Walayar Dam (Geography & Tourism)

• State: Kerala
• District: Palakkad (Often called the 'Gateway to Kerala').
• River: It is built across the Walayar River, which is a tributary of the massive Bharathappuzha river (the second-longest river in Kerala).

The dam is located very close to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu state border, acting as a crucial geographical landmark.

Completed in the year 1955, the Walayar Dam was primarily constructed as an Irrigation Project. Palakkad is historically known as the 'Granary of Kerala' because of its massive rice (paddy) cultivation. However, the region suffers from extreme heat during the summer. The Walayar Dam holds back monsoon rainwater, creating a massive reservoir that supplies crucial water to local farmers during the dry season.

While its main job is farming, the Walayar Dam has recently become a huge hit with tourists and nature lovers.

• The Scenery: The massive reservoir is surrounded by lush green, thick forests of the Western Ghats.
• Wildlife: Because it borders a forest reserve, tourists often spot herds of wild elephants and deer coming down to the edges of the dam's reservoir to drink water during the hot summer months.