In the year 1864, Colonel Hamilton has marked a report about Berijam Lake area as the best site in the Palani Hills for a military cantonment or Sanatorium. Later, a military outpost was built here, Fort Hamilton, was named after him. Berijam lake was artificially created in 1867, when Collector of Madurai, donated part of his personal retirement funds for building the dam. Now, the dam and reservoir were enlarged and a pipeline was built to supply drinking water to the Periyakulam Municipality.