About 1800 years ago, the king Karikala of the Early Chola dynasty saw a mighty river that came gushing from the forests. At the same time, the agricultural land of Cholamandalam, or the Kaveri delta region, saw inclement weather conditions. Having to depend only on the rains for irrigation, the farmers had a choice between extreme drought or extreme flooding of the Cauvery. At Kavarapattu, the Kollidam River makes one final curve to end its meandering journey.