Sholayar Dam - History, Timings & Entry Fee
Lake / Backwaters
#12 of 17 Places to Visit in Valparai
Distance (From Valparai): 23 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 2 Hours
Place Location: On Valparai-Athirapally Road
Transportation Options: Bus / Cab
Travel Tips: Public is not allowed inside. One can walk on top of it, up to the gates.
At a distance of 23 km from Valparai, and 55 km from Athirapally, Sholayar Dam is a masonry- gravity dam situated on Valparai-Athirapally road. It is one of the top tourist places to visit near Athirapally Waterfall, and among the must include places in Valparai tour packages.
The Solaiyar Dam is part of the Solaiyar Hydroelectric Project (HEP) which comprises the main Soliayar Dam, the Solaiyar Flanking, and the Solaiyar Saddle Dam. Solaiyar Dam was officially opened in 1965. The Solaiyar Flanking was built in 1964 and the Solaiyar Saddle Dam in 1965.
The dam is an important reservoir under the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project. The height of the main dam is 66 m, its width is 430 m, and its length 430.60 m. The reservoir's overflowing waters are let into the Parambikulam Reservoir through the saddle dam. The surroundings of the dam are full of great natural beauty.
It is not worth visiting other than in monsoons as the lake is dry after December.
Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM
Entry: Free
