Chiklihole dam is a small reservoir built across the river Chiklihole flowing through the Cauvery basin of Karnataka. The dam is located near the town of Nanjarayapattana that lies between Madikeri and Kushalnagar in the Kodagu or Coorg district of Karnataka. The best part about the location of the dam is that it stands at a distance of just 5 km from the Dubare forest.
This lesser known dam has been active since 1985. The reservoir was built for the purpose of irrigating the nearby villages. The reservoir is used to fulfill the water demands of 865 hectares of land. With a length of 464.8 meters and a height of 25.3 meters the dam has gross storage capacity of 5.097 mcm.
QUICK FACTS |
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Built on | River Chiklihole |
Type | Earthen |
Length | 464.8 meters |
Height | 25.3 meters above its deepest foundation |
Maximum Water Level | 72.6 meters |
Gross storage capacity | 5.097 mcm |
Live storage capacity | 4.729 mcm |
Purpose | Irrigation |
Projects | Irrigation Project |
Chiklihole Dam: An ideal picnic spot
The beautiful surrounding of this water body is a sight to behold. The tranquility of the place is enhanced by the green meadow covering one side of the reservoir and lush green forests covering the other side.
The unique shape of the dam in itself is a great attraction for visitors. The dam has a semi-circular structure without any crest gates. With the increase in inflow, the water overflows like foam on curved structure and offers a breath taking sight to visitors.
The place is often frequented by locals for day-long picnics. Watching sunset from the dam is a wonderful experience. As the place is a remote one, there is no store or shop offering any kind of facilities to travellers. Visitors must come prepared with food, water and snacks if they want to spend a relaxing day or even a few hours in the vicinity of the dam.
The best time to visit the dam is during the seasons of monsoon and winter (June to March) as during that time the weather is pleasant, the water level increases in the dam and the view is splendid.
Chiklihole Dam: Nearby tourist attractions
The Chiklihole Dam stands in one of the most beautiful districts in Karnataka. There are several places of tourist attraction spread across Coorg. A few popular tourist destinations near the reservoir are:
Abbey Waterfalls: This is a spectacular waterfall that offers a wonderful view of cascading water. The area is a well-known picnic spot.
Nisargadama: It is a wonderful ecological park and a great place for nature lovers. Spread across a beautiful 64 acre island, the place offers several adventures like boating, elephant rides, etc. Visitors can even enjoy a stay in treetop bamboo cottages.
Nagarhole National Park: The Nagarhole National Park is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. This place was once the exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore. The park has several small streams, waterfalls and valleys. A variety of birds, reptiles and wild animals can be viewed in the park…[more]
Mallalli Waterfalls: The Mallalli falls is one of the tallest waterfalls situated in the foothills of Pushpagiri hill ranges in Coorg. It has a height of more than 200 feet. The view of the waterfall is a majestic one and attracts tourists throughout the year.
Dubare Reserve Forest: This natural island is spread across an area of around 12 acres. The place is mainly an elephant training camp run by the forest department. Visitors can come across elephants enjoying a bath in the Cauvery River flowing through the area. Activities like trekking, fishing, boating, rafting, etc. is also possible here.
Madikeri Fort: This historic fort is a major attraction among tourists. This fort offers beautiful views of the city. Inside the fort there is a temple, a prison, a museum, a chapel and several other structures.
Chiklihole Dam: How to reach
Reaching Chiklihole Dam is an easy matter. The district of Coorg is a major tourist destination of Karnataka and is well-connected to the cities and towns of the state as well as the country.
The two nearest airports to the reservoir is the Mangalore airport and the Mysore airport.
From there several private taxis, buses and cars are available for reaching Coorg. The nearest railway station is located at Mysore. Visitors can avail the state buses and taxis that carry passengers from all major cities of the state to Coorg at regular intervals of time.
However, tourists need to hire a taxi from Kushalnagar, Siddapur or Suntikoppa to reach the dam as the Chiklihole dam is not connected by public transport system.
Chiklihole Dam: Resorts and hotels nearby
Chiklihole Dam is located in one of the popular tourist destinations of Karnataka. Coorg has a num,ber of accommodation options for visitors. Tourists can enjoy a comfortable stay in any of the several homestays, hotels or resorts in Coorg. There is a suitable accommodation choice for everyone according to his or her holiday budget.
Contact address and phone numbers of a few resorts and hotels of the area are listed below:
Hotel Hill View
Hill Road, Madikeri
Coorg District
Karnataka
Phone: +91 8272 223808 / 221067
Mobile: +91 9448422334
Email: hillviewcoorg@yahoo.com, hillviewcoorg@gmail.com
Website: www.hotelhillviewcoorg.com
Vivanta by Taj – Madikeri
1st Monnangeri
Galibeedu Post
Madikeri, Coorg – 571201
Karnataka
Phone: +91 827 2665 800
Fax: +91 827 2665 801 / 2665 802
Email: vivanta.madikeri@tajhotels.com
Website: www.tajhotels.com
Hotel Coorg International
Convent Road,
Madikere, Coorg,
Karnataka
Phone: +91 8272 228071 / 228072 / 229390
Fax: +91 8272 228073
Website: www.coorginternational.com
The Nest
Next to Coorg Wildlife Society,
D.F.O. Bungalow Road, Chain Gate,
Madikeri, Coorg – 571201,
Karnataka
Phone: +91 9241733950 / 9448871240
Email: thenest_yourhome@yahoo.co.in
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