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List of Largest, Highest, Oldest Dams in India | Check the list of Major Reservoirs of India

longest, highest, biggest, largest dams in india 2021

Dams in India: India is home to around 5200 dams scattered over different states of the country. Besides, many projects are in the pipeline. There is the highest number of dams ie., 1845 dams situated in only one state ie., Maharashtra state. The most prominent topic and questions that are asked in the various competitive exams under the GA section is about Dams. So refer to this article and find the details of the highest, longest oldest, and other important dames in India along with reservoirs and answer to Indian dams related questions in examinations like UPSC, State PSC, SSC, Bank Exams, etc.

What is the Dam?

A dam is a barrier that prevents the drain of water and results in the creation of a reservoir. Mainly, Dams are constructed to produce electricity by utilizing water. This form of electricity is known as hydroelectricity. Also, know more about the Indian Dams from the below modules along with the meaning of Reservoir.

Key Points About Indian Dams

Here are some of the important points about the dams of India. From these key facts, you will be able to understand how dams are helpful in the modern world of society.

Highlights on Important Dams in India

The following table provides the important highlights of dams in India which help students to answer various GK Questions related to dams in competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Bank, Govt, etc. Here we have shared the main details of the Indian dams like What is the highest, largest, and oldest dam in India?

Highlights on Important Dams in India
Highest Dam in India Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) Height: 260 meters Length: 575 meters

River: Bhagirathi

River Location: Uttarakhand

Year of completion: 2006 (1st phase)

Longest Dam in India Hirakud Dam (Odisha) Total Length: 25.79 km

Length of Main Dam:4.8 km

River: Mahanadi

Location: Odisha

Year of completion: 1953

Oldest Dam in India Kallanai Dam(Tamil Nadu) River: Kaveri

Location: Tamil Nadu

Year of completion: 100 BC –100 AD

List of Major Indian Dams

Dams have always been a huge help for constructively using natural resources. These major Indian dams have benefitted the people many times like providing electricity, domestic and irrigation process, recreating the reservoirs for fishing and boating, and also help in eliminating the heavy floods. Having proper knowledge about Dams in India is an important Static GK topic in various govt exams like UPSC. Need more data on various Static GK Topics check the article attached here. The below table gives the list of major dams in India with details of state and river.

List of Major Dams India
Name of Dam State River
Nizam Sagar Dam Telangana Manjira River
Somasila Dam Andhra Pradesh Pennar River
Srisailam Dam Andhra Pradesh Krishna River
Singur dam Telangana Manjira River
Ukai Dam Gujarat Tapti River
Dharoi Dam Gujarat Sabarmati River
Kadana dam Gujarat Mahi River
Dantiwada Dam Gujarat Banas River
Pandoh Dam Himachal Pradesh Beas River
Bhakra Nangal Dam Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Border Sutlej River
Nathpa Jhakri Dam Himachal Pradesh Satluj River
Chamera Dam Himachal Pradesh Ravi River
Baglihar Dam Jammu and Kashmir Chenab River
Dumkhar Hydroelectric Dam Jammu and Kashmir Indus River
Uri Hydroelectric Dam Jammu and Kashmir Jhelum River
Maithon Dam Jharkhand Barakar River
Chandil Dam Jharkhand Swarnarekha River
Panchet Dam Jharkhand Damodar River
Tunga Bhadra Dam Karnataka Tungabhadra River
Linganamakki dam Karnataka Sharavathi River
Kadra Dam Karnataka Kalinadi River
Alamatti Dam Karnataka Krishna River
Supa Dam Karnataka Kalinadi or Kali river
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam Karnataka Kaveri River
Harangi Dam Karnataka Harangi River
Narayanpur Dam Karnataka Krishna River
Kodasalli Dam Karnataka Kali River
Malampuzha Dam Kerala Malampuzha River
Peechi Dam Kerala Manali River
Idukki Dam Kerala Periyar River
Kundala Dam Kerala Kundala Lake
Parambikulam Dam Kerala Parambikulam River
Walayar Dam Kerala Walayar River
Mullaperiyar Dam Kerala Periyar River
Neyyar Dam Kerala Neyyar River
Rajghat Dam Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Border Betwa River
Barna Dam Madhya Pradesh Barna River
Bargi Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada River
Bansagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Sone River
Gandhi Sagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Chambal River
Yeldari Dam Maharashtra Purna river
Ujani Dam Maharashtra Bhima River
Pawna Dam Maharashtra Maval River
Mulshi Dam Maharashtra Mula River
Koyna Dam Maharashtra Koyna River
Jayakwadi Dam Maharashtra Godavari River
Bhatsa Dam Maharashtra Bhatsa river
Wilson Dam Maharashtra Pravara River
Tansa Dam Maharashtra Tansa river
Panshet Dam Maharashtra Ambi River
Mula Dam Maharashtra Mula river
Kolkewadi Dam Maharashtra Vashishti River
Girna Dam Maharashtra Girana river
Vaitarna Dam Maharashtra Vaitarna river
Radhanagari Dam Telangana Bhogawati River
Lower Manair Dam Telangana Manair River
Mid Manair Dam Telangana Manair River and SRSP Flood Flow Canal
Upper Manair Dam Telangana Manair River and Kudlair River
Khadakwasla Dam Maharashtra Mutha River
Gangapur Dam Maharashtra Godavari river
Jalaput Dam Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Border Machkund River
Indravati Dam Odisha Indravati River
Hirakud Dam Odisha Mahanadi River
Vaigai Dam Tamil Nadu Vaigai River
Perunchani Dam Tamil Nadu Paralayar River
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Kaveri River
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Dam / Rihand dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand River
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi River
Dhauli Ganga Dam Uttarakhand Dhauli Ganga River

