Mettur is all about the dam, built in 1934 on the river Cauvery. The dam walls are impressive but a visit to this place in summer is a let down. There are two sluice gates, one for high level and the other for low level. Both are likely to be closed in summer. The reservoir behind the dam is vast but the water level is low. Even when the sluice gates are open, the fall of water cannot be more than 30 feet. The dam itself is 120 feet high.

Mettur is all about the twin parks laid out at the foot of the dam. Families, couples and friends come here to relax. Kids and even adults play in the swings and slides. A handful of deer graze in an enclosure. Eating is a big part of any Indian tourist. It is a curious sight to observe groups carrying loads of food baskets, steel containers and aluminium cooking pots into the parks. Around noon, the place is an open air dining area.

When lunch is done, someone has to clean the remains of the day. Until then, the place is a mess. Just outside the park, is another curious sight. Juice is squeezed out of sugarcane. Raw mango is sliced and served with chilli powder and salt. Fish slices are kept marinated to complete redness. These are deep fried in oil when a customer has picked and paid for one.

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