Idukki (Ramakkalmedu and the Arch Dam)
A thin concrete arch, a windy ridge and a hilltop lookout
An Idukki tour pairs the 169 m Idukki Arch Dam with the windy ridge of Ramakkalmedu and the Calvary Mount viewpoint in Idukki district, Kerala.
Overview
The Idukki Arch Dam rises about 169 m across a gorge of the Periyar river, wedged between two granite hills called Kuravan and Kurathi, in Idukki district, Kerala. Two other lookouts sit close to it, the wind-swept ridge of Ramakkalmedu and the hilltop of Calvary Mount, and together they fill a day or two for travellers who enjoy engineering, long views and quiet roads. Visits fit best between October and February.
The dam is a thin double-curved concrete arch with a crest of about 366 m. Work began in April 1969, water storage started in 1973 and the power station entered commercial service in 1976. It forms one reservoir system with the Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams, and the underground power house at Moolamattom, about 43 km away, holds six turbines totalling 780 MW. Public entry to the dam crest is allowed only in windows announced from time to time, so confirm the current arrangements before travelling; the lookouts below work in any season.
Calvary Mount, also called Kalvari Mount or Kalliyanathandu, is a Christian pilgrimage centre and a picnic spot. From its viewpoint you can see the reservoir between Kuravan and Kurathi hills and the dam beyond, which lies about 4 km away. A motorable concrete path leads up, and during Lent pilgrims make the Way of the Cross here. By the Cheruthoni route the mount is about 16 km from Kattappana.
Ramakkalmedu lies on the eastern edge of the district, about 40 km from Thekkady. The ridge is known for a nearly constant wind, which the state uses for wind-power installations. A twin statue of Kuravan and Kurathi, shown as a tribal couple with their child, crowns the hilltop; it was made by the sculptor C. B. Jinan and erected in 2005. Views stretch east over Tamil Nadu, towards towns such as Cumbum and Theni, and rock formations nicknamed Turtle Rock and Frog Rock stand nearby. The name means Rama's stone, after a local belief that Rama searched here for Sita.
Idukki district has no railway, so the nearest stations are Kottayam and Ernakulam, and the closest airport is Cochin International. Distances and drive times to each spot are to be confirmed. Munnar's tea country and Thekkady's reserve have their own pages; this one is for the dam, the ridge and the viewpoint.
Known for
A double-curved concrete arch of about 169 m between Kuravan and Kurathi hills
Happening soon
Updated Oct 7, 2026Coming up, dates to be confirmed
Way of the Cross pilgrimage at Calvary Mount
festivalA Lenten pilgrimage up Calvary Mount near the Idukki reservoir, a Christian pilgrim centre with views of the dam and the Kuravan and Kurathi hills.
Usually during Lent, the weeks before Easter
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesQuick facts
Cool in winter, with temperatures of roughly 10 C to 22 C from October to February, and heavy rain in the monsoon from June to September.
Cochin International Airport (distance to be supplied)
Kottayam or Ernakulam (distances to be supplied); the district has no railway of its own
Roads to the dam, Calvary Mount and Ramakkalmedu are separate hill routes. Ramakkalmedu is about 40 km from Thekkady and Calvary Mount about 16 km from Kattappana. Drive times (to be supplied).
Check the latest announcement before travelling, because the dam crest is open only in announced windows
Carry a windproof layer for Ramakkalmedu, where the wind blows steadily
Go to Calvary Mount for a view of the dam when the crest is closed
Location
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