Dams in India- List of all Major Dams in India (Highest, Longest, Oldest)

Dams in India- List of all Major Dams in India (Highest, Longest, Oldest)

What is the Dam?

A dam is a large barrier that is built across a river to control or regulate the flow of water. It is typically constructed using concrete, rocks, and other materials and is designed to hold back water to form a reservoir. Dams are used for a variety of purposes such as hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control, and water storage for drinking, industrial, and agricultural use. While dams have several benefits, they can also have some negative impacts on the environment such as altering the natural flow of rivers, disrupting fish migration patterns, and affecting the habitats of plants and animals.

Types of Dam

  • Gravity Dams: These are the most common type of dams and rely on the weight of the dam itself to resist the force of water. They are usually made of concrete or masonry and have a triangular shape. The weight of the dam pushes down on the foundation, which in turn resists the force of water.
  • Arch Dams: These are curved dams that rely on the strength of the arch to resist the force of water. They are typically made of concrete and require careful design and construction to ensure that the arch can withstand the forces acting on it.
  • Buttress Dams: These dams are similar to gravity dams, but have a series of buttresses or supports on the downstream side. These buttresses provide additional support and help distribute the weight of the dam more evenly.
  • Embankment Dams: These dams are made of compacted earth or rock and rely on their sheer size and weight to resist the force of water. They are often used in areas where materials for other types of dams are not readily available.
  • Composite Dams: These dams are a combination of two or more types of dams, such as an embankment dam with a concrete face. They are designed to take advantage of the benefits of each type of dam while minimizing their disadvantages.

Major Dams in India

some of the major dams in India. Here is a table that includes information about the highest, longest, oldest, and some other important dams in India:

Name of Dam Location River Height (m) Length (m) Year of Completion Purpose
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi 260 575 2006 Hydroelectricity, Irrigation
Bhakra Dam Himachal Pradesh Sutlej 226 520 1963 Hydroelectricity, Irrigation
Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat Narmada 163 1210 2017 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Hirakud Dam Odisha Mahanadi 61.8 25,800 1957 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Telangana Krishna 124 4,860 1967 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Cauvery 65.5 1,700 1934 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Indirasagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada 92 653 2005 Hydroelectricity, Irrigation
Almatti Dam Karnataka Krishna 52 3,869 2005 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Idukki Dam Kerala Periyar 169 366 1975 Hydroelectricity
Mullaperiyar Dam Kerala Periyar 53.6 1,200 1895 Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

The List of all dams in India:

Name of Dam Location River Name
Bhakra Dam Himachal Pradesh Sutlej
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi
Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat Narmada
Hirakud Dam Odisha Mahanadi
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Telangana/Andhra Pradesh Krishna
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Cauvery
Indira Sagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada
Almatti Dam Karnataka Krishna
Idukki Dam Kerala Periyar
Mullaperiyar Dam Kerala Periyar
Tungabhadra Dam Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh Tungabhadra
Bhavanisagar Dam Tamil Nadu Bhavani
Koyna Dam Maharashtra Koyna
Krishnarajasagar Dam Karnataka Kaveri
Rihand Dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand
Srisailam Dam Telangana/Andhra Pradesh Krishna
Ukai Dam Gujarat Tapi
Vaitarna Dam Maharashtra Vaitarna
Wilson Dam Maharashtra Pravara
Scroll to Top