Kallanai Kollidam North Sluice Extension
கொள்ளிடம் வடக்கு மதகு · North Sluice Kollidam Kallanai · Kollidam North
Early Historic to Chola Medieval·Chola (Early and Medieval)·🇮🇳 Tamil Nadu, Ariyalur–Thanjavur district boundary, Kollidam (Coleroon) River north offtake at Kallanai, India
About
About Kallanai Kollidam North Sluice Extension
Northern 95-m Kollidam offtake regulator on the Kaveri north distributary (Coleroon), diverting 40% of Kaveri flood northward to Ariyalur–Cuddalore when the main Kallanai body chokes. The north sluice with 12 granite lintel bays (laterally braced with interlocking dovetail keys, Chola engineering) is the hydraulic key that prevented Kollidam avulsion that would have destroyed the Thanjavur delta; its 12-bay design is described in 11th c. Thanjavur temple inscriptions.
Why it mattersNorthern hydraulic key preventing Kaveri–Kollidam avulsion, Chola dovetail sluice engineering documented in temple inscriptions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Avulsion prevention calculation
- 02Dovetail vs arch sluice technology
Theories
- 01Chola delta preservation hydraulic governance
- 02Temple economy link via sluice inscriptions
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.100 CE Chola core with medieval Chola repairs (c.1010 CE Brihadeeswarar inscription)
- Period
- Early Historic to Chola Medieval
- Culture
- Chola (Early and Medieval)
- Builders
- Early Chola with Medieval Chola engineers
- Purpose
- Kollidam floodway preservation — north branch regulator preventing Kaveri delta avulsion
- Rediscovered
- 100 CE; 11th c. Brihadeeswarar Kollidam inscriptions; 1836 British sluice register
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.100 CE
Early Chola core construction
c.1010 CE
Brihadeeswarar inscription notes Kollidam sluice revenue
1836
British PWD registers 12 bays
On the ground
Structures & features
10.8420° N · 78.8180° E · 68 m · 2 mapped features
Kollidam North — Twelve-Bay Dovetail Sluice
hydraulic95-m granite sluice wall with 12 bays and interlocking dovetail lintels
10.8430° N · 78.8190° EKollidam North — Brihadeeswarar Inscription Stone
inscriptionGranite slab with 11th c. Tamil inscription detailing sluice tolls and delta revenue
10.8410° N · 78.8170° E