Amazingly Beautiful Dams To Visit In India

Remember how we learned about the dams in school? Well, I always found the dams to be extremely fascinating; with their huge, well-built walls and waters flowing through gates supplying the oh-so essential water to the people living in the surrounding areas. India is called the 'Land of Many Rivers' and agriculture is one of the most prominent occupations here. India has over 4000 dams, built on various rivers, tributaries, natural lakes and reservoirs. These huge and mighty structures stand tall, serving people and bringing them closer.

While each one of it is unique in its own way, some of these dams have proven to be great examples of engineering marvels, impounding many great rivers of India.

Bhakra Nangal Dam

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is a gravity dam built across the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh. It is the largest dam in India having a height of 225 mt and also the second largest dam in Asia. Its reservoir is known as the 'Gobind Sagar Lake' and is the second largest reservoir in India. Travelers coming here can enjoy a picnic and also catch glimpses of various birds.

Tehri Dam

The Tehri Dam is built on the Bhagirathi River in Uttrakhand. It is the highest dam in India and has a height of 261 m. It is the eighth tallest dam in the world. The dam water reservoir is used for irrigation, water supply, and the generation of hydroelectricity. It is one of the most scenic places in Uttrakhand and tourists coming here are left awe struck by its beauty.

Hirakud Dam

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha and is one of the longest dams in the world, measuring nearly 26 km in length. The dam has two observation towers namely 'Gandhi Minar' and 'Nehru Minar'. The water in the reservoir is used for irrigation and power generation. It is one of the major attractions in Odisha and travelers come here to enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds the place. It is also a heaven for bird lovers as many species of birds can be sighted here.

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

It is the world's largest masonry dam and boasts of a height of 124 m. It is built across the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh and is a tourist hub. The reservoir is said to provide water for irrigation and consumption purposes to the nearby regions. It is the perfect place to head to for a picnic with your family, as it lies in the lap of nature and you can sight many birds here. Also, the view from the top of the dam is absolutely breathtaking!

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Sardar Sarovar Dam, also known as the Narmada Dam at a height of 163m is another large and beautiful dam in India. It is built over the Narmada river in Gujarat and provides water to the drought prone areas of Kutch and Saurastra. It is a major tourist spot for travelers and you can explore the regions nearby. If you are lucky then you might also get a small tour inside the dam where you can learn more about its workings.