Friday, December 1, 2017

Mathur Aqueduct, Kanyakumari

Mathur Aqueduct, Kanyakumari
Mathur Aqueduct or Mathur Hanging Trough, is an aqueduct located at Mathur in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Built over the Pahrali River (also called Parazhiyar), it takes its name from Mathur, a hamlet near the aqueduct. It is one of the longest and highest aqueducts in South Asia and is a popular tourist spot in Kanyakumari District. Mathur Hanging Bridge is locally called Thotti Palam (hanging bridge). It soars to a height of 115 feet and spans the length of a kilometer.



The trough canal (Pattanamakal Canal) transports water from one side of the hill to the other for irrigation requirements of the regions of Vilavancode and Kalkulam. Interestingly, this region has never faced drought after the bridge was built. The canal is held up by 28 massive pillars. It’s worth visiting the Hanging Bridge as the panoramic views of the Western Ghats and the Pahrali River are beautiful.



History
Mathur Aqueduct was constructed in 1966 by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, K. Kamaraj, as a drought relief measure across the river Pahrali.
The Aqueduct
The aqueduct is built across the Pahrali river, a small river that originates in the Mahendragiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Its purpose is to carry water for irrigation from an elevated level of one hill to another. The irrigation water feeds the taluks of Vilavancode and Kalkulam. The Aqueduct itself carries water of the Pattanamkal canal for irrigation over the Pahrali, from one hill to another, for a distance of close to one kilometer. This aqueduct is needed because of the undulating land terrain of the area, which is also adjacent to the hills of the Western Ghats.



Mathur Aqueduct is a concrete structure supported by 28 huge pillars, the maximum height of the pillars reaching 115 ft. The trough structure is 7 ft in height, with a width of 7.5 ft. The trough is partly covered with concrete slabs, allowing people to walk on the bridge and to see the water going through the trough. Some of the pillars are set in rocks of the Pahrali river, though some of the pillars are set in hills on either side.



There is road access to one end of the aqueduct and to the foot of the aqueduct (the level where the Pahrali flows) on the opposite side. There is a huge flight of stairs, made more recently, that allows one to climb from the level of the Pahrali river to the trough. Irrigation water flows through the trough for a large part of the year, except in the summer (from February to May).


In recent times, Mathur Aqueduct has become a popular tourist attraction in Kanyakumari District. The tourism department and the local Panchayat office have improved facilities for visiting tourists. Mathur Aqueduct’s main appeal is the scenic beauty surrounding the bridge. Hills carpeted with trees and enveloped in mist form a beautiful panorama. From the Mathur Hanging Bridge, you can descend via a staircase to the view tower and the children’s park. From the centre of the aqueduct, one can see a vast expanse of greenery, with rolling hills of the Western Ghats in the background, and the meandering Pahrali river flowing below.
Mathur Hanging Trough
Length of flume
1240 ft (378 m)
Width
7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Height of trough
7 ft (2.1 m)
Velocity
5.1 ft/s (1.55 m/s)
Discharge
204 ft³/s (5.8 m³/s)
No. of span pillars
28
Length of span
40 ft (12.2 m)
Bed level, trough at start
91 in (2.31 m)
Bed level, trough at end
90 in (2.29 m)
Maximum height above ground level
115 ft (35 m)
Construction cost
Rs. 12.90 lakhs – in 1966
Coordinates
8°2010N77°1740E
Operating Hours
·        Mon – Sun: 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Fees Structure
·        Entry Fee: Rs. 2/-
·        Parking Fee: Bike: Rs.3/- Car: Rs. 25/- Van: Rs. 40/- Bus: Rs. 60/-
·        Video Camera Fee: Rs. 25/-
·        Still Camera Fee: Rs. 5/-
Connectivity
Mathur Aqueduct is located at about 4 Kms from Kulasekharam, 11 Kms from Marthandam, 13 Kms from Kuzhithurai, 5 Kms from Thiruvattaru, 10 Kms from Thirparappu, 14 Kms from Thuckalay, 29 Kms from Boothapandi, 23 Kms from Colachel, 27 Kms from Nagercoil, 53 Kms from Kanyakumari and 55 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is Kuzhithurai Railway Station, located at about 15 Kms away from Mathur Aqueduct. Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (55 Kms).