Island in Aliyar Reservoir, Dam in background (Tamil Nadu,India)

Island in Aliyar Reservoir, Dam in background (Tamil Nadu,India)

Aliyar Reservoir is a 6.48 km to located near Pollachi town in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India. The dam is located in the foothills of Valparai, in the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats. It is about 65 km from Coimbatore.

The Aliyar Dam was constructed during 1959-1969 across the Aliyar river, mainly for irrigation purposes. The project was commissioned in September 2002 to generate Hydro Electric Power.The dam offers some ideal getaways including a park, garden, aquarium, play area and a mini Theme-Park maintained by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Corporation for visitors enjoyment. The scenery is beautiful, with mountains surrounding three quarters of the reservoir. Boating is also available.

Some of the tourist attractions near the Pollachi town are:

Aliyar Park

This Park is situated on the banks of Azhiyar Dam and surrounded by western ghats in three sides. Near to this is Siddashram.

Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is about 90 km from Coimbatore city and is situated at in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958 km². An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park. It has recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.

TopSlip

TopSlip is a point located at an altitude of about 800 feet in the Anamalai mountain range.It is a picturesque location in the Anamalai Hills. It is about 37 kms from Pollachi. This small town is an ideal picnic spot.  It is famous for its elephant camp and its wildlife at Kollikamuthi.

Chinnakallar

Chinnakallar is renowned for receiving the highest rainfall in Tamil Nadu.There is a waterfall in Chinnakallar

Parambikulam National Park

The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a reservoir of calm greenery ensconced in a valley between the Anaimalai Hills range of Tamil Nadu and the Nelliampathi Hills range of Kerala. The areas hilly and rocky, drained by several rivers, including the Parambikulam, the Sholayar and the Thekkady. Parambikulam was once home to some of south India's finest stands of teak. Little remains of the original teak forests, other than the famous Kannimari teak tree, the largest in Asia as most of these have now been replaced by teak plantations.

Monkey Falls

This waterfall is situated  on the way to Valparai from Aliyar Dam. Thousands of people visits this place every year.

Sholayar dam

This is a very deep dam located at a distance of 20 km, from Valparai.It is also the 2nd dam in Asia.

Chinnakallar

This is the second highest rain fall area in India. This area always lies greenish, misty and wet. A waterfall which sounds like a Roaring Lion also located at Chinnakallar.

Nirar dam

Dam is situated in a wonderful location covered by a dense forest. This dam is built for multipurpose project such as irrigation, Hydro electricity production. There is a waterfalls near the dam.

Wildlife in Valparai

Valparai is a mid-elevation hill station . The tea plantations are surrounded by evergreen forest. The region is also a rich elephant tract and is known to have many leopards.

The scenic drive to the town from Pollachi passes through the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary noted for elephants, boars, lion-tailed macaques, gaur,etc. The area is also rich in birds like the great hornbill. Water bodies at Monkey falls and Aliyar Dam are also seen en route.Valparai receives among the highest rainfall in the region during the monsoons (around June).

The Valparai range is also habitat the Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic wild goat. they now exist only in a few isolated sites like the Anaimalai Hills.

Interesting Things to visit Pollachi - Chalakkudy route

Valparai

Valparai  is a hill station  in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. This is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats, at a distance of 95 km from Coimbatore and 55 km from Pollachi. There are 42 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai from Azhiyar.

Malakkapara tea gardens

Located in 51 km from Athirappilly waterfalls on Chalakkudi- Valparai rout. This tea garden has picturesque surrounding and sometimes one can spot wild life here.

Charpa Waterfalls

The Charpa Waterfalls is located on the way from Athirappilly to Valparai, is located just 5 km away from Athirappilly waterfalls. This seasonal waterfalls in Chalakkudy river in between Athirappilly and Vaazhchal falls.

Athirappalli Waterfalls

Athirappally Waterfalls are often referred to as the Niagra falls of India. They come crashing down from a hight of 80 feet.

Vazhachal Waterfalls

The vaazhchal waterfalls are located very close to the Athirappilly Waterfalls in Chalakkudy river.

Places to visit- Chalakkudi to Pollachi rout and Approximate distance from Chalakkudi in km

Dreamworld Watertheme park -10

Athirappilly- 28 

Lower Sholayar riservoir -58

Malakkapara- 73

Sholayar Saddle Dam -77

Valparai town -98

Aliyar Dam -143

Pollachi -167