Ponnaniyar Dam

An irrigation dam near Pooncholai village in the Kadavur hill region, roughly 60 km from Karur town. Surrounded by hills and greenery, it is promoted as a picnic spot and is especially attractive during the rainy season.

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Ponnaniyar Dam
Place
Practical guide

Plan Ponnaniyar Dam

Who's going?Tailor Ponnaniyar Dam to your trip
Typedam
Nearest baseKadavur
DistrictKarur
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Places to visit3

Ponnaniyar Dam is planned from Kadavur, one of the travel bases in Karur district. Use Kadavur for stays, food and local transport, then plan this place as a focused stop.

What to expect

Highlights

Getting there

How to visit

  • Base yourself in Kadavur or nearby in Karur, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel.
  • If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.
Timing

Best time

October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.

Weather in Ponnaniyar DamSeasonal guide

Live forecast loads in your browser.

Today at Ponnaniyar Dam
Sunrise6:06 am
Sunset5:59 pm
Golden hour best light4:59 pm–5:59 pm
Blue hour after sunset5:59 pm–6:24 pm
Sun sets toward compass bearingW · 261°
Moon tonight🌒 Waxing crescent · 24%
Retreating monsoon. October and November still see spells of rain from the retreating monsoon, though it is usually lighter than mid-year. Conditions are generally good but worth checking.

Sun and moon are calculated for this location and shown in IST. Photography windows are the hour around sunrise and sunset; the sunset bearing is degrees clockwise from true north. Moon phase is accurate to about half a day.

Stay · eat · do · rent · see · shop

Stays, food & things to do near Ponnaniyar Dam

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Top experiences around Kadavur

2 more places around Kadavur. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.

wildlifeKadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary

7.2 km · ~18 min by auto

India's first sanctuary dedicated to the endangered slender loris, notified in 2022 across roughly 11,806 hectares of the Kadavur hills spanning Karur and Dindigul districts.

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Kadavur Vasantha Perumal Temple
Place
templeKadavur Vasantha Perumal Temple

15.4 km · ~26 min by cab

A Vishnu temple dedicated to Vasantha Perumal at Kadavur, the hill-region taluk best known for its Slender Loris sanctuary. It serves as the local Perumal shrine for the Kadavur area.

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Before you go

Ponnaniyar Dam — at a glance

TimingsDaylight hours
Best timeRainy season and just after (August-January)

Entry: Free

Getting here

How to reach Ponnaniyar Dam

Near Pooncholai in the Kadavur hills, roughly 60 km from Karur; Kulithalai railway station is the nearest railhead; nearest airport Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) ~75 km or Coimbatore (CJB) ~120 km

Getting around Ponnaniyar Dam

If you need step-free access, contact the site before travelling. Ask about a level entrance, steps along the route, the nearest drop-off point, seating and accessible toilets.

If you need help at Ponnaniyar Dam
112All emergencies (police · fire · medical)The single number to call in any emergency (ERSS).

Emergency numbers are verified against official government and state tourism sources. 112 works anywhere in India.

Nearby

What’s near Ponnaniyar Dam

wildlifeKadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary

India's first sanctuary dedicated to the endangered slender loris, notified in 2022 across roughly 11,806 hectares of the Kadavur hills spanning Karur and Dindigul districts.

7.2 km · ~18 min by auto · straight line
K
Kadavur Vasantha Perumal Temple
Place
templeKadavur Vasantha Perumal Temple

A Vishnu temple dedicated to Vasantha Perumal at Kadavur, the hill-region taluk best known for its Slender Loris sanctuary. It serves as the local Perumal shrine for the Kadavur area.

15.4 km · ~26 min by cab · straight line
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Thogaimalai Murugan Temple
Place
templeThogaimalai Murugan Temple

A hill temple to Lord Murugan at Thogaimalai, a hill town in the northern part of Karur district. It is the main pilgrimage draw for the Thogaimalai area.

