The short answer
Cheruthoni Dam: what visitors should know first
Worth seeing as part of the dam visit rather than a separate trip. It is where the ticket counter and entry gate sit when public access is open, and its spillway gates explain how the reservoir is managed. Plan it with Idukki Arch Dam on the same morning.
History and context
The story behind Cheruthoni Dam
The dam was built for the Idukki Hydroelectric Project and owned by the Kerala State Electricity Board; Wikipedia gives its completion as 1976, with storage beginning in 1973. It is a straight gravity concrete dam about 138.2 m high and 650.9 m long.
Its seven gates (five radial, two vertical) were raised for the first time on 9 and 10 August 2018. Public visits were suspended after a July 2023 security incident and were reopened in seasonal windows afterwards.
Useful facts
Cheruthoni Dam facts at a glance
- Location
- Cheruthoni, about 1 km west of Idukki Arch Dam
- Type
- Straight concrete gravity dam
- Size
- About 138 m high, 651 m long
- Gates
- Five radial and two vertical spillway gates
- Owner
- Kerala State Electricity Board
- Access
- Seasonal public windows; check current notice
Why it matters
Why Cheruthoni Dam is worth your time
Cheruthoni is the working half of the Idukki project. It is the straight gravity dam, about 138 metres high and 650 metres long, that carries the floodgates which control reservoir levels, and Wikipedia calls it the highest gravity dam in Kerala. Without it, the slender arch in the gorge would have no way of releasing flood water safely.
It is also the dam most people associate with the 2018 floods. When the gates were lifted that August, the release was widely followed in Kerala, and the event made the people downstream aware of how closely the three dams are managed. Standing on the crest, with the gates visible, makes that part of recent Kerala history easy to understand.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The spillway gates
Five radial and two vertical gates show how the reservoir is controlled.
- 02
Crest views
The crest looks across the reservoir to forested ridges of the sanctuary.
- 03
Buggy ride option
In the 2025 season, buggy cars on the dam top helped visitors who did not want to walk.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Start at the entry gate on the Cheruthoni side, clear the security check, then walk along the dam top towards the Idukki arch, or take the buggy cars on the crest. From the Cheruthoni crest you look over the spillway gates on one side and the wide reservoir on the other, and on a clear day the hills around the lake frame the view.
Look at the spillway. Seven gates, five radial and two vertical, sit on the chute-type spillway, and in August 2018 the radial gates were opened during the monsoon for the first time in the dam's history. That context makes the large concrete structure feel less abstract and explains why public access is closed during heavy-rain alerts.
Cheruthoni town below has simple shops and tea stalls, and Hill View Park and the Forest Department boat landing at Vellapara are close, so the dam fits easily into a half-day loop around the reservoir.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Check the access dates before you set out
- Arrive near opening time to avoid queues
- Carry water and a hat; the crest has little shade
- Avoid Wednesdays and rain-alert days
- Keep ID and tickets handy for security
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Cheruthoni, Vazhathope panchayat, Idukki district
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, usually combined with Idukki Arch Dam
- Best time
- Morning when the dam is open to visitors; the monsoon fills the reservoir but increases closures
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The crest and approach are level, but the paved top has little shade and long queues at security. Seating is limited. If your parent finds queues tiring, ask about the buggy cars used on the dam crest in the 2025 season and arrive at opening time.
- Tickets and access
- When the state opens the dams, Cheruthoni is where most visitors enter, and a ticket counter near the entry gate sells slots left over from online booking. Dates are announced seasonally (1 September to 30 November in 2025), so check the current notice and the Kerala hydel tourism site before driving out.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Cheruthoni Dam
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The crest and approach are level, but the paved top has little shade and long queues at security. Seating is limited. If your parent finds queues tiring, ask about the buggy cars used on the dam crest in the 2025 season and arrive at opening time.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Cheruthoni Dam open every day?
Only in seasonal access windows. In 2025 visits were allowed from 1 September to 30 November, with Wednesdays closed for inspection. Check the current notice.
Why was Cheruthoni Dam in the news in 2018?
Its floodgates were opened on 9 August 2018 during heavy monsoon rain, the first release from the dam, and all five radial gates were raised the next day.
Is Cheruthoni the same as Idukki dam?
No. Cheruthoni is a gravity dam about a kilometre west of the arch dam. Both form part of the Idukki Reservoir with the Kulamavu dam.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
