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°20′10″N77°17′40″E
|
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).
