Idukki . Power House of Kerala

Idukki is the largest Arch dam in Asia.The dam stands between the two mountains, Kuravan Mala and Kurathi Mala. Unlike other dams Idukki have no shutters and spill ways. It completely blocks the canyon. Photos cannot convey how massive the structure is. You have to see it to believe it.
This 555 feet tall Concrete parabolic structure is an engineering marvel. It along with the Cherothoni dam creates a reservoir of 60 square Kilometers and holds 2000 million cubic meters of water weighing around two billion tons.

Water thus stored is taken to Moolamattom Power house through tunnels.The underground power house with its 6 units of 130 mega watt turbine generators meets around a quarter of power requirement of the entire state. Water from the power house is released to Moovattupuzha valley for irrigation.

Dam is open to general public only during Onam and X mas vacations. Best time to visit is just after monsoons.

It is real fun to drive through the winding ghat roads , watching mountains playing hide and seek in the mist and stopping frequently near the numerous small water falls.





















































































































































































































































































































































































A rock found on the way. Look closer. It resembles Mohanlal

Abode of Lord Bahubali

Shravanabalegola is a small town in Haasan ditrict of Karnataka.This is an important jain pilgrim centre.The 57 feet monolithic statue of Lord Goamateshwara is on top of the hill Vindhyagiri. Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya is believed to have lived and meditated on the adjacent hill Chandragiri.There are many shrines dedicated to various Thirthankaras on Chandragiri

Melukote

Melukote is a small temple town in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka.It is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is 51 Kms from Mysore en route to Bangalore. Need to take a diversion just after Srirangapatna leading to Sravanabalegola. Main attractions are the Yoganarasimha Swamy temple and Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple. Other places to visit are Rayagopura , Panchakalyani pond and "Akkana thangi Kola" the sister ponds.



















With Lotus offering for Yoga Narasimha Swamy

Mangalam Dam Revisited

We had been to Mangalam Dam last week. After monsoon the dam is full and water is flowing down the spill way. A nice picnic spot where one can relax and enjoy. First one is a zoomed photo of Nelliyampathi hills. Notice the water falls in the thick forest.