Madurantakam Lake

Madurantakam Lake, also known as Maduranthakam Eri, is a large rain-fed reservoir located in Madurantakam town in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. Spread over about 4 square kilometres, it is considered the second largest lake in the state and a major irrigation source. Built during the Chola period, the lake is noted for its long earthen bund, scenic waterscape, seasonal birdlife and its association with the adjacent Eri Katha Ramar Temple.

Visitors can expect a vast, shallow freshwater reservoir with a long earthen bund accessible by road. The lake offers open water views, paddy fields and palm-lined surroundings, especially scenic at sunrise and sunset. There is a bund road for walking and viewing, opportunities for photography and seasonal birdwatching. The Eri Katha Ramar Temple is located adjacent to the lake bund and is often visited together. The site is largely natural and undeveloped with limited tourist infrastructure.

Madurantakam Lake is a historic rain-fed irrigation tank believed to have been originally constructed during the Chola period and subsequently maintained and strengthened by later rulers. Its long earthen bund has historically protected the town from flooding and stored water for agriculture in the surrounding region, remaining a major irrigation source for Chengalpattu district.

The lake is culturally associated with the Eri Katha Ramar Temple situated on its bund. Local tradition holds that Lord Rama protected the tank bund from breaching, giving the deity the name Eri Katha Ramar (Rama who saved the tank). The lake and temple together form an important cultural and religious landmark for the town.