Pechiparai reservoir is located near Pechiparai village at a distance of about 43 Km from the town of Nagercoil in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. This reservoir has been formed by Pechiparai Dam construction which has been built over Kodayar River about 1.5 Km below the grand confluence of Kuttiyar, Chittar and Kallar.

This dam is surrounded by lush green hills of Western Ghats which make it a stunning and scenic place.

History

This dam and reservoir were built by Mr. Minchin, a European engineer during the period of 1897 – 1906 during the Travancore Maharaja Moolam Thirunal’s reign. The original cost of construction of this dam in the late 19th century was INR 26.1 lakhs.

Hydrography

This dam has been built on Kodayar River and this reservoir’s catchment area is approximately 207.19 sq. km and the depth of the reservoir about 48 ft. This dam is a straight conventionally developed gravity type masonry dam which is 396 ft above its deepest foundation and is 1396 ft long. This dam does not have any inspection gallery.

The water from Pechiparai reservoir is used for both drinking purposes and irrigation of the crops.

Tourism

Pechiparai Reservoir is one of the most stunning and beautiful places in India which is worth seeing for its lush green surroundings and panoramic views.  
Pechiparai reservoir is surrounded by lush green and dense forests which are famous for rich flora and wildlife including deer, elephants and tiger etc. Kanikars, which are a small hill tribe, dwell around the lake in these dense forests.

Best Time to Visit

The weather in Pechiparai village is pleasant throughout the year, however, except extreme summer months between May to July, rest of the year is best time to visit the place.

Nearby Attractions

One can enjoy boating in the lake around Pechiparai dam and it also makes a perfect destination for excursions and picnic.

How to Reach

Pechiparai reservoir is located at a distance of 43 Km from Nagercoil and one can either board a bus or hire a taxi to reach Pechiparai.

By Air

The nearest airport to Nagercoil is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala located at a distance of about 68 Km.

By Rail

Nagercoil is the nearest rail head and is well connected with other cities of India via a network of trains.

By Road

Nagercoil is well connected to the nearby cities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala through a network of state transport buses, which can be boarded easily to reach the place.