Upper Sholayar Dam

Upper Sholayar Dam is a large reservoir dam located near Valparai in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, close to the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in the Western Ghats. Built as part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project, it impounds the Sholayar River and supports hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. Surrounded by dense forests and hills of the Anamalai range, the dam and its vast reservoir are noted for scenic views and tranquil natural surroundings.

Visitors can expect a large reservoir set amid forested hills of the Western Ghats near Valparai. The dam structure itself has restricted access, but visitors can view the expansive water body, surrounding Anamalai hills, and dense evergreen forests from designated viewpoints and approach roads. The area is quiet and scenic, with opportunities for photography and nature viewing. Facilities are minimal and the site is primarily a sightseeing stop en route through the Valparai-Sholayar forest stretch.

Upper Sholayar Dam was constructed as part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), a joint interstate river valley project of Tamil Nadu and Kerala envisaged in the 1950s-1960s for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation and flood control. The dam across the Sholayar River was completed in the late 1960s and commissioned in 1971, with an installed hydroelectric capacity and a large storage reservoir serving downstream irrigation and power needs.