The nation’s marvels of architecture and civil engineering are dams. They provide the state and nearby areas with drinking water and irrigation services, as well as a significant amount of hydroelectric power. There are many dams in India, some of which are among the largest dams in the world. However, few people are familiar with the names of India’s biggest dams.
India is home to several popular dams that play a significant role in water resource management, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control. The top largest dams in India that are also popular tourist destinations are listed in this article.
Famous Dams in India
Here are some of the most well-known dams in India:
1. Tehri Dam, Uttarakhand:
Tehri Dam, the largest dam in India, is ranked eighth on the list of the world’s highest dams. The Bhagirathi River runs through the area. It is a multipurpose embankment dam made of rock and dirt fill. The first part of the dam was finished in 2006, and work is currently being done on the next two phases. The dam produces 1,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity and is utilized for agriculture, municipal water supply, and power generation.
2. Indira Sagar Dam, Madhya Pradesh:
It is situated in the Khandwa area of Madhya Pradesh and stores the most water of any dam in India. The Narmada River is one of the most significant rivers in India in terms of size, presence, and utility. The irrigation and power-generating Indira Sagar Dam has grown to be highly well-liked by tourists.
Construction of the Indira Sagar Dam began in 1984 and was completed in 2005. The dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of about 92 meters (302 feet) and a length of approximately 653 meters (2,142 feet). It has a vast reservoir with a storage capacity of about 12.22 billion cubic meters (bcm) or 4.3 million acre-feet of water.
3. Krishnarajasagar Dam, Karnataka:
In Mysore, Karnataka, there is a masonry dam called the Krishnarajasagar Dam that was constructed along the Kaveri River. The dam stands at an impressive height and stretches across the river, creating a vast reservoir known as the Krishnarajasagar Reservoir.
The Brindavans, the neighborhood where the Hindu deity Krishna was born and raised, are nearby. It contains a garden that is well-known on its own as a garden park and tourism destination. It is also situated in Mysore, one of India’s most picturesque regions that is frequently covered in the media.
4. Bhakra Dam, Himachal Pradesh:
In Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, on the Sutlej River, lies this concrete gravity dam. The third-largest reservoir in India, Gobind Sagar, is created by the dam. Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation’s first Prime Minister, referred to it as the “New Temple of Resurgent India.” The dam’s infrastructure draws visitors from all around the nation.
5. Sardar Sarovar Dam, Gujarat:
The largest project that will be built on the Narmada River is also known as the Narmada Dam. The dam supplies water to Kutch and Saurashtra, two dry regions that frequently experience severe drought issues. In the year 1961, the dam’s initial foundation was set. Along with Gujarat, the dam also benefited Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The dam also contains a reservoir with a capacity of 7,701,775 acre-feet.
6. Cheruthoni Dam, Kerala:
This dam is a concrete gravity type and is situated in Kerala. Tourists can choose from a wide range of experiences kinds at Cheruthoni Dam. It is near Idukki, a location on top of hills where you may go for a picnic in the open air or a daytime breakfast. From the very high top, you can also observe the panoramic perspective. Additionally, it features unusual types of animals found in nature reserves, which are popular with tourists.
7. Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu:
One of the most notable and well-known concrete dams in India is the Mettur Dam. It is a location for irrigation, electricity generation, and water conservation, as well as a place of natural beauty where you may relax or engage in photography. It is situated along the banks of the Kaveri River and is one of the oldest structures of its sort in India.
8. Hirakud Dam, Odisha:
Overlooking the Mahanadi River stands the dam. It is one of the earliest signs, of multifunctional river valley projects to get underway after Independence. One of the biggest dams in both India and the entire world, it. Two towers, the Minar and Nehru Minar can be seen on the dam. Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, Cattle Island, Vimleshwar Temple, and Huma Temple are a few of the top sights near the dam.
9. Bisalpur Dam, Rajasthan:
Rajasthan is where Bisalpur Dam is located, so it must have something there that attracts tourists—and it does! This dam is renowned for displaying a variety of birds from different species that frequent it naturally. It is situated alongside the Banas River in Tonks, Rajasthan.
10. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Telangana:
One of India’s top 10 dams is the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. Between Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh and Nalgonda District in Telangana, there is a masonry dam that spans the Krishna River. The building was built in 1955. It is one of India’s largest dams and a hydroelectric and irrigation project with a variety of uses. West Godavari, Nalgonda, Krishna, Suryapet, Guntur, and Prakasam districts benefit from the irrigation water provided by the dam. One of the largest reservoirs in the nation is present there.
11. Maithon Dam, Jharkhand:
Its current location in the Damodar Valley traces its roots back to prominent initiatives like the DVC. The Maithon Dam is very popular among West Bengali tourists. It is a prominent power producer and displays tribal ethnicity.
12. Rihand Dam, Uttar Pradesh:
The largest dam in India is the Rihand Dam, sometimes referred to as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar. It includes the Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar reservoir. One of India’s biggest man-made reservoirs is this one. The Sonbhadra District is home to this concrete gravity dam. In Bihar, the dam provides water for irrigation.
13. Koyna Dam, Maharashtra:
The Shivaji Lake and the stunning mountains that surround it make the Koyna Dam, the largest of its sort in Maharashtra, one of the most picturesque places and dams in all of India. Completed in 1963, it ranks as one of the largest civil engineering projects in India.
14. Bhavanisagar Dam, Tamil Nadu:
Bhavanisagar Dam, the largest masonry dam in the world, is at the top of a distinct kind of list with architecture resembling classical Greek structures. It is close to Coimbatore and draws a lot of people. Since India has an agrarian economy, productivity and development go hand in hand with water. Dams are essential to this construction and are now popular tourist destinations. Visit one and come back with tales to tell!
15. Idukki Dam, Kerela:
Idukki Dam, located in the state of Kerala, India, is a significant arch dam built across the Periyar River in the Idukki district. Completed in 1976, it stands as one of the tallest arch dams in Asia and is a vital component of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project. The dam was constructed to address the increasing energy demands of Kerala and generate hydroelectric power.
The Idukki Dam has a height of approximately 168 meters (551 feet) and a length of about 365 meters (1,198 feet). It creates a vast reservoir known as the Idukki Reservoir, which spans over an extensive area and offers a scenic landscape with surrounding hills and forests.
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The country has numerous other dams and reservoirs, each contributing to water management and power generation in their respective regions. From the towering structures of Tehri Dam and Bhakra Nangal Dam to the iconic Sardar Sarovar Dam and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, these engineering marvels showcase India’s commitment to water resource management, irrigation, flood control, and clean energy generation.
