Top 10 Biggest and Largest Dams in India by Height
Dams, barrages and reservoirs in India are built for different purpose such as irrigation, hydroelectricity generation and also in terms of storage of water. Here is the list of largest, biggest, tallest, longest and highest dams of India.
1. Tehri Dam (260.5 m) – Highest/Tallest Dam in India
Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India with a height of 261 metres in Uttrakhand across Bhagirathi river. The reservoir used for the irrigation, water supply and for hydroelectric generation of 1,000 megawatts.
2. Bhakra Dam (226 m) – Himachal Pradesh
Bhakra Dam on Sutlej river has a height of 226 metres, is the second tallest dam in India by height and also the Gobind Sagar reservoir created by Bhakra Dam is the third largest reservoir in India by total capacity.
3. Idukki Dam (168.91 m) – Kerela
Idukki Dam across the Periyar river is one of the highest arch dams in Asia and stored water is used to produce electricity of 780 MW hydroelectric power station. The dam along with two Cheruthoni and Kulamavu creates a large artificial lake between the two mountains.
4. Koldam Dam (167 m) – Himachal Pradesh
The Koldam Dam Hydropower Project across the Sutlej River in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh is used for hydroelectric power generation by NTPC with 800 MW power station. Koldam Dam is embankment dam and one of the top tallest dam in India by height with 167 m total height.
5. Sardar Sarovar Dam (163 m) – Gujarat
Sardar Sarovar gravity dam on the Narmada river in Gujarat is one of the largest dams in the world and also is the largest structure to be built on Narmada valley project. The dam has fullest height of 163 meter and 30 Gates for irrigation and hydroelectricity.
6. Ranjit Sagar Dam (160 m)
Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi river situated near Pathankot city of Punjab and Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, for both irrigation and power generation purposes and also the dam is one of the highest earth-fill dams in India.
7. Srisailam Dam (145.10 m) – Andhra Pradesh
Srisailam Dam across the Krishna river in Kurnool district is biggest dam of Andhra Pradesh by height, constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills.
8. Chamera Dam (140 m) – Himachal Pradesh
Chamera Dam near the Dalhousie town is another highest dam of India across the ravi river in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The reservoir of the dam is a popular location for water sports and activities like rowing, boating, canoeing and angling.
9. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (124 m) – Andhra Pradesh
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam across the Krishna river was one of the most earliest multi purpose irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India. The dam creates second biggest water reservoir in India with gross storage capacity of 11.472 billion cubic metres.
10. Koyna Dam (103 m) – Maharashtra
Koyna Dam on Koyna river is the largest dams in Maharashtra by height with installed capacity of 1,920 MW and also has one of the biggest underground hydroelectric power plant in India.
Longest Dam in India – Hirakud Dam (25.8 km)
Hirakud Dam is the longest dams in India with total length of 25.8 km, build across the Mahanadi river in Odisha.
Largest Reservoir in India – Indirasagar Reservoir (9,890,701 acre ft)
Indirasagar Dam on the Narmada river in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh creates the largest reservoir in India, followed by Nagarjunasagar reservoir and Gobind Sagar reservoir.
Rihand Dam – Big Dam of India by Volume
Rihand Dam with 91.46 m height is a concrete gravity dam and one of the largest dam of India by volume and also create one of the largest artificial lake in India called Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.
Dhebar Lake in Udaipur district of Rajasthan is India’s second-largest artificial lake, after Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar, surrounding Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary and marble dam across the Gomati river.
Major Under construction Dam in India – Lakhwar Dam (204 m)
Tallest Under construction dam of India with height of 204 m for the purpose of irrigation of 40,000 hectare land and 927 MW power generation.
Pakal Dul Dam in Jammu & Kashmir and Kishau Dam are another two tallest under construction dam in India.
Polavaram National Project of India
Polavaram Project is the biggest under construction National project of India on the Godavari River, also boost tourism in Andhra Pradesh with Papikonda National Park and the back water spreads into some parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States.
