IDUKKI, August 23, 2026: The iconic Idukki Arch Dam and Cheruthoni Dam have opened to visitors as part of the Onam celebrations, offering tourists an opportunity to experience one of Kerala's most remarkable engineering landmarks and its surrounding high-range landscape.

The dams will remain open to visitors from August 22 to August 31, 2026, subject to weather and safety conditions. The special visitor programme has been arranged with strict regulations, and advance online booking is mandatory. Entry will not be permitted on Wednesdays or on days when a red weather alert is declared.

According to the visitor arrangements, a maximum of 250 people a day will be permitted to walk across the dam area, while up to 1,144 visitors can experience the site using buggy-car services. Visitors can enter between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm.

The reported entry fee is ₹100 for children and ₹150 for adults, including the buggy-car facility. Visitors choosing to walk across the dam will pay ₹50 for adults and ₹30 for children. Cameras and other electronic devices are not permitted inside the restricted dam area.

The temporary opening is expected to attract visitors during the Onam holiday period, particularly because Idukki Dam is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Kerala's high ranges. The massive arch dam, together with the Cheruthoni and Kulamavu dams, forms the Idukki reservoir system and is closely associated with Kerala's hydroelectric power generation.

The opening also comes at a time when the Idukki reservoir has benefited from improved monsoon inflows. Recent data from Kerala's power system showed the Idukki reservoir at around 56% storage on August 20, reflecting the significant improvement in water availability during the monsoon season.

Visitors travelling from Munnar to Idukki can combine a visit to the dam with other attractions in the high ranges of Idukki. The scenic mountain landscape, reservoir and surrounding forested hills make the region particularly attractive during the monsoon and Onam holiday season.

The visitor programme is being conducted under safety and operational restrictions, and access may be changed depending on weather conditions or official instructions. Travellers are therefore advised to check the latest visitor information and complete their online booking before travelling.

With the Idukki and Cheruthoni dams temporarily open to the public, the Onam holiday period offers travellers another opportunity to experience one of Kerala's most significant landmarks from close range.