In which district of Tamil Nadu is the Grand Anicut Dam, also known as Kallanai, one of the oldest dams located?

• The Grand Anicut, also known as Kallanai, is an ancient dam built across the Kaveri River in the Tiruchirappalli district (often referred to as Trichy) of Tamil Nadu.

• It was constructed by the Chola King Karikalan in the 2nd century AD, making it one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world still in use.

• The dam was designed to divert water from the Kaveri into the Kollidam (Coleroon) River and the fertile delta region for irrigation.

• It is a masterpiece of ancient engineering, built using unhewn stones placed across the stream to redirect water flow without a traditional foundation.

• The British engineer Sir Arthur Cotton, who studied the dam in the 19th century, was so impressed that he called King Karikalan the "Father of Irrigation" and modeled later dams on this design.

Information Booster:

• The dam is approximately 329 metres long, 20 metres wide, and 5.4 metres high.

• It serves as the primary source of irrigation for the Thanjavur district, often called the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu."

Additional Knowledge:Madurai (Option A)

• Located on the banks of the Vaigai River, Madurai is home to the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple but is not the location of the Grand Anicut.

Erode (Option C)

• Erode is famous for the Bhavani Sagar Dam, which is one of the world's largest earthen dams, located at the confluence of the Bhavani and Moyar rivers.

Coimbatore (Option D)

• Known as the "Manchester of South India," Coimbatore is located on the banks of the Noyyal River; a major nearby dam is the Siruvani Dam, known for its sweet water.