Name: Malampuzha
Rating: 4.1

Malampuzha Dam, Malampuzha Overview

One of the largest reservoirs of Kerala, Malampuzha Dam is located near Palakkad in South India. It is surrounded by the Western Ghats on all side. Malampuzha Dam is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 meters and an earthen dam with a height of 220 meters. The dam is 355 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, which is a tributary of Bharathappuzha, which is Kerala's second largest river. The dam has many attractions nearby like the rock garden, ropeway, amusement park and visitors often enjoy boating here as well.

It is the largest reservoir in Kerala and is served by a network of two canal systems. Its construction was initiated in 1949, and it took about six years to finish the project. The foundation stone of the project was laid on 27 March 1949 by the then Public Works Minister, Sri. M. Bhaktavatsalam. During the time of its initiation, Palakkad was a part of Madras presidency. The dam was inaugurated on 9 October 1955 by the then Chief Minister of Madras, Sri. K. Kamaraj. Malampuzha Dam has a total catchment area of 145 square kilometers, and the reservoir has a capacity of 8000 square meters of water. The repository provides drinking water in the nearby areas while the canal system helps in irrigation.

Some major tourist attractions near Malampuzha Dam are Entrance Garden, Yakshi Garden, Japanese Garden, Upper Garden and viewpoint, Cable car ride, Fish shaped aquarium, Toy train for kids, Fantasy Park, Spiced fruits camp along with some excellent trekking tracks and river baths. The ropeway, which takes the people on an aerial tour of the park and the gigantic Yakshi (who is an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, a renowned sculptor of Kerala; attracts a lot of travelers here.

History of Malampuzha Dam

The construction of this massive dam took around six years for completion. The construction was initiated in 1949 and completed by 1955. This mix of missionary and earthen dam has a catchment area of 145 sq. Kilometres and crosses the Malampuzha River, which is a tributary of Bharathappuzha. After the inauguration of the Malampuzha Dam, Palakkad and Malampuzha became a part of the newly formed state of Kerala. The government then initiated the Malampuzha Gardens at the front of the dam.

Things To Do at Malampuzha Dam

Malampuzha Dam has a lot of attractions in the vicinity. The popular Malampuzha Gardens are the only rock-cut gardens in southern India. They were constructed by Nek Chand, who was a winner of the Padmashree Award (India's fourth highest civilian award). The entire garden incorporates various broken items, like bangles, tiles, cans, tins, etc. and thus has a unique appearance. He has also created a similar Rock Garden in Chandigarh.

One can even spot the massive Malampuzha Yakshi, amidst the garden. It is a giant statue of a female vampire and was constructed by Kanayi Kunhiraman in 1969. The place has an aerial ropeway along with gorgeous flower beds and fountains to soothe the visitors. There is a canal flowing through the middle of the garden, which also has two hanging bridges over it.

The Malampuzha Township, which lies in the lower hills of Western Ghats, poses as an excellent picnic spot. Its picturesque beauty and lush greenery instantly appeals to the eyes and is sure to calm your minds and souls. It is incorporated with excellent trekking trails, which attracts a lot of adventure junkies. The garden, along with the dam is often illuminated at the evening hours on special events and days.

Malampuzha Dam Ropeway

The ropeway at Malampuzha Gardens serves as the ideal way to go on an aerial tour of the entire area. It runs parallel to the dam and gives a thrilling 2-0-minute ride. It is one of a kind of ropeway in South India and is a huge attraction here. It runs for 2000 feet at the height of 60 feet from the ground. There are about 64 rope cars here, and each has a carrying capacity of 2 persons.

The timings for ropeway is from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM. The ropeway is named as Udan Khatola and is run by Usha Breco Ltd., with all the necessary safety precautions.

Malampuzha Dam Timings

The entry fee for the Malampuzha Garden, that lie just in front of the dam is as follows-
Children (3 years-12 years): INR 10
Adult: INR 25

There is a separate entrance fee for Ropeway and Snake Park.
The charge to use their swimming pool is INR 75 per head per hour. The pool is closed for the lunch break from 1:00 PM till 2:00 PM. The pool is very safe and secure for people of all ages, and it is also provided with all security gadgets.
You can even rent a locker here at INR 15
They also charge INR 100 for still camera and INR 1000 for a video camera.
They even have a Dam-top safari that costs INR 15 for one-way and INR 25 for two-way safari.

Best Time To Visit Malampuzha Dam

The months from April till August serve as the best time to visit this Dam. Since Kerala receives ample rainfall during these months, the sight of the gushing water at this dam attracts a lot of travelers.

How To Reach Malampuzha Dam

The dam is located at a distance of 10 km from the town of Palakkad in the northern part of Kerala. Private Buses are available from Palakkad Town Stand and Municipal Stand. Bus fare is approximately INR 10 to 15.

The nearest railway station is that of Palakkad Junction and is placed at about 7 km from here. The nearest airport is that of Coimbatore Airport and is situated at a distance of 55 km from the dam.