Kadamparai Dam

Kadamparai Dam is a hydroelectric and irrigation dam located near Valparai in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, at the foothills of the Western Ghats. Built as part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project, it impounds the Kadamparai River and forms a scenic reservoir surrounded by forested hills. The dam is notable for its pumped-storage hydroelectric power station and offers visitors panoramic views of the reservoir, ghats and Aliyar valley.

Visitors can expect a large reservoir set against forested slopes of the Western Ghats with views of the dam wall, spillway and surrounding hills. The site is primarily a viewpoint for sightseeing and photography of the water body and valley. Access is generally limited to designated viewing areas near the dam and reservoir; the power house and dam structure have restricted entry. The surroundings are quiet and natural, with tea estates and forest patches nearby.

Kadamparai Dam was constructed as part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project, a joint inter-state river valley project involving Tamil Nadu and Kerala for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The Kadamparai pumped-storage hydroelectric power station associated with the dam was commissioned in the late 1980s with an installed capacity of 400 MW, utilizing the elevation difference between Kadamparai and Aliyar reservoirs.