Manjalar Dam

A dam across the Manjalar River, a tributary of the Vaigai, that supplies irrigation to the surrounding farmland. Its calm reservoir and hill backdrop make it a quiet outing spot.

Manjalar Dam, Periyakulam
Practical guide

Plan Manjalar Dam

Who's going?Tailor Manjalar Dam to your trip
Typedam
Nearest basePeriyakulam
DistrictTheni
Best timeOctober to March is the cooler, drier…
Time neededAbout an hour
EntryFree
Places to visit5

Manjalar Dam is planned from Periyakulam, one of the travel bases in Theni district. Use Periyakulam 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 Periyakulam or nearby in Theni, 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 Manjalar DamSeasonal guide

Live forecast loads in your browser.

Today at Manjalar Dam
Sunrise6:08 am
Sunset6:02 pm
Golden hour best light5:02 pm–6:02 pm
Blue hour after sunset6:02 pm–6:27 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 Manjalar Dam

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Ranked guides

Top experiences around Periyakulam

4 more places around Periyakulam. Open a guide to plan the visit and onward journey.

damSothuparai Dam

19.9 km · ~33 min by cab

A scenic reservoir near Periyakulam set against the Western Ghats with a landscaped park and fountains. It is a popular local picnic and photography spot, especially after the monsoon.

townPeriyakulam

12.4 km · ~21 min by cab

A historic town at the foot of the Kodaikanal hills renowned for its mango orchards, earning it a reputation as a mango-trading centre. It serves as a base for visiting Kumbakkarai Falls and Sothuparai Dam.

waterfallKumbakkarai Falls

A seasonal series of rock cascades and pools below the Kodaikanal hills. Confirm the currently open public entrance locally before travelling.

P
Periyakulam Balasubramaniar Temple
Place
heritagePeriyakulam Balasubramaniar Temple

12.5 km · ~21 min by cab

This ancient Murugan (Balasubramanya) temple in Periyakulam is traditionally credited to the Chola king Rajendra Chola, said to have modelled the site on Kasi (Varanasi). Devotees bathe in the associated Brahma theertham, believed to have curative powers. Major festivals include Panguni Uthiram and Maha Karthigai.

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Before you go

Manjalar Dam — at a glance

TimingsDaylight hours, roughly 09:00-17:30
Best timeSeptember to January, when the reservoir is full

Entry: Free

Getting here

How to reach Manjalar Dam

Off the Batlagundu-Periyakulam belt; nearest railhead Theni, nearest airport Madurai (IXM) ~55 km

Getting around Manjalar 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 Manjalar 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 Manjalar Dam

D
Devadanapatti Kamakshi Amman Temple
Place
heritageDevadanapatti Kamakshi Amman Temple

The Kamakshi Amman temple at Devadanapatti, about 19 km from Theni, is an old Amman temple dated by local tradition to the 18th century. It is known for its Maha Shivratri and Masi Magam celebrations. It serves as an important religious centre for the surrounding villages.

5.5 km · ~14 min by auto · straight line
townPeriyakulam

A historic town at the foot of the Kodaikanal hills renowned for its mango orchards, earning it a reputation as a mango-trading centre. It serves as a base for visiting Kumbakkarai Falls and Sothuparai Dam.

12.4 km · ~21 min by cab · straight line
P
Periyakulam Balasubramaniar Temple
Place
heritagePeriyakulam Balasubramaniar Temple

This ancient Murugan (Balasubramanya) temple in Periyakulam is traditionally credited to the Chola king Rajendra Chola, said to have modelled the site on Kasi (Varanasi). Devotees bathe in the associated Brahma theertham, believed to have curative powers. Major festivals include Panguni Uthiram and Maha Karthigai.

12.5 km · ~21 min by cab · straight line
damVaigai Dam

A major dam across the Vaigai River near Andipatti that irrigates the region and supplies drinking water to Madurai. Its landscaped terrace gardens and evening water display make it a popular family outing.

16.5 km · ~28 min by cab · straight line
damSothuparai Dam

A scenic reservoir near Periyakulam set against the Western Ghats with a landscaped park and fountains. It is a popular local picnic and photography spot, especially after the monsoon.

19.9 km · ~33 min by cab · straight line
T
Theertha Thotti Subramaniar Temple
Place
heritageTheertha Thotti Subramaniar Temple

The Subramaniar (Murugan) temple at Theertha Thotti, roughly 19 km from Theni, is regarded as one of the most important Murugan pilgrimage centres in the Theni region. It draws devotees for its temple tanks and hill setting.

25.6 km · ~43 min by cab · straight line
V
Veerappa Ayyanar Temple
Place
heritageVeerappa Ayyanar Temple

The Veerappa Ayyanar temple at Allinagaram, about 3.5 km from Theni, is a well-known guardian-deity (Ayyanar) temple. Its annual festival, held around the Tamil New Year, is a major local celebration.

26.1 km · ~43 min by cab · straight line
V
Veerapandi Gowmariamman Temple
Place
heritageVeerapandi Gowmariamman Temple

The Gowmariamman temple at Veerapandi village, about 8 to 9 km from Theni, is one of the district's most popular Amman temples. Local tradition holds it was built by a Pandya king, Veerapandi, roughly 600 years ago. It draws large crowds during its annual festivals.

33.7 km · ~56 min by cab · straight line
damShanmuganathi Dam

A reservoir on the Shanmuganathi River near Bodinayakanur that irrigates the surrounding agricultural belt. The dam and its foothill surroundings are visited as a local picnic destination.

35.1 km · ~58 min by cab · straight line
B
Bodinayakanur Palace (Lakshmi Vilasam)
Place
heritageBodinayakanur Palace (Lakshmi Vilasam)

This three-storey palace, also called Lakshmi Vilasam, was built by the Kambalathu Nayaka zamindars of Bodinayakanur, notably under Bangaru Tirumalai Bodi Nayaka in the mid-19th century. It contains a Darbar Hall, courtyard, horse stables and granary, and is decorated with Ramayana murals. It survives as a rare example of Polygar and zamindar-era architecture, though it is now poorly maintained.

37.1 km · ~62 min by cab · straight line
townBodinayakanur

A bustling market town known as a major trading centre for cardamom and other hill spices, nicknamed Cardamom City. It is the Tamil Nadu gateway on the road climbing to the hills toward Munnar in Kerala.

37.2 km · ~62 min by cab · straight line
T
Tiger Falls
Place
waterfallTiger Falls

Tiger Falls is a roadside waterfall on the ghat route between Bodinayakanur and Bodi Mettu, leading toward Munnar. It is a small seasonal cascade set in forested Western Ghats terrain. It is a popular pause for travellers on the mountain road.

40.3 km · ~67 min by cab · straight line

All 5 places to visit in Periyakulam →

On the map

Where Manjalar Dam is

Good to know

Manjalar Dam — frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Manjalar Dam?

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

What are the entry fee and timings at Manjalar Dam?

Entry: Free. Timings: Daylight hours, roughly 09:00-17:30.

How do I reach Manjalar Dam?

Base yourself in Periyakulam or nearby in Theni, 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 Manjalar Dam?

About an hour.

What else is near Manjalar Dam?

Nearby you can pair Devadanapatti Kamakshi Amman Temple (5.5 km), Periyakulam (12.4 km), Periyakulam Balasubramaniar Temple (12.5 km), Vaigai Dam (16.5 km).

Image credits

Photographs: Sharmila Sumithra (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wikimedia Commons.