Pachiparai Dam
Pechiparai Dam is a lesser-known attraction in Kanyakumari:
Kanyakumari was historically known as the Travancore Kingdom's Rice Bowl due to its abundance of water bodies and well-planned irrigation infrastructure. The Pechiparai Dam, which spans the Kodayar River, is part of this complicated system. Read on to find out more about the Pechiparai Reservoir.
Pechiparai Dam's History:
A European engineer named Minchin built the Pechiparai Dam during the reign of Maharaja Moolam Thirunal. It was erected from 1897 to 1906 to bring water to irrigational area in and around Kanyakumari and cost approximately twenty-five lakh rupees, a large sum in the early nineteenth century.
Pechiparam Dam's Location:
The Pechiparai Dam is approximately 58 kilometers from Kanyakumari and 60 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram. The Thottamalai and Thachamalai hills, home to Kani people, are located on the opposite side of the Pechiparai Dam.
Pechiparai: Interesting Facts:
These tribesmen are the indigenous residents of Kanyakumari's Western Ghats area. The Pechiamman Temple is the main attraction at the Pechiparai Dam. Even today, PWD engineers release water from the dam following prayers to Pechiamman.
According to local tales, when the former Maharaja suggested building a dam, the local Kani tribesmen opposed the proposal. Despite these protests, the Maharaja and the engineer began building on the dam. However, the work was repeatedly delayed for various reasons. The people then recommended performing a human sacrifice to appease the vanadevas. Pechiamman was sacrificed as a sacrifice, and the temple was built in her honor.
To get to these communities, take a boat across the Pechiparam dam. However, it is not recommended for families with young children because the deep trees are difficult to navigate, especially during the rainy season. If you're traveling alone, we recommend taking a boat excursion to see the Thachamalai and Thottamalai forest reserves.
