Idukki Dam, Arch dam in Kerala, India.
Idukki Dam is a dam in Idukki district, Kerala, India. The concrete structure curves in two directions and fits between granite hills that hold back the Periyar River.
The idea of damming the Periyar gorge was first raised in a 1919 report by the Italian engineer Jacob, and in 1932 W. J. John, superintendent of Malankara Estate, submitted a proposal after the tribal guide Kolumban showed him the Kuravan-Kurathi gap. Construction began on 30 April 1969 with Canadian aid and the Hindustan Construction Company as contractor; Indira Gandhi inaugurated the project on 12 February 1976.
The dam's name comes from the Idukki district, and the reservoir is held by three dams: Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu, plus two saddle dams. The Idukki arch dam has no shutters of its own; water levels are controlled by the five radial gates of the adjoining Cheruthoni Dam, opened in 1981, 1992 and during the 2018 floods.
Visitors can view the facility most days between 10 AM and 5 PM. Access is managed by the Kerala State Electricity Board and may close during maintenance work.
The dam has no shutters of its own: the reservoir level is controlled by the five radial gates of the adjoining Cheruthoni Dam. Those gates were opened in 1981 and 1992, and on 9 August 2018 all five were raised at once for the first time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,214 contributors worldwide.
