Kallanai dam

Built by Karikala of Chola dynasty in 150 CE, Kallanai dam is also known as the Grand Anicut

[{"selector":"#anim-15168633-e80c-4ee4-a913-d3cc6e8ede62","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41cccef5-d1b3-4f2e-bb04-e1c54565dbfd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5188be62-0611-4ac4-be24-050f0a6c01e2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Situated in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, the dam spans the Kaveri river from Tiruchirapalli to Thanjavur

[{"selector":"#anim-6a1f669b-35c8-4de4-92b2-45a87f13d86a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.28415415857727%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74822a80-354f-45d1-9c2f-6c3bb981463f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2501a94-679a-486b-8c75-b02f06aca5bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Constructed to aid farmers, the dam diverts Kaveri's waters for irrigation across the fertile delta region through canals

[{"selector":"#anim-174b94e9-76be-49dd-952c-35d982689b62 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.70900973868475%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9833bdd0-329a-4e02-817b-65c5bb88bb5c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f348a499-3055-4ee2-87bb-5270a03ac561","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -475.50853%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It also diverts water to the northern delta branch Kollidam or Coleroon

[{"selector":"#anim-26c08a3d-e438-4603-9e6d-f044afe61361 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-51.88181053160127%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b30fc03d-6a2a-4b8a-8e25-ffb02940436c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66fee5de-6a15-4045-93c8-e21a5526005b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.55555%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The dam's structure allows controlled release of floodwaters through three delta branches—Kaveri, Vennaru, Kollidam Aru, and Puthu Aru

[{"selector":"#anim-fc87a8fa-8806-4b81-8b80-0d93c40c191c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.92902102061914%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30551d6e-e96c-4de4-83cd-ee4623f5e66b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a74da20-992c-4947-be7e-301b402a2b47","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The 329m long, 20m wide, and 5.4m high dam, made of unhewn stone, is still in excellent condition, serving as an engineering model

[{"selector":"#anim-633626e9-6f70-4880-a252-639dbb9e906c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.780513764503265%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e25e735-33c8-440d-a9cf-8eba9d470ed8","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afd549fa-05ec-43a6-babc-95fc77f6df23","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

A boon for farmers, Kallanai irrigated around 69,000 acres, a model replicated by Sir Arthur Cotton’s 19th-century dam

[{"selector":"#anim-aa4e9bf8-24d6-4a66-b748-0df35956407f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(36.97210201724897%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-306e346f-9020-4b5c-b2b6-afd1316714d0","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -475.50853%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -133.712998636%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -45.458615468000005%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -17.070756227%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -7.417933068%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}]

Originally built by King Karikalan in 100-150 CE, the dam was redesigned by the British in the 19th century

[{"selector":"#anim-295362d4-2db4-4cd6-97b9-0763e59a5f18","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]

In 1804, Captain Caldwell proposed the dam's construction after studying the Kaveri River and its irrigation potential

[{"selector":"#anim-078d4149-ac1a-4786-b835-c713e8fdd316","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8aeba75c-2936-4a2a-9679-be34b3c2d2d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ce31e78-4844-44d1-9e8c-1dd1e9a1560b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Other stories

[{"selector":"#anim-61e7d19b-d1dc-4eef-a6c1-68ab5402cf24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9991b3a0-318d-4b0e-a787-f264279e8d9d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-140.00002%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5193a1e9-0835-420f-a39f-d405cc3ada74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab26b7b3-675b-47b8-86cd-fb34e1f68574","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-142.73503%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c0129a7-fdaa-4287-a407-c0bd63103f24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a15e392-47ea-4ca4-8516-62f6e96ef0b7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(157.50003%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81a779e3-4288-4e8b-8357-8a0b5c58d3db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2df09a27-9ebe-4cc5-a9eb-372e7e462c04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2caff9d4-507f-4611-a3f2-a00cbfa2b84d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e15ec805-5cc0-4bbf-8756-a7f052d7474b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59dce33d-2c6a-4ba2-9c2c-921938112691","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-293.33336%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cda364d2-cb0d-4af9-9fda-a65f1244f298","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e942c88-1ee5-4452-a267-79a0a8deb868","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4354b002-ba90-4d57-9513-c00aa8cb1800","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38bafcf4-f593-4dca-95be-81911e3b7559","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32693e0e-98ef-41b4-b98c-99a0821cdb65","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-282.11381%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d11cc722-e1dd-43be-abf0-7969b0bad32c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aab0d540-c825-4afd-8cd9-2d4656dd8be5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-147.86729%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":50,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] See More See More Read Next Story