Which is the Oldest Dam in India?
Long Before Modern Technology, India Built a Dam So Advanced That It Still Exists Today. Find Out Which One It Is.
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India has been home to brilliant engineering for thousands of years. Ancient rulers, before modern technology, were dealing with water management and irrigation. One of the finest examples is a dam that is thousands of years old and still operating. Here are all the details of the oldest dam of India.
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Which is the Oldest Dam in India?
Source: Thanjavur District
Kallanai Dam which is known as Grand Anicut is the oldest dam in India. It is a diversion dam across Kaveri River situated in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamilnadu. What makes it even more remarkable is that not only is it the oldest dam in India, but also one of the oldest water regulation structures in the world that is yet in use.
The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage mentions: “The Kallanai Dam was built during the 2nd century AD by Karikalan, a king of southern India's old Chola Dynasty and is also one of the oldest irrigation systems in the world that is still in use. Kallanai Dam is the fourth oldest dam in the world, and first in India. It is a rock-solid project that has survived 2,000 years. The purpose of the dam was to divert the waters of the Kaveri across the fertile Thanjavur delta region for irrigation via canals. The Kallanai is an anicut of unhewn stone that stands in the Kaveri parallel to the riverbank; it is more than 300 m long, 20 m wide, and 4.5 m high. It is believed that Kallanai initially irrigated about 69,000 acres, though it now irrigates close to 1 million acres (13,20,116 Acres).”
When Was Kallanai Dam Built and Who Built It?
King Karikala Chola of Chola Dynasty had constructed Kallanai Dam in the 2nd century AD. The chief object of the dam was to turn the waters of the Kaveri River for irrigation across the enriched delta region by canals. The dam bifurcates the river Kaveri into four streams, of which Kollidam Aru, Kaveri, Vennaru and Puthu Aru are the four streams.
History tells that the construction of this dam was undertaken with the help of prisoners of war, after the wars in which Karikala commanded his troops to conquer the Singalese kingdom.
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Why is the Kallanai Dam So Special?
Today, the Grand Anicut is a working dam, a tourist hotspot, and a reminder of Indian history. Residents of India are proud of it. It is also believed that the Britishers took inspiration from its designs for themselves.
The Kallanai Dam is not only for the management of water. It's a testament to the fact that India has been a land of some of the world's greatest thinkers and builders long before the world emerged as it is today.
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Nikhil is a dedicated content writer with more than five years of experience, and works for the Jagran Josh General Knowledge section. He likes to create engaging and easy-to-read general knowledge content. He has spent years working on brain teasers, optical illusions, trending stories, and informative listicles that simplify facts for readers. His approach focuses on clarity, creativity, and making information feel effortless to understand.
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