Dams are perfect engineering and architectural marvels. These are strong and highly durable concrete walls and structures that cannot be penetrated. It is primarily used for the generation of hydroelectricity. It is further imperative for industrial usage, irrigation and a wide variety of domestic purposes.
India is a country that is home to hundreds of dams. This is due to the availability of water resources, in form of rivers. This article will guide you over the 10 highest dams in India which are pure engineering wonders.
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Top 10 Highest Dam in India
- Tehri Dam
- Bhakra Nangal Dam
- Idduki Dam
- Koldam Dam
- Sardar Sarovar Dam
- Ranjit Sagar Dam
- Srisailam Dam
- Chamera Dam
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
- Hirakud Dam
Tehri Dam
Tehri Dam is the largest and highest dam in India with a height of 261 meters. It has a length of 575 meters. It is made of earth fills and solid rocks. The first phase of this dam was completed in 2006 and the remaining two phases are still pending to be completed. It is also the eighth tallest dam in this entire world. The water from the reservoir of this dam has a capacity of over 2,00,000 acre-feet. This water is used for multiple purposes which includes generation of hydroelectricity, farming and irrigation. It is one of the tourist spots that a lot of tourists in India visit often.
Bhakra Nangal Dam
This is the second tallest dam in India. It is situated across the Sutlej River. It is located in the region of Himachal Pradesh. It has a height of around 225 meters and a length of 520 meters. In Asia, this is the second largest dam. It is a dam which has multiple purposes. On the face of earth, this dam has the highest gravity. It is structured in a durable manner to ensure that the water is held properly and that the fields are not harmed during rainstorms. Although it is beautifully constructed, entry into this dam was restricted in 2009 due to security reasons.
Idduki Dam
This is a dam which is located in the region of Kerala on the River of Periyar. It is one of the tallest and highest dams in Asia. It is majorly used to store water and is primarily utilized for production of electricity. It has the capacity of producing around 780 MW and is equipped with such power stations. The dam has also created an artificial lake between the mountains. This has now become a popular tourist spot. If you are into dams, then this is one of the places that you must visit.
Koldam Dam
This dam is situated across the Sutlej River. This is a hydropower project which is situated in the Bilaspur district. It is majorly used for power generation and has a power station of 800 MW. It is an embarkment dam. With a total height of 167 meter, this dam features in tallest dams in India. It is an absolute engineering wonder which a lot of civil engineers take inspiration from. In fact, it is also visited by a number of engineering students.
Sardar Sarovar Dam
This is one of the most massive projects that have been undertaken in the region of Gujrat. It has been constructed over the River of Narmada. It has a height of around 163 meters and a length of 1210 meters. It plays one of the most important roles in providing water to the arid regions of Kutch. These areas are often faced by droughts. The dam’s foundation was laid in the year of 1961. It is one of the projects which have benefited India in a significant manner.
Ranjit Sagar Dam
This dam is situated on the River of Ravi. It is located near the city of Pathankot which is in the region of Punjab. It is majorly used for power generation purposes. Furthermore, the dam is use for farming and irrigation as well. It is one of the most beautiful dams in India. It has a height of 160 meters and is one of the highest earth-fill dams. It is a must visit for people who want to experience dams.
Srisailam Dam
This dam is situated in the region of Andhra Pradesh. It is located across the Krishna River. It is based in the district of Kurnool. It is the tallest, biggest and the highest dam in Andhra Pradesh. It is amazingly constructed in the gorge in the Hills of Nallamala. It has a length of around 145 meters.
Chamera Dam
This is one of the other highest dams in India. It is situated near the Dalhousie Town. It is based across the Ravi River in the district of Chamba. It is a popular location for different water sports and activities. This includes boating, rowing, angling and canoeing. It has a length of 140 meters.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
This dam is based across the River of Krishna. It is one of the earliest hydro electric and multi purpose irrigation projects in India. It has a length of 124 meters. It has a staggering capacity of 11.473 billion cubic meters.
Hirakud Dam
This dam is built over the River of Mahanadi which is situated in the location of Odisha. It is one of the tallest, and in fact longest, dams in the world. It has a height of 61 meters and a length of 26 kilometers. There are two observation towers situated on this dam. There are nearby tourist attractions such as the Huma Temple and Cattle Island which are visited by number of tourists each year. The reservoir is being used for a number of reasons such as irrigation, flood control and massive power generation in India.
The bottom line
Dams are interesting places to visit. Above are the tallest dams in India which you can visit to inspire yourself with the engineering wonders in the country. Nevertheless, there are other dams as well that can be explored.