Oldest Longest Largest and Biggest Dams in India
As per last counting record, there are total 5,334 number of large dams in India and around 447 major dams are under construction.
India ranks third after China and the United States in terms of list of dams and reservoirs in the world also the third largest producer of electricity in the world.
Tallest/Highest Dam in India – Tehri Dam 260.5 m
Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India with a height of 260.5 m on the Bhagirathi river. This multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam is also 13th tallest dam in the world.
Second Largest/Biggest Dam in India
Bhakra Nangal dam in India is the second largest dam of India with a height of 225 meters followed by Sardar Sarover and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.Lakhwar Dam, Idukki Arch Dam.
Longest Dam in India – Hirakud Dam 25.79 km
Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi river in Sambalpur district of Odisha is the longest dam in India with a length of 25.79 km.
The Hirakud reservoir is biggest artificial lake in India and one of the first major multipurpose river valley project.
Oldest Dam in India – Kallanai Dam
Kallanai Dam is the oldest dam in India and fourth oldest dam in the world. The Grand Anicut Kallanai Dam built by Karikala of Chola dynasty across the Kaveri river in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
Biggest Dam Under-construction – Lakhwar Dam 192 meter
Lakhwar Dam is 192 meter high concrete gravity dam in Uttarakhand. Under-construction Lakhwar Dam is one of the biggest hydroelectric power generation project, consist of Lakhwar Dam, Underground power station, Vyasi Dam and Katapathar Barrage.
10 Biggest Dam of Indian States
Checkout the list of important dames of the states in India along with reservoirs in the article. Dams are mainly built in order to produce electricity by using water.
- Nagarjunasagar Dam across river Krishna is the largest dam in Telangana.
- Srisailam Dam is the largest dam in Andhra Pradesh, In a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills .
- Sardar Sarovar Dam is the largest dam in Gujarat followed by Ukai Dam.
- Bhakra Dam is the largest dam in Himachal Pradesh, also third largest reservoir in India
- Tungabhadra Dam is largest dam in Karnataka followed by Bhadra Dam and Linganamakki Dam.
- Koyna Dam is the largest dam in Maharashtra followed by Bhatsa Dam and Bhandardara Dam.
- Mettur Dam is the largest dam in Tamil Nadu across the river Kaveri.
- Idukki Arch Dam situated between Kuravan and Kurathi mountains is the biggest dam in Kerala.
- Indira Sagar Dam is the largest dam in Madhya Pradesh in terms of water Reservoir.
- Tehri Dam is the largest dam of Uttarakhand located near Garhwal district.
- Rihand dam is the largest dam of Uttar Pradesh and known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.
Top 6 Types of Dams in India by Structure
The Idukki Dam in Kerala is the Biggest arch dam in India. Gravity dams generally require stiff rock foundations of high bearing strength while Arch-gravity dam is a dam with the characteristics of both an arch dam and a gravity dam.
- Arch Dam – Idukki Dam in Kerala
- Gravity Dam – Bhakra Dam of Himachal Pradesh
- Arch-Gravity Dam – Idukki Dam in Kerala
- Embankment Dam – Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand
- Masonry Dam – Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Barrage Dam – Prakasam Barrage of Vijayawada
Embankment dams are also known as earth-filled dam or rock-filled dam with large artificial reservoir. Barrage are diversion dam that consists of a number of large gates to control the amount of water passing through.
Top 5 Largest Reservoirs in India by Water Storage Capacity
This is a list of largest reservoirs in India by capacity including all artificial lakes. Most of the dams in India are maintained by the State Governments and National Hydro Electric Power Corporation.
- Indira Sagar Reservoir – Madhya Pradesh
- Nagarjuna Sagar – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand Dam) – Uttar Pradesh
- Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Dam) – Himachal Pradesh
- Sardar Sarovar (Sardar Sarovar Dam) – Gujarat
Run-of-the-river hydroelectric dam diverts water from the river to a near by power plant for hydroelectric generation. Run-of-the-river dams and power plants does NOT require water storage or limited amount of storage.
