Time has almost stood still in the breathtaking anicut, built in the 17th Century by a Mysore king who harnessed he strength of his prisoners and elephants to carve through a 20-foot mass of cyclopean stones. The stones have been interlocked with iron-bars and clamps and mortared with lead, none of which you can see when water is in full flow during the monsoons. The anicut was intended to channel the water from the Bhavani Sagar Dam into two canals and irrigate fields. During British rule, some improvements were carried out without tampering the original design. Water from the dam is let
into the anicut in the summer months, when the depth can reach as much as 10 feet. During the rest of the year, rainwater feeds it.

It is only recently that people seem to have woken up to the temptations of Kodiveri. Once it was regarded as little more than a great place to eat fresh fried fish and possibly lounge about with friends. Now, it seems pregnant with possibilities. Bobbing in the water on a coracle is one option, though the rate for a ride will depend on your capacity to bargain. The lake is 150 meters long and you can sit back enjoying the grass scented breeze.

 A nungu-laden palm tree that has decided to make the water its retirement home is an interesting sight and flying fish shoot up as if to sneak a look at the land ever so often. Coax the boatman into taking you a little farther and you can catch fisher folk in action, Playing nets for the next morning's catch. Go near Akkarai Kodiveri (or the other bank) and you'll be tempted to snap off delicious looking green mangoes that hang tantalisingly close. The fear of an upturned coracle or the possibility of provoking an angry farmer keeps me honest.

How to go there?

Kodiveri Dam is about 10 km from Gobichettipalayam and 55 km from Erode. If driving down from Coimbatore, go up to Sathyamangalam and take the Gobi Road.

Thirteen kilometers later, Kodiveri greets you.

Source: The Hindu

Kodumudi
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For those who travel on the Erode-Karur Road regularly, Kodumudi is just another stop. But stop and take in the surroundings. The air is heady with the scent of turmeric. Crops of golden yellow paddy wave in the wind ready for harvest and waif-like betel vines snake up stiff agathi keerai trees. The Cauvery gurgles past the 7th Century AD periya kovil on its idol-rich bank. Looking skyward to propitiate the gods, devotees and locals take a quick dip in knee-deep water before heading for the temple. The water has now receded but during the days when the gates of the Mettur dam are open, it swells to cover some of the newly built concrete steps on the bank. Devotees grateful that their wishes are granted by the Trinity (Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu) return to leave a stone idol on the muddy bank. Over the years, the Gods seem to have smiled on quite a few people. You can't walk more than 10 feet without stumbling upon an idol. Perfectly sculpted Ganeshas, Nandis, Nagarajas and a host of other nameless gods in the Hindu pantheon sit benignly waiting for new companions.                                                                                                              1         2       3     4     5     6