Red Hills Lake is situated in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. ‘Puzhal Aeri’ is the local name of this water body. Earlier, this lake used to be fed and filled by rains during monsoon season. There was no other inlet to add water into the lake. Water from this lake is drawn for supplying to the metropolis of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The lake was built in 1876. Originally, it was a just a minor tank with little holding capacity. Initially the utilization of the lake water was essentially for irrigation purposes.

Location

Red Hills Lake is located in Ponneri taluk. This place is about 18 kms from the city of Chennai. A road from Chennai in north direction takes the visitor to Red Hills Lake.

Hydrology

The lake is a product of building a low dam, which could hold 500 million cubic feet of water. The dam comprised of two masonry structures built from locally available laterite stones. The capacity needed to be increased to satiate the drinking water needs of the people of Chennai. Presently, two weirs of 178 meters and 220 meters length are instrumental in increasing the holding capacity of this water body to 3300 million cubic feet. The capacity increase is almost six times more. The weirs are 5 meters deep. The bund has a length of 7 kms. The bund serves the purpose of retaining water in the lake.

Presently, this lake has additional inputs from Poondi reservoir and Cholavaram Lake. The incoming water reaches Red Hills Lake through upper and lower supply channels. Rainwater in the catchment area of the lake forms a major source.

Tourism

Some visitors visit the town of Puzhal for paying obeisance to Parameshwari Temple.

How to Reach

By Train

This lake is just 18 kms away from capital city of Chennai. This distance is covered by road travel. Reaching Chennai from any corner of India is made very easy through network of railways.

By Air

Chennai International Airport serves to all international as well as domestic travelers. Numerous flights to and from Chennai, makes the travel plans hassle free.

By Road

Roads through Tamil Nadu are maintained well. Road travel by bus or taxi can be conveniently undertaken.