Kallanai (literally “stone dam”, also known as the Grand Anicut) is an ancient dam built by Karikala of Chola dynasty in 150 CE. It was built (in running water) across the Kaveri river flowing from Tiruchirapalli District to Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. The dam is located in Thanjavur district, 15 km from Tiruchirapalli and 45 km from Thanjavur. It is the fourth oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structure in the world and the oldest in India that is still in use.
History
The dam was originally built by King Karikalan of the Chola Dynasty in . It is located on the river in Thanjavur district,
Description
The purpose of the Kallanai was to divert the waters of the Kaveri across the fertile delta region for irrigation via canals and to its northern delta branch Kollidam/Coleroon. Downstream of the barrage, the river Kaveri splits into four streams known as Kollidam Aru, Kaveri, Vennaru and Puthu Aru. However, the flood waters can be allowed, by opening the barrage/anaicut gates, to pass through the other three delta branches also to join the sea. It is constructed from unhewn stone spanning the Kaveri and is long, wide and high. The dam is still in excellent condition, and supplied a model to later engineers, including Sir Arthur Cotton's 19th-century dam across the Kollidam, the major distributary of the Kaveri. The area irrigated by the ancient irrigation network is about . By the early 20th century, the irrigated area had been increased to about one million acres (400,000 ha).
The delta farmers of Tamil Nadu have demanded the Tamil Nadu government to honor Karikala Cholan, who built this dam.
Gallery
<gallery>
File:Kallanai Name Inscription.jpg|Plaque bearing the dam's name
File:Kallanai.jpg|Engineering wonder of Karikalan's period
File:Fishing Kallanai.jpg|Fishing in the sluices, Kallanai dam, Thanjavur
File:Kallanai 2.jpg|Another view, Kallanai dam
File:Kallanai 3.jpg|Kallanai dam
File:Water flowing out of grand anaicut.webm|Water being discharged from Kallanai in August 2018 witnessing beauty of kallanai in river Kauvery
</gallery>
See also
- Tamil language
- Tamil literature
- Sangam period