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Dams are one of the most important barriers built across rivers to restrict or stop the flow of water. Essentially these are reservoirs that also control flooding. However these dams also supply water for human consumption, industrial usage, and irrigation purposes. Additionally the water is used for generating hydroelectric power as well. In India there are around 4000 dams and a lot of them are multipurpose dams as well. These dams not only serve the country but they also attract a lot of tourists as well. A lot of these dams serve as some of the most popular tourist locations. Out of all the dams there are some of the biggest dams in India that deserves all the attention.
Biggest Dams in India
In this article I will mention a list of biggest dams in India. The marvelous structure, finest engineering and the beauty of these locations together makes these sites worth exploring. In case you are opting for a different kind of holiday then you can surely choose any of these locations as your destination. You would even get to enjoy a lot of adventure activities on your visit to some of these dams. With time the locations had grown to be some of the significant tourist spots so you must opt for a visit there. Keep on reading this article as this will be a helpful article for you to know about the biggest dams in India.
Tehri Dam
Located in Uttarakhand the Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India with a height of 260 meters. This dam in India is 575 meters in length and is a reservoir of 2.6 cubic km. When it comes to hydro electric water projects this is one of the most significant dams you can find in India. Along with water supply the dam generates around 1,000 megawatts of hydro electricity. The construction of this dam dates back to 1961 when the idea of this construction was conceived. Later in 1978 finally the work started and it finished in 2006. Currently this is one of the popular sightseeing locations that you can visit in India and it attracts visitors. You can enjoy the beautiful view of this location whenever you are visiting there.
There is an emerald green reservoir here at Tehri Lake that offers various adventure activities that tourists can enjoy here. You can enjoy activities like water skiing, rafting, jet skiing, water zorbing, kayaking, parasailing etc here. The location is extremely popular as weekend getaway and the visitors enjoy the tranquil ambiance here. The natural beauty of this site makes it a prominent picnic spot as well. So in case you are looking for an offbeat destination to explore you can plan a visit to the Tehri Dam once.
Bhakra Nangal Dam
Another prominent dam you can find in India is the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Built across the Sutlej River this is a popular dam located in the Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh. This is also the largest dam in India with a height of 225 meters. Additionally this is also the second largest dam in Asia as well. If you are wondering about some of the biggest dams in India then this is definitely one of the dams that you must know about.
The reservoir of the Bhakra Nangal Dam is called the Gobind Sagar Lake and that is the main attraction of this dam. The reservoir can hold up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water making it the third largest reservoir in the country. There are 10 power generators on each side of this dam. And because of that it protects the fields during the monsoon seasons. Previously this dam was open for public visits and a lot of visitors used to visit here as well. But at present due to some security reasons this is closed for visitors, which is very unfortunate.
Sardar Sarovar Dam
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is one of the five biggest dams in India that deserves all the attention. This is one dam built on the Narmada River and it is the largest dam built on this river as well. The project of this dam started back in 1979. The main idea behind the construction of this dam was to provide water for drinking purposes. Other than that the dam also provides water for irrigation facilities as well as for the generation of hydroelectric power in the state of Gujarat. The government of Gujarat had made multiple efforts to develop this dam in multiple ways. They have planned to set up solar panels in the Narmada Canal in order to generate solar power.
Additionally the beauty of this location also attracts a chunk of visitors as well. And there are guided tours available here that will take you through the 6 points to explore this dam better. These 6 points include a garden, a lake, foundation stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru, a lock gate, a trekking point and nature camps. These attractions here attract visitors who love exploring this site. You will find some other campsites nearby as well that you can explore here. The months of October to November are the best times that you can plan a visit to this location. So whenever it is possible, surely make it a point to explore the beautiful location of this dam.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
The next name in the list of biggest dams in India is the iconic Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. This is the largest masonry dam in the world and it is 490 feet tall. Along with that this dam is 16 km in length and has 26 gates. It has the capacity to store 11,472 million cubic meters of water. Built on river Krishna this is one of the engineering marvels and a site to behold. The dam dates back to 1972 and around 45,000 to 70,000 workers were a part of the construction. For its unprecedented beauty the site is one of the popular tourist locations as well.
The name of the dam is after Acharya Nagarjuna, a Buddhist monk. The water of the dam supports irrigation in the districts of Nalgonda, Khammam, Guntur Prakasam etc. The whole area that the dam caters to is around 10 acres of land. The reservoir of this dam is what attracts the visitors here. Also there is the Nagarjunakonda Island that is located in the middle of this lake. If you are ever visiting this area you must plan a day trip to this dam and explore the beauty of this location to the fullest.
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Hirakud Dam
Constructed on Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha this is one of the longest dams that you can find in India. This is also the longest man made dam in the world and therefore it attracts all the attention. The dam is furthermore the first ever multipurpose major river valley project in the country. The reservoir of this dam is the Hirakud Reservoir and it is a significant tourist attraction in this area. The beauty of this location and the tranquility that prevails here makes it a popular site for picnics.
You can witness a number of migratory birds here so bird watchers would really enjoy a visit to this location. The atmosphere is serene and pleasant and you can really enjoy some peaceful hours here. There is an option for scuba diving here as well that adventure lovers can enjoy here to explore the dam more. The time from May to June is ideal to plan a visit here. So whenever you are searching for some of the biggest dams in India to explore, definitely plan a trip to the Hirakud Dam once.
Idukki Arch Dam
Located in Kerala the Idukki Arch Dam is again one of the engineering marvels. The dam is built on the Periyar River and is a pride of South India. This is one of the biggest dams in India and a popular sightseeing spot as well. This is an arch dam that has a double curvature. The dam is basically there in between Kuruvathi hills and Kuravan Hills. Undoubtedly the view of this location is as majestic as it can be and you will be mesmerized by the beauty of this stunning location.
It is located at a height of 550 feet that makes it one of the highest arch dams in Asia as well. The rugged terrain with the breathtaking trail makes this site one of the most exciting locations that you can explore in Kerala. So definitely plan a trip to this dam while exploring the prominent dams in the country.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about some of the biggest dams in India and these are some of the popular tourist spots to explore as well. The dams are the lifeline of so many locations and states anyway. After all, the supply of water to the various locations will always be the primary activity. Other than that the construction of these dams also facilitates hydro electric production, irrigation facilities and so much more. And these big scale dams are even more prominent when it comes to these activities. Other than being so significant they even offer breathtaking views as well. And the view and the serene ambiance attract visitors to these locations. And the government also puts in effort to promote tourism in these locations.
In this article I have mentioned the top 6 biggest dams in India that are most significant. If you are ever visiting these areas then you must make it a point to explore these locations in India. And for an unconventional and offbeat tourist destination also these sites are extremely popular. Do let me know if this article on the biggest dams is helpful for you in gathering information about these significant dams in the country.
