25th January.
The visit to this Thottipalam at Mathur in
Kanyakumari District was a part of the Nanjil Nadu Heritage Walk organized by
Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with Tamil Nadu Tourism and
Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24th to 26th
January 2020. This Mathur Thottipalam is under the control of the Public Works Department, and Water Resource Organisation. The idea of constructing
this aqueduct was mooted and completed during Perunthalaivar K Kamaraj, then
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, period. The
purpose of constructing this Aqueduct was to irrigate the south part of
Kanyakumari. This is one of the biggest
and largest aqueducts in South Asia and is also considered an engineering
marvel of that period.
This aqueduct was constructed to transport Pattanam
Canal water from Kaniyan parai Hill and
Koottuvayuparai. The water from Chittar Dam-1, joins with the Kodayar Left Bank Canal and continues as Kodayar Left Bank Canal. At one Point ( 8.372883, 77.302189 ) the the
water from the canal Kodayar Left Bank Canal diverted as Pattanamkal canal and
passed through this Mathoor hanging Trough. A tributary of the Thamirabarani River called
Paraliyar passes under this Mathoor hanging Trough and reaches the Perunchani
reservoir.
TECHNICAL
DETAILS
The aqueduct/flume measures 2.2 meters x 2.13
meters (7.6 ft x 7.00 ft) and the length is 384 meters ( 1240 feet ). The flume
passes at a height of 101 feet from the bottom of ie Paraliyar River. Construction
work was started in 1963 CE and completed in 1969 CE at an estimated cost of Rs
12.90 Lakhs. There are 28 pillars to
support this duct. In 2002 steps were constructed on both sides to climb up /
down.
HOW TO
REACH:
This Mathoor Thottipalam is 38 km from Nagercoil, 50
km from Kanyakumari, 15 km from Marthandam, and 800 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway station is Nagercoil.
LOCATION OF THE THOTTIPALAM: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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