The details on a top 5 Largest Dams in India have discussed below with images:

1. Tehri Dam

Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India situated in the state of Uttarakhand over Bhagirathi River with a height of 260.5 meters. Also, you can see this Dam in the list of the Ten top highest dams in the world.

2. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

In the state of Telangana, one of the largest dams of India is established ie., The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. India’s largest Masonry Dams built till date is this dam. Also, known as the largest manmade lake in the world. It has 26 gates and is 1.55 km in length. It dwells on the river Krishna.

3. Bhakra Nangal Dam

The location of Bhakra Nangal Dam is at Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states. It is considered the largest dam in India with a height of 225 meters. Also, it holds the second position in the largest dams all over Asia. It is located on the Sutlej river.

4. Hirakud Dam

The Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India at 200 ft tall and the main dam is 4.8 km long that comes under the government of Odisha or Orissa. It is situated on the river Mahanadi.

5. Sardar Sarovar Dam

The fifth major dam of India is the Sardar Sarovar Dam with a length of 1210m. Also, it is the largest dam in the Narmada Valley Project located in the state of Gujarat. For other neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra also benefits.

Also Check: Top 10 Longest Rivers in India

What is Reservoir?

Reservoirs formed by dams not only overcome floods but also store water for activities like irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Also, you can see that a hydroelectric reservoir is a large collection of water behind a hydroelectric dam that helps to use the potential energy of water for generating electricity.

Important Reservoirs of India List

We have also outlined some of the important reservoirs in India in the tabular form below. Take a look at them and remember their details for answering various India general knowledge questions in govt or other competitive exams.

List of Major Reservoirs in India
Reservoir State River
Dindi Reservoir Telangana Krishna River
Lower Manair Reservoir Telangana Manair River
Tatipudi Reservoir Project Andhra Pradesh Gosthani River
Gandipalem Reservoir Andhra Pradesh Manneru River
Himayat Sagar Reservoir Telangana Osman Sagar
Shriram Sagar Reservoir Telangana Godavari River
Gobind Sagar Reservoir Himachal Pradesh Sutlej River
Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir Himachal Pradesh Pong Dam Lake
Ghataprabha Reservoir Karnataka Ghataprabha River
Hemavathi Reservoir Karnataka Hemavati River
Tawa Reservoir Madhya Pradesh Tawa River
Balimela Reservoir Odisha Sileru River
Aliyar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Aliyar River
Chittar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chittar River
Krishnagiri Reservoir Tamil Nadu Thenpennai River
Manimuthar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Tamirabarani River
Pechiparai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kodayar River
Shoolagiri Chinnar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chinnar River
Thunakadavu Reservoir Tamil Nadu Thunacadavu River
Varattu Pallam Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kaveri River
Vidur Reservoir Tamil Nadu Sankaraparani River
Amaravathi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Amaravathi River
Gundar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Berijam Lake
Kullursandai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Arjuna Nadi
Pambar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Pambar River
Periyar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Periyar River
Stanley Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kaveri River
Uppar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Uppar River
Vattamalaikarai Odai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Odai River
Willingdon Reservoir Tamil Nadu Periya Odai River
Bhavanisagar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Bhavani River
Kodaganar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kodagananar River
Manimukthanadhi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Krishna River
Parambikulam Reservoir Tamil Nadu Parambikulam River
Sholayar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chalakkud River
Thirumurthi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Parmabikulam and Aliyar River
Varadamanadhi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Aliyar River
Vembakottai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Vaippar River
Manjalar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Manjalar River
Salal Project Jammu and Kashmir Chenab River
Chutak Hydroelectric Project Jammu and Kashmir Suru River
Indirasagar Project Madhya Pradesh Narmada River
Narmada Dam Project Madhya Pradesh Narmada River
Rihand Project Uttar Pradesh Rihand River and Son River

FAQs on Dams of India

1. How many dams are in India?

A total of 5,202 large dams are situated in India as per the Central Water Commission (CWC). A large dam is one with a height of at least 15m from its deepest foundation to the crest.

2. What are the Types of Dams?

There are many dams in India, well there are different types of dams also there. Knowing the types of dams is an important topic for students preparing for the Bank Exams like IBPS or SBI as they contain questions from this concept. The list of Dam Types is given below:

3. Which is the biggest dam in India?

Tehri Dam is the biggest and longest dam in India.

4. Which dam is located on the Sutlej river?

Bhakra Nangal Dam is located on the Sutlej river.

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