TEHRI DAM: This Dam stands tall as one of the highest dams in Asia and the highest dam in India. With a length of 575 meters, a crest width of 20 meters, and a base width of 1,128 meters, Tehri is a reservoir for 2.6 cubic kilometers with a surface area of 52 square kilometers. Tehri Dam is the world's most significant hydroelectric water project and draws water from the rivers Bhagirathi and Bhilangana which flow from the Himalayas. Apart from supplying water for irrigation and daily consumption, the dam generates 1,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity.
The thought germ for Tehri was conceived in 1961 and in 1978 the work to turn this dream into reality was undertaken. Despite the opposition the construction received due to possible environmental hazards and the postponement of development because of a shortage of funds, the dam was finally finished in 2006 with the help of the USSR overcoming financial and economic obstacles. Tehri Dam draws a large number of tourists to its emerald-green reservoir which is the Tehri Lake. Amidst the picturesque green hills, Tehri Lake has become a perfect weekend getaway for many.
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BHAKRA NANGAL DAM: Situated on the river Satluj, the Bhakra Nangal dam's height is 741 ft (226m), which makes it one of the highest gravity dams in the world. The Gobind Sagar Reservoir, named after Guru Gobind Singh, is created by this dam which is the third-largest reservoir in India after Indira Sagar Dam and Nagarjunasagar Dam. The father of Bhakra Nangal Dam is Sir Chaudhari Chhotu Ram. He conceived the Bhakhra Dam way back in 1923, to rid the farmers of the so-called economic plague-spots of erstwhile Punjab state.
Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River and is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The dam, located at a gorge near the upstream Bhakra village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, which is about 13 km upstream from Nangal township, is Asia’s second tallest at 225.55 m (740 ft) high next to the 261m Tehri Dam also in India. Its reservoir, known as the “Gobind Sagar”, stores up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water.
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SARDAR SAROVAR DAM: Built on the Narmada River, the Sardar Sarovar Dam was a project started in 1979. The dam is the largest dam built on the river Narmada, aimed at providing drinking water, irrigation water, and hydro-power for the state of Gujrat. Given its innate beauty and tourist facilities, the dam has grown into a famous tourist destination. The Gujrat government also plans to set up solar panels in the Narmada canal to generate solar power which would help the villagers of Gujrat.
There is a guided tour facility here that shows you the six points to visit at the dam. The points are- the foundation stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru, a garden, a lake where you can go boating, the first lock gate, and a trekking point for students who participate in nature camps. October and November are the best months to visit the dam. The Sardar Sarovar Project is one of the largest water resources projects in India covering four major states - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Dam's spillway discharging capacity (30.7 lakhs cusecs) would be the third highest in the world.
HIRAKUD DAM: One of the longest dams in the world, Hirakud Dam is constructed on the Mahanadi River in Odisha. The dam is the longest human-made dam in the world and one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects in India. The dam's lake is called the Hirakud Reservoir, which is a significant tourist attraction. One can see a substantial number of migratory birds here during the winter season. Not only is it an ideal atmosphere that facilitates the flourishing of wildlife but also a site of scenic views. During the construction of the dam, some old temples were discovered which led to scuba diving to explore the waters of Hirakud. You can visit these temples in May and June by boat. The total length of the dam is 25 km and the Main length of the dam is 4.8 km. Hirakud has an artificial lake is 783 km2.
They generate electricity. They have a capacity of generating a capacity of power generated 347.5 MW. The bulk of the Hirakud dam contains earth, concrete, and masonry materials sufficient to make a road 8 meters wide and pave it from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Amritsar to Dibrugarh in Assam. From horizon to horizon the reservoir forms the largest artificial lake in Asia with an area of 746 sq. Kms. and a shoreline over 640 km.
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NAGARJUNA SAGAR DAM: The world's largest masonry dam, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is built on the mighty river Krishna. The dam is 490 feet tall, 16 kilometers long with 26 gates, and has a capacity of 11, 472 million cubic meters. The majestic structure, coupled with irresistible beauty attracts a large number of tourists. The dam is named after a Buddhist monk Acharya Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna Sagar irrigates the districts of Nalgonda and Prakasam, an area of more than 10 lakh acres. In 1972 with the help of around 45,000 to 70,000 workers, the dam was completed.
The reservoir which is perched next to the dam is a beautiful spot. Apart from that, there are attractions like Nagarjunakonda Island, which lies in the center of the lake. This island has the remains of the Buddhist settlement which was drowned during the construction and was relocated there. The dam has a storage capacity of nearly 11,472 million cubic meters with an irrigation capacity for 10 acres of land. The dam measures 150m tall and 16 km in length while also being a major tourist attraction. It is among the first irrigation projects started by the Indian Government as an element of the Green Revolution.
IDUKKI DAM: Is located in the South-Indian state of Kerala. It is an arch dam with a double curvature and is built on River Periyar. Precisely, the dam is constructed in a gorge between two hills, Kuravathi and Kuravan. It is at a height of about 550 feet and is a breathtaking sight in the otherwise rugged terrain. With this height, it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia. Make sure to add one of these highest dams in India to your bucket list whenever you are nearby since they offer you a unique experience that brings together adventure, knowledge, and beauty.
The green landscape with the pristine waters is also a good idea for a weekend getaway. The Idukki Dam is a double curvature Arch dam constructed across the Periyar River in a narrow gorge between two granite hills locally known as Kuravan and Kurathi in Kerala. It is a 168.91 m (554 ft) tall arch dam. The dam stands between the two mountains – Kuravanmala (839)m and Kurathimala (925)m. This dam was constructed along with two other dams at Cheruthoni and Kulamavu. Visiting the Dam is Limited to Public Holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Idukki Dam is one of the highest arch reservoirs in Asia.
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