Malampuzha Gardens sit below the dam and make the visit feel more like a local outing than a utility stop. There are lawns, paths, viewpoints and the kind of public-garden features that Indian families quite rightly enjoy more than rushed travellers do.
Come if you have children, spare time, or a fondness for everyday leisure spaces. If you are trying to keep a tight itinerary, the fort and Kalpathy are more distinctive.