with the help of this dam cover an area of 59,000 hectares. The Dam stretches over an area of over 3450 metres in length and stands 34 metres tall. It has seven spillway gates, each being 12 metres tall and 5 metres wide and has a spillway capacity of 1670 cubic metres.
The management maintains a park surrounding the dam. Since the park falls on both the sides of the dam, it is connected by a small bridge that runs in front of the dam. The park consists of numerous exotic flowering plants, a play area for children and enough shaded space for visitors to rest and admire the beauty of the site. The Vaigai Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Vaigai Agricultural Research Centre are also situated near the Dam. The power plant has two units, with a capacity of 3 MW each and the agricultural research centre is used to conduct valuable studies on crops in the region. The irrigation project has benefited Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Virudunagar and Ramanathapuram regions.
Best time to visit Vaigai Dam
The best time to visit Vaigai Dam is between July and December as the water levels are at its peak during the monsoons. One may choose to visit during the winters, between November and February, as the temperature is quite pleasant to explore the site.
How to Reach Vaigai Dam
One can avail a 2-hour private taxi or a bus ride from the city of Madurai to reach this magnificent man-made structure.
Top Tourist Places in Madurai
Alagar Koil
Vaigai Dam
Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
Koodal Azhagar Temple
Gandhi museum
Mariamman Teppakulam
All Tourist Places in Madurai
Tips
1. Carry eatables along as it is a 2-hour ride from Madurai.2. Musical fountains installed near the dam function on weekends and government holidays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.3. Make sure to carry insect repellants if you're planning to visit the dam after noon time.4. Be careful while exploring the reservoir area.5. If visiting the dam during monsoons, stay away from the flood regions.6. If travelling with children, keep a watch on them at all times.Musical fountains installed near the dam function on weekends and government holidays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 7. Do not litter the site and use dustbins.
Photos of Vaigai Dam
Comments on Vaigai Dam
Post Your Comment
