List of Dams in India

India, a land of rivers has a huge potential for the construction of massive dams, owing to its geographical features. In the north lies the Himalayan Mountains, in middle India lies the Plateaus, whereas in southern India has Western and Eastern Ghats along the ocean boundaries of the country. India has already constructed a huge number of several dams and water reservoirs, with approximately 4300 already-constructed large dams. Moreover, several projects are in the pipeline. Check the highest, longest oldest and other important dames in India along with reservoirs in the article below which help in various examinations like UPSC, State PSC, SSC, Bank Exams etc.

Dams in India Uses

Check some of the important points about the dams. How dams are useful in the modern world for society.

➤ Providing adequate water for domestic and city use,

➤ Water supply for irrigation purposes,

➤ Water is needed for many industries,

➤ Hydroelectric power production,

➤ River navigation - it is the cheapest form of transportation.

➤ Dams Reservoirs are used for fishing and boating purposes, thus providing livelihood to many.

➤ They are useful to control the flow of rivers, helping in flood conditions.

Major Dams in India

We have summarized some of the important dams in India which are important for the general knowledge of a learned India. Check the full list of major dams in India from the table below.

List of Dams in India
Name of DamState NameRiver Name
Nizam Sagar DamTelanganaManjira River
Somasila DamAndhra PradeshPennar River
Srisailam DamAndhra PradeshKrishna River
Singur damTelanganaManjira River
Ukai DamGujaratTapti River
Dharoi DamGujaratSabarmati River
Kadana damGujaratMahi River
Dantiwada DamGujaratBanas River
Pandoh DamHimachal PradeshBeas River
Bhakra Nangal DamHimachal Pradesh and Punjab BorderSutlej River
Nathpa Jhakri DamHimachal PradeshSatluj River
Chamera DamHimachal PradeshRavi River
Baglihar DamJammu and KashmirChenab River
Dumkhar Hydroelectric DamJammu and KashmirIndus River
Uri Hydroelectric DamJammu and KashmirJhelum River
Maithon DamJharkhandBarakar River
Chandil DamJharkhandSwarnarekha River
Panchet DamJharkhandDamodar River
Tunga Bhadra DamKarnatakaTungabhadra River
Linganamakki damKarnatakaSharavathi River
Kadra DamKarnatakaKalinadi River
Alamatti DamKarnatakaKrishna River
Supa DamKarnatakaKalinadi or Kali river
Krishna Raja Sagara DamKarnatakaKaveri River
Harangi DamKarnatakaHarangi River
Narayanpur DamKarnatakaKrishna River
Kodasalli DamKarnatakaKali River
Malampuzha DamKeralaMalampuzha River
Peechi DamKeralaManali River
Idukki DamKeralaPeriyar River
Kundala DamKeralaKundala Lake
Parambikulam DamKeralaParambikulam River
Walayar DamKeralaWalayar River
Mullaperiyar DamKeralaPeriyar River
Neyyar DamKeralaNeyyar River
Rajghat DamUttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh BorderBetwa River
Barna DamMadhya PradeshBarna River
Bargi DamMadhya PradeshNarmada River
Bansagar DamMadhya PradeshSone River
Gandhi Sagar DamMadhya PradeshChambal River
Yeldari DamMaharashtraPurna river
Ujani DamMaharashtraBhima River
Pawna DamMaharashtraMaval River
Mulshi DamMaharashtraMula River
Koyna DamMaharashtraKoyna River
Jayakwadi DamMaharashtraGodavari River
Bhatsa DamMaharashtraBhatsa river
Wilson DamMaharashtraPravara River
Tansa DamMaharashtraTansa river
Panshet DamMaharashtraAmbi River
Mula DamMaharashtraMula river
Kolkewadi DamMaharashtraVashishti River
Girna DamMaharashtraGirana river
Vaitarna DamMaharashtraVaitarna river
Radhanagari DamTelanganaBhogawati River
Lower Manair DamTelanganaManair River
Mid Manair DamTelanganaManair River and SRSP Flood Flow Canal
Upper Manair DamTelanganaManair River and Kudlair River
Khadakwasla DamMaharashtraMutha River
Gangapur DamMaharashtraGodavari river
Jalaput DamAndhra Pradesh and Odisha BorderMachkund River
Indravati DamOdishaIndravati River
Hirakud DamOdishaMahanadi River
Vaigai DamTamil NaduVaigai River
Perunchani DamTamil NaduParalayar River
Mettur DamTamil NaduKaveri River
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Dam / Rihand damUttar PradeshRihand River
Tehri DamUttarakhandBhagirathi River
Dhauli Ganga DamUttarakhandDhauli Ganga River

Longest Dam in India

Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India. The Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi river in Sambalpur district in Odisha state. The total length of the Hirakud Dam is 25.79 km and the length of the main dam is 4.8 km. Hirakud Dam was completed in 1953.

