Old Anicut Dam - Tourist attraction in Dehri - Rohtas, India

In Bihar, the Son river has always been the stronghold for many rulers in Ancient, medieval as well as modern India. therefore, one can still find many archaeological remains on both sides of the river. In 1853, Coronel C. H. Dickens came up with an idea to make an Anicut at Dehri-On-Sone, to manage and control the river Sone. The Government of India (under the British Crown) hired the East India Irrigation and Canal Company for the project. The project started in 1870 and was completed in 1874, with an amount of Rs 15 lakhs. By 1876-77, the Sone Canal System was complete with both the Western and Eastern Canal system. It was 12,469 feet long, consisting of a mass of rubble stone laid to a uniform slope and stiffened by walls of masonry founded on shallow wells. The total length of the main canals was 209 miles of main canals, 149 branch canals, and 1,235 distributaries. At that time it was the largest irrigation endeavor in the country, some say it was one of the largest in the world. The canals brought huge benefits to agriculture and converted a large area of infertile land into a rich fertile area. After this people increased the cultivation of paddy and wheat, the main crop here. Later Indrapuri Barrage was built 8 km above Anicut. Two link canals connected the new reservoir to the old irrigation system. Due to the construction of the new barrage, people forgot both this anicut and its engineer C. H. Dickens. Because of our apathy, this place is turning into ruins. Locals visit the place for morning and evening walks. One can still find many old structures from the British era. This place can be a good destination for spending the weekend. The view of the river Sone is so alluring from here.

You must have heard about Rohtas "The Rice Bowl of Bihar", but you might not have heard about its journey. There was a time when the area was mostly Famine-prone, dry, and rugged due to its topography. The district has always been very rich in farming due to the fertile land and as it is surrounded by hills, there have never been many problems to access water here. In Bihar, the Son river has always been the stronghold for many rulers in Ancient, medieval as well as modern India. therefore, one can still find many archaeological remains on both sides of the river. Still, It was impossible to supply water to all the farms. The water of this river could reach only a few areas because there was no proper arrangement of a canal for water management. And on the other hand, due to the high water level of the river, the river was causing a lot of damage to the surrounding areas in the rainy season. In 1853, Coronel C. H. Dickens came up with an idea to make an Anicut at Dehri-On-Sone, to manage and control the river Sone. The Government of India (under the British Crown) hired the East India Irrigation and Canal Company for the project. The project started in 1870 and was completed in 1874, with an amount of Rs 15 lakhs. By 1876-77, the Sone Canal System was complete with both the Western and Eastern Canal system. It was 12,469 feet long, consisting of a mass of rubble stone laid to a uniform slope and stiffened by walls of masonry founded on shallow wells. The total length of the main canals was 209 miles of main canals, 149 branch canals, and 1,235 distributaries. At that time it was the largest irrigation endeavor in the country, some say it was one of the largest in the world. The canals brought huge benefits to agriculture and converted a large area of infertile land into a rich fertile area. After this people increased the cultivation of paddy and wheat, the main crop here. Later Indrapuri Barrage was built 8 km above Anicut. Two link canals connected the new reservoir to the old irrigation system. Due to the construction of the new barrage, people forgot both this anicut and its engineer C. H. Dickens. Because of our apathy, this place is turning into ruins. Locals visit the place for morning and evening walks. One can still find many old structures from the British era. This place can be a good destination for spending the weekend. The view of the river Sone is so alluring from here.

It's nice place for sunset and sun rise in Dehri on son. It built in 1874.

OLD ANICUT DAM OLD ANICUT DAM Old Anicut Barrage Built by Britishers in 1868 on Sone to provide irrigation to the old Shahabad areas, an excellent annicut, which answered to the water needs of this area today, lies in ruins. The annicut barrage near Dehri-On-Sone and its canal system was the first of its kind successful structure made on any river in the world providing irrigation to huge areas in old Shahabad. The engineering marvel of those times has attracted researchers and experts from all over the world. American engineers are recorded as having visited the site and copied its technique to bring about green revolution in their own country in the 19th century. British military engineer H. Dickens, posted in Shahabad in 1855, conceived the idea of making a canal system on Sone for irrigation purposes to bring prosperity to this region, known for countless rebellion which were a challenge to law and order in the time of the empire. He submitted a detailed project report to the British government in 1860 as a means to channel people into productive work and wean them away from rebellion. A company 'East India Irrigation and Canal Company Limited' was founded in 1867 to construct and monitor the irrigation and transportation system. The construction work started in 1868 and the 14- feet high and 12469 feet (about 3 mile) long mega stone structure along with 218 mile long network of canals were completed at the whopping cost Rs.68 crore in 1873. The engineers had to face a big problem in overcoming 180 feet slope downwards to river Ganga at Ara and Buxer. They solved it by small sluice gates to maintain water level at several places. However, the annicut, which worked wonders for the regions irrigation potential for more 190 years, become defunct for want of sufficient water due to heavy slit deposited in its basin after construction of bansagar and rihand dams on the Sone. The barrage was further resigned to history after the construction of the Indrapuri barrage at a distance of 7 kms upstream to meet the irrigation needs in 1967. However, the annicut's canal system still exists and is even now the lifeline for farmers in nine districts, which has been the historians and architects of different countries. Earlier, the British Government used to make canals for water transportation in its colonies but this one was modeled as irrigation canal sin ancient India as found in excavations at Indus Valley civilization. The barrage helped stream irrigation water to Shahabad and tamed the rebellions on 1857.

This is complelety open area with Sone River Bank, visit this place in Evening/morning in summer Days, and rest of the Days you can visit any time. Suggestion regarding summer is suggeted due to it beace so much swetty place in summer due to sand and open area.

Nice place and picnic spot

Best for morning and evening walk you'll get the experience of nature .

Heart Of Dehri. Nice place to visit. It's Near River Sone So it has nice view. must visit with friends and family.