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.
Plan Ponnaniyar Dam
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.
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.
Best time
October to March is the cooler, drier season in the Cauvery delta.
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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.
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List your placeTop experiences around Kadavur
2 more places around Kadavur. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.

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.
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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Add a nearby businessPonnaniyar Dam — at a glance
Entry: Free
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
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.
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What’s near Ponnaniyar Dam

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 lineA 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 lineA 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 lineA 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 lineA 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 lineThe 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
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 lineA 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 lineAn 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 lineA 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 lineA 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 lineKarur 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 lineWhere Ponnaniyar Dam is
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).
Ponnaniyar Dam guides, stories & itineraries
We have not published a story about Ponnaniyar Dam itself yet. These cover Kadavur and the wider district, with separate journeys between stops.
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