Kodiveri Dam, perhaps, the only entertainment spot in the district, does not fail to impress tourists. For, it is where elders and children alike indulge in the fun of swimming and bathing for hours non-stop, particularly during the weekends. Tourists, irrespective of age, drench themselves enthusiastically under the waterfalls.
And the entertainment is easy on the pockets; the entry ticket costs just Rs. 4 for a person.
Ever since water was released last month to the Kodiveri Check Dam from the Bhavani Sagar Reservoir for irrigation of fields wetted by Thadapalli-Arakankottai canals, there has been a spurt in the number of tourists, according to coracle rowers who make fast bucks offering rides to tourists.
At other times, the coracle rowers who belong to villages in the surroundings eke out a living by fishing. Incidentally, a section of tourists visit the spot to taste the freshly caught and fried fish.
The picturesque location of the check dam is what provides the spot the identity of a tourist destination. The play area for children and the grass lawns, though not maintained well, whip up the ambience for the visitors to slip into the holiday mood instantly. The serene spot gains vibrancy during weekends, according to the staff of Public Works Department that maintains the check dam.
Tourists visit in units of families as alcohol is prohibited.
Using surveillance cameras, the police deal strictly with those found possessing liquor or even entering the dam area in an inebriated condition, the staff say.
According to regular visitors from nearby places, the spot could be developed further. To begin with, improvement in the toilet facilities for the convenience of tourists coming from distant places will further enhance the image of the location, they say.
