Aliyar Dam and Monkey Falls: a day trip from Coimbatore

Aliyar Dam is near Pollachi, at the foothills of the Anaimalai Hills, while Monkey Falls sits nearby on the Pollachi–Valparai Road. The two stops are close enough to plan together, but they are separate attractions with different settings.

Aliyar Dam was built across the Aliyar River between 1959 and 1969, primarily to provide irrigation for Pollachi and nearby agricultural areas. Its visitor area includes a park, aquarium, small theme park and boating options. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation operates boating, with rowboats, pedal boats and speed boats among the choices.

Monkey Falls is the popular name for Kavi Aruvi, a waterfall in the Anaimalai Hills of Coimbatore district. Its position on the Pollachi–Valparai Road makes it a natural companion to a visit to Aliyar.

A practical sequence is to visit Aliyar Dam first and then continue to Monkey Falls on the Pollachi–Valparai Road. This keeps the itinerary moving from the dam near Pollachi toward the falls, rather than treating the two attractions as unrelated stops.

At Aliyar Dam, you can start with the reservoir area and its visitor facilities. If boating is operating, the options include rowboats, pedal boats and speed boats. Availability can vary, so check the official site before you go.

Continue to Monkey Falls for the waterfall stop. Its visiting hours end at 5:00 PM, so plan that visit within the posted window and leave room for the road journey between stops. The order can be reversed if your plans require it, but the hours make timing the falls visit worth considering.

From Coimbatore, travel toward Pollachi and then follow SH78 to Aliyar Dam. The road distance from Pollachi to the dam is about 25 km. Monkey Falls is 63 km from Gandhipuram, a central Coimbatore reference point.

Monkey Falls is 74 km from Coimbatore International Airport and 70 km from Coimbatore Railway Station. These are distance figures, not journey-time estimates; allow for your departure point and road conditions when arranging the day.

From Coimbatore, you can set out toward Pollachi from Vels Grand rooms in Coimbatore.

Monkey Falls is open from 09:00 AM to 5:00 PM, costs ₹50 per person and can be contacted at 04259-235385. Hours, fees and access arrangements can change, so confirm them before setting out.

At Aliyar Dam, visitor facilities include a park, aquarium, small theme park and boating. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation operates the boating options. Confirm current access and boating arrangements before setting out.

Check current access and conditions at Monkey Falls before you drive there, particularly if recent rain has affected the site. Water flow and safety conditions can influence access; you can call 04259-235385 with enquiries.

Also confirm Monkey Falls’ hours and tariff, along with the operating status of boating at Aliyar Dam. For the drive, use Pollachi as the route reference and SH78 for the road from Pollachi to the dam. If you’re planning another waterfall stop around Coimbatore, Kovai Kutralam Falls access and permit planning is a separate option to research.