The Aluva Siva Temple in Ernakulam famously gets submerged in Periyar River's water every time there is a flood. It reappears once the water receds and pilgrims celebrate it as a divine occasion. However, have you heard of a temple in Tamil Nadu that becomes visible only when the water of a dam, that houses the ancient temple, dries up? Tourists and history enthusiasts are excited that a 750-year-old Sri Madhava Perumal Kovil in Erode, which was submerged due to the construction of Bhavani Sagar Dam in 1948, has reappeared as the dam dried up in summer. The shrine, which is also referred to as Dhana Nayagar Kottai by some people, appears periodically once the water level reduces to less than 46 feet.
More temples under water?
In 2018 too, when the water level had receded, the roof of the temple was visible. Archaeologists say that a fort also stood in the place of the dam around 1,000 years ago. The merchants from here had reached Kerala via Wayanad for trade, according to historians. The fort also connected Tamil Nadu to Karnataka and was a major route of the pepper and spice trade. Besides, the British too had indulged in trade relations with Kerala by making the fort as a base.
The Bhavani Sagar dam was constructed after the independence to meet the drinking water and irrigation requirements in the Kongu region. The temple is 53 feet high while the reservoir has a capacity of 105 feet. Currently, the water level in the dam is 46 feet. Meanwhile, the researchers from the archaeological department say that more such temples may be visible if the water level further decreases.