Highest Dam in India

With a height of 260.5 m, Tehri Dam is the highest or tallest dam in India and the 12th tallest dam in the world. The Tehri Dam is built on the Bhagirathi River in New Tehri, Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand state, India. The height of the Tehri dam is 260 meters and the length is 575 meters. The first phase of the Tehri Dam was completed in 2006. It comes under THDC India Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectric complex.

Oldest Dam in India

Kallanai Dam on the Kaveri river is the oldest dam in India. It is located in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu state. Kallanai Dam was completed in 100 BC –100 AD and now it is operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Reservoirs in India

Reservoirs are natural or artificial lakes created using a dam to store freshwater. The water stored in reservoirs can be used for a particular area. Here we can see the Major reservoirs on the major river of India. It is also an important part of general knowledge topics.

List of Major Reservoirs of India
ReservoirStateRiver
Dindi ReservoirTelanganaKrishna River
Lower Manair ReservoirTelanganaManair River
Tatipudi Reservoir ProjectAndhra PradeshGosthani River
Gandipalem ReservoirAndhra PradeshManneru River
Himayat Sagar ReservoirTelanganaOsman Sagar
Shriram Sagar ReservoirTelanganaGodavari River
Gobind Sagar ReservoirHimachal PradeshSutlej River
Maharana Pratap Sagar ReservoirHimachal PradeshPong Dam Lake
Ghataprabha ReservoirKarnatakaGhataprabha River
Hemavathi ReservoirKarnatakaHemavati River
Tawa ReservoirMadhya PradeshTawa River
Balimela ReservoirOdishaSileru River
Aliyar ReservoirTamil NaduAliyar River
Chittar ReservoirTamil NaduChittar River
Krishnagiri ReservoirTamil NaduThenpennai River
Manimuthar ReservoirTamil NaduTamirabarani River
Pechiparai ReservoirTamil NaduKodayar River
Shoolagiri Chinnar ReservoirTamil NaduChinnar River
Thunakadavu ReservoirTamil NaduThunacadavu River
Varattu Pallam ReservoirTamil NaduKaveri River
Vidur ReservoirTamil NaduSankaraparani River
Amaravathi ReservoirTamil NaduAmaravathi River
Gundar ReservoirTamil NaduBerijam Lake
Kullursandai ReservoirTamil NaduArjuna Nadi
Pambar ReservoirTamil NaduPambar River
Periyar ReservoirTamil NaduPeriyar River
Stanley ReservoirTamil NaduKaveri River
Uppar ReservoirTamil NaduUppar River
Vattamalaikarai Odai ReservoirTamil NaduOdai River
Willingdon ReservoirTamil NaduPeriya Odai River
Bhavanisagar ReservoirTamil NaduBhavani River
Kodaganar ReservoirTamil NaduKodagananar River
Manimukthanadhi ReservoirTamil NaduKrishna River
Parambikulam ReservoirTamil NaduParambikulam River
Sholayar ReservoirTamil NaduChalakkud River
Thirumurthi ReservoirTamil NaduParmabikulam and Aliyar River
Varadamanadhi ReservoirTamil NaduAliyar River
Vembakottai ReservoirTamil NaduVaippar River
Manjalar ReservoirTamil NaduManjalar River
Salal ProjectJammu and KashmirChenab River
Chutak Hydroelectric ProjectJammu and KashmirSuru River
Indirasagar ProjectMadhya PradeshNarmada River
Narmada Dam ProjectMadhya PradeshNarmada River
Rihand ProjectUttar PradeshRihand River and Son River

 

List of Dams in India- FAQs

Ans. Tehri dam on Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand is the largest in India.

Ans. Hirakund dam on Mahanadi river in Odisha is the longest in India.

Ans. Kallanai Dam on Kaveri river is the is the oldest in India. It was built by Karikala cholan of Chola Dynasty in 100 BC –100 AD.

Ans. Bhakra Nangal Dam is on Setluj river.

Ans. Rihand Dam is in Uttar Pradesh.

Important Links