25.4 km · ~42 min by cab · straight line
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Thirukkanmaleeswarar Temple, Krishnarayapuram
Place
templeThirukkanmaleeswarar Temple, Krishnarayapuram

A Shiva temple at Krishnarayapuram, one of the principal temples of Krishnarayapuram taluk in the eastern part of Karur district near the Cauvery belt.

31.3 km · ~52 min by cab · straight line
templeRathnagiriswarar Temple, Ayyarmalai

A hilltop Shiva pilgrimage temple at Ayyarmalai near Kulithalai, reached by a strenuous climb of 1,017 steps rather than a roadside approach. Allow enough time and daylight for both the ascent and descent, and carry drinking water.

37.1 km · ~62 min by cab · straight line
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Kattalai River Confluence
Place
viewpointKattalai River Confluence

The point at Kattalai where the Amaravathi river joins the River Cauvery, north of Karur near Mayanur and Kulithalai. The confluence is a scenic riverine spot and an important node in the district's irrigation network.

40.9 km · ~68 min by cab · straight line
damMayanur Barrage

A barrage (check dam) built across the River Cauvery at Mayanur, about 23 km from Karur and 21 km from Kulithalai. The river bank here is a popular picnic and outing spot, and the barrage regulates Cauvery water for irrigation across the district.

41.7 km · ~69 min by cab · straight line
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Sellandiamman Temple, Thirukkampuliyur
Place
templeSellandiamman Temple, Thirukkampuliyur

A pilgrimage temple to the goddess Sellandiamman in Thirukkampuliyur village near the Cauvery. It anchors a small riverside cluster of attractions, including a nearby park with an artificial fountain by the river.

42.0 km · ~70 min by cab · straight line
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Thanthonimalai Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple
Place
templeThanthonimalai Kalyana Venkataramana Swamy Temple

An 8th-century rock-cut cave temple to Vishnu as Srinivasa, set in a natural cave atop a hillock about 5 km south of Karur. Popularly called Then Tirupati (South Tirupati), it is a Prarthana Sthalam where devotees pray to remove obstacles to marriage and for children. The hill also carries old Jain inscriptions marking its layered history.

42.1 km · ~70 min by cab · straight line
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Agatheeswarar Temple, Thirumukkoodalur
Place
templeAgatheeswarar Temple, Thirumukkoodalur

A Shiva temple credited to Rajendra Chola I, standing where three rivers meet, which gives Thirumukkoodalur its name (the sacred confluence). Its riverside setting and Chola-era origins make it a notable heritage and pilgrimage stop east of Karur.

43.0 km · ~72 min by cab · straight line
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Vyagrapureeswarar Temple, Puliyur
Place
templeVyagrapureeswarar Temple, Puliyur

A Shiva temple at Puliyur in Kulithalai taluk. Its name and legend link the site to the worship of Shiva by a tiger (vyagra), a Kongu-region Shaiva tradition.

43.3 km · ~72 min by cab · straight line
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Karur Government Museum
Place
museumKarur Government Museum

Karur Government Museum is a district museum on Old Dindigul Road with regional archaeology, coins, bronzes, fossils and natural-history exhibits. Opened in 2000, its collection helps place Karur's Sangam-age and Chera history in context.

44.1 km · ~73 min by cab · straight line

All 3 places to visit in Kadavur →

On the map

Where Ponnaniyar Dam is

Good to know

Ponnaniyar Dam — frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Ponnaniyar Dam?

October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.

What are the entry fee and timings at Ponnaniyar Dam?

Entry: Free. Timings: Daylight hours.

How do I reach Ponnaniyar Dam?

Base yourself in Kadavur or nearby in Karur, then confirm the last-mile route locally before travel. If access depends on temple, museum or seasonal rules, check on the day before you go.

How much time do I need for Ponnaniyar Dam?

About an hour.

What else is near Ponnaniyar Dam?

Nearby you can pair Kadavur Slender Loris Wildlife Sanctuary (7.2 km), Kadavur Vasantha Perumal Temple (15.4 km), Thogaimalai Murugan Temple (25.4 km), Thirukkanmaleeswarar Temple, Krishnarayapuram (31.3 km).