Mathoor Aqueduct
The Mathoor Aqueduct (also known as the Mathur Aqueduct or the Mathur Hanging Trough) is a historic aqueduct located in the village of Mathoor in the Kottayam district of the state of Kerala, India. It is a unique engineering marvel that was built in the 19th century to provide a reliable source of water for the cultivation of rice and other crops in the region.
The Mathoor Aqueduct consists of a series of concrete troughs that are supported by a series of arches. The troughs are suspended from the arches, allowing them to cross over valleys and streams without the need for a solid foundation. The aqueduct is about 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) long and has a height of about 30 meters (98 feet) at its highest point. It was designed by a British engineer named T.J. Cockerell and constructed by the local people using locally available materials.
The Mathoor Aqueduct is a popular tourist attraction and is considered a masterpiece of engineering. It is an important part of the cultural heritage of Kerala and has been designated as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Mathoor Aqueduct was built in 1966 as a drought relief measure across the Pahrali River to transport water for irrigation from an elevated level of one hill to another. The irrigation water is used to irrigate the taluks of Vilavancode and Kalkulam.
The Mathoor Aqueduct spans the Parali River, a small river that originates in the Mahendragiri hills of Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats. The Mathoor Aqueduct itself transports water from the Pattanamkal canal for irrigation over the Parali, from one hill to another, for nearly a kilometre. This aqueduct is required due to the area’s undulating land terrain, which is also adjacent to the hills of the Western Ghats.
Mathoor Aqueduct is a concrete structure supported by 28 massive pillars that reach 115 feet in height. The trough structure is 7 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide. The trough is partially covered with concrete slabs, allowing people to walk on the bridge while watching the water flow through it. Some of the pillars are embedded in the rocks of the Pahrali River, while others are embedded in hills on either side. The bridge was built across the river Parazhiyar in Mathoor at a cost of Rs. 12.90/- lakhs.
There is road access to one end of the aqueduct and to the opposite side’s aqueduct foot (the level where the Pahrali flows). A massive flight of stairs, built recently, allows one to climb from the Pahrali river level to the trough.
Except in the summer, irrigation water flows through the trough for the majority of the year (from February to May).