Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations 2014 Kerala Tradition & Destinations 2014 | Page 29

Though built for generation of electricity and for irrigational purposes the
dams in Kerala are a tourist destination in themselves thanks to the
greenery surrounding them. Forests and grass lands surrounding these
sites make them an enchanting stopover. Some of the dams like the
Bhoothathan Kettu Dam in Kothamangalam are surrounded by forests
which offer the tourist a spectacle of a wide variety of flora and fauna and
is a botanist delight. Others are teeming with exotic wildlife, offers
excellent trekking and rock climbing opportunities. Elephants are regular
visitors at the mattupetty dam in Iddikki.The Banasura Sagar dam in
Kalpetta is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in
Asia and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic
mountains. The Idukki dam on the Periyar river is the world’s second and
Asia’s first arch dam constructed across the Kuravan and Kurathi hills. At
an elevation of 167.68 meters it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia, at
555 feet in height. Peechi dam in Thrissur is another of the dams in Kerala
which is a good picnic spot. With extensive botanical gardens and
cascading fountains, the dam offers numerous inviting avenues for tourists.