Mettur Dam

Mettur Dam is a large masonry gravity dam across the Cauvery River at Mettur in Salem District, Tamil Nadu. Completed in 1934 and forming the Stanley Reservoir, it is one of India's largest and oldest dams. Built to provide irrigation and hydroelectric power for Tamil Nadu, it measures about 1,700 metres long and 36 metres high. The dam and its landscaped park are notable for reservoir views, especially when surplus water is released.

Visitors can expect a massive dam structure across the Cauvery River forming the expansive Stanley Reservoir. The site includes viewpoints over the reservoir and downstream river, a landscaped park (Ellis Park) at the base of the dam with gardens, lawns and children's play area, and views of the 16-vent sluice gates when water is released. The surroundings are semi-urban with reservoir waters, power house structures and hills in the distance. Photography and leisurely walks in the park are the main visitor experiences.

Constructed between 1925 and 1934 during the Madras Presidency, designed under the supervision of Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer and engineer Vincent Hart. Built across the Cauvery River to provide irrigation to the Cauvery delta and hydroelectric power, it was inaugurated in 1934 by Sir George Frederick Stanley, Governor of Madras, after whom the reservoir is named Stanley Reservoir. At completion it was the largest dam in India.

The dam is regarded as the lifeline of the Cauvery delta farmers in Tamil Nadu, supporting agriculture across Salem, Erode, Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts. The Stanley Reservoir and Ellis Park are important local recreation and tourism sites for the region.