List of major dams in India with river, state, location, and characteristics — A comparative study. Dams quiz for competitive exams. Dams in India for bank exams. India, being a vast country with countless natural resources, has several large dams. Question arise here- What is the definition of Large Dam? A dam exceeding 15 meters in the height above deepest river bed and exceeds storage capacity of 1 million m3 is called “Large Dam”.
Fast-facts about dams in India
General Knowledge for Competitive Exams
- Kallanai Dam, build around 100 BC – 100 AD & located across Kaveri river in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, is believed the first dam of India.
- Tehri Dam, build on Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand, is the highest dam of India.
- Hirakud Dam, build on Mahanadi river at Sambalpur in tribal state of Odisha, is the most lengthy dam of India.
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, built on Krishna river in Telangana state, is the world’s largest masonry dam as on 01.01.2019.
List of Important Dams in India
List of major dams in India with river, state, location, and characteristics. Dams GK quiz for SSC UPSC exams.
| Name | River | Location | Length (meters) | Height (meters) | Storage Capacity (MCM) | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Pratapnagar (Tehri Garhwal), Uttarakhand | 575 | 260.5 | 3540 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Nizam Sagar Dam | Manjira | Banswada (Nizamabad), Telangana | 6392.73 | 95.72 | 362.40 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen, Masonry |
| Lakhwar Dam | Yamuna | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | 451 | 204 | 587.84 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Somasila Dam | Pennar | Atmakur (Nellore), Andhra Pradesh | 352 | 39 | 16 Tmc | Earthen | |
| Idukki Arch Dam | Periyar | Todupulai (Idukki), Kerala | 366 | 169 | 1998.57 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Bhakra Dam | Satluj | Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh | 518.16 | 167.64 | 9867.84 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation, Recreation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Pakal Dul Dam | Marusudar | Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir | 305 | 167 | 1254 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Sardar Sarover Dam | Narmada | Rajpipla, Gujarat | 1210 | 163 | 9500 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry |
| Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Sambalpur, Odisha | 4800 (25.8 km entire dam) | 61 | 5896 | Multipurpose | Composite Dam and Reservoir |
| Srisailam Dam | Krishna | Nandikotkur (Kurnool), Telangana | 512 | 145 | 8724.88 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen |
| Ranjit Sagar Dam | Ravi | Pathankot, Punjab | 617 | 145 | 3280 | Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen |
| Baglihar Dam | CHENAB | Ramban, Jammu & Kashmir | 364.362 | 143 | 475 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Chamera I Dam | Ravi | Bhattiyat (Chamba), Himachal Pradesh | 295 | 140 | 242.3 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Cheruthoni (Eb) Dam | Cheruthoni | Todupulai (Idukki), Kerala | 651 | 138.38 | 1998.57 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Pong Dam | Beas | Dera Gopipur (Kangra), Himachal Pradesh | 1950.7 | 132.59 | 8570 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Jamrani Dam | Gola | Nainital, Uttarakhand | 465 | 130.6 | Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry | |
| Subansiri Lower HE (Nhpc) Dam | Subansiri | Lower Subansiri, Arunanchal Pradesh | 284 | 130 | 1643 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Ramganga Dam | Ramganga | Lansdowne, Uttarakhand | 630 | 127.5 | 2448 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Dam | Krishna | Guruzala (Guntur), Telangana | 4865 | 124.66 | 11553 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen |
| Kakki (Eb) Dam | Kakki | Rani (Pathanamthitta), Kerala | 336.19 | 116.13 | 454.07 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Nagi Dam | Nagi | Jamui, Bihar | 1884 | 113.5 | 108 | Irrigation | Earthen |
| Salal (Rockfill And Concrete ) Dam | Chenab | Gool Gulab Garh (Reasi), Jammu & Kashmir | 487 | 113 | 28.5 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Lakhya Dam | Lakhya hole | Mudigere (Chikmagalur), Karnataka | 1048 | 108 | 273.79 | Drinking / Water Supply | Earthen |
| Sholayar Dam | Sholayar | Pollachi (Coimbatore), Tamil Nadu | 1244.18 | 105.16 | 152.48 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Koyna Dam | Koyna | Patan (Satara), Maharashtra | 807.72 | 103.02 | 2980.69 | Hydroelectric | Earthen |
| Idamalayar (Eb) Dam | Idamalayar | Devikolam (Idukki), Kerala | 373 | 102 | 1208.23 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Supa Dam | Kali Nadi | Supa (Uttara Kannada), Karnataka | 331.29 | 101 | 4178 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Karjan Dam | Karjan | Rajpipla, Gujarat | 903 | 100 | 630 | Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Rajghat Dam | Betwa | Lalