Pykara Lake

Pykara Lake is a reservoir on the Pykara River at Pykara village, about 20 kilometres north of Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu. Formed by the Pykara Dam as part of one of South India's oldest hydroelectric projects, it is surrounded by Toda settlements, pine forests and rolling shola grasslands. The lake is known for its calm waters, boathouse and scenic backdrop, making it a popular stop on the Ooty-Gudalur route.

Visitors can expect a calm reservoir set amid Nilgiri hills, pine forests and grasslands. The main visitor area is the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation boathouse with motorboats and speedboats for short rides on the lake. Surroundings include fenced pine plantations, views of the Pykara Dam, Toda hamlets nearby, and open meadows. The site is primarily for sightseeing, photography and boating with basic visitor facilities.

Pykara Lake was formed by the Pykara Dam built across the Pykara River for the Pykara Hydro-Electric Project, one of the oldest hydroelectric projects in South India, commissioned in 1932. The project was developed during the British period to harness the Nilgiri rivers for power generation and remains operational.

The Pykara River and surrounding area are associated with the Toda tribal community native to the Nilgiris, whose hamlets and pastoral traditions are found around Pykara. The river is considered sacred by the Todas and the landscape reflects the cultural heritage of the Nilgiri Biosphere.