Mettur dam water level falls; Nandi statue emerges

The Nandi statue of the historic Jalakanteswarar Temple in the Mettur Dam reservoir area has become fully visible up to its pedestal as the water level has dropped below 60 feet. The temple tower has also begun emerging above the water, bringing the submerged heritage structures into clearer view.
When Mettur Dam was constructed, people living in villages within the reservoir area were relocated. The places of worship they had used were also abandoned, leaving several historic structures submerged under the reservoir.
These include the Jalakanteswarar Temple near Pannavadi ferry point, a Christian church with twin towers at Sethukuzhi, the Solappadi Veerabhadra Temple at Keeraikaranur and the Meenakshi Amman Temple near Thengalvarai.
As the water level in Mettur Dam fell below 79 feet, the twin towers of the Christian church at Sethukuzhi began appearing above the water. A few years ago, one of the towers collapsed. Since then, the remaining tower has become visible whenever the reservoir level falls below 77 feet.
On October 1, the remaining tower of the church began appearing above the water. Subsequently, on October 7, the reservoir level fell below 68 feet, revealing the top of the Nandi statue at the Jalakanteswarar Temple.
As the water level continued to decline and dropped below 60 feet, the Nandi statue and its pedestal became fully visible. The temple tower has also started emerging above the water, providing a clearer view of the historic structure.
Tourist Arrivals Expected To Increase
Whenever the reservoir level falls further, more portions of the Jalakanteswarar Temple tower, the pedestal supporting the Nandi statue and the remaining tower of the Christian church are expected to become visible above the water.
During such periods, tourists visiting Pannavadi traditionally travel by coracle to view these historic structures and offer prayers. The emergence of the submerged monuments provides visitors with an opportunity to see the remnants of the settlements that existed before the dam was built.
With the Nandi statue and its pedestal now fully visible, along with the temple tower beginning to emerge, tourist arrivals at the Pannavadi ferry point are expected to increase in the coming days.