The dam can be reached by road 30 km (19 mi) from Tiruvannamalai City.

Parks are maintained inside the dam for tourists to visit and the gardens have been used by the film industry.

Sathanur dam and reservoir is the third largest in Tamil Nadu after Mettur and Bhavanisagar.

The project is covered under CADA (Command Area Development Authority) Scheme.

An area of 7,185 ha (17,750 acres) of land is benefited by the left bank canal and 100 ha (250 acres) of land is benefited by the right bank canal in Thandrampet and Thiruvannamalai blocks.