Peppara Dam

Peppara Dam is a masonry gravity dam located on the Karamana River in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. The dam offers a breathtaking view of the lush green surroundings and hills. The dam was built by the Kerala Water Authority in 1983 and has a catchment area of 83 square kilometers. The dam is 423 meters long and unifies all upper tributaries of the Karamana River, and regulates water flow to Aruvikkara to suit the needs of Trivandrum city. The dam receives an average rainfall of 481 centimeters and has a reservoir area of 5.82 square kilometers.

Peppara Dam is a significant landmark and provides drinking water to the city of Thiruvananthapuram and is also a part of the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, which is one of the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala and among the must-visit sightseeing places in Ponmudi. The sanctuary derives its name from Peppara Dam and consists of the catchment area of the Karamana River, which originates from Chemmunjimottai, the tallest hill within the sanctuary. Visitors to the sanctuary can trek to Vazhvanthol Waterfalls, which is a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire valley, and Peppara Dam, a quaint little picnic spot.

The best time to visit Peppara Dam and the wildlife sanctuary is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and dry. There is no entry fee for Peppara Dam and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM all days of the week. The dam is located 35 kilometers away from Thiruvananthapuram city and is easily reachable by road. Peppara is connected well by the highways to the other parts of Kerala and is easily accessible from Vithura on Trivandrum – Ponmudi road. Regular bus services are available from the major cities of Kerala via Trivandrum. The nearest railway station is Thiruvananthapuram Central which is located 37 kilometers away and the closest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport which is located 40 kilometers away from Peppara Dam.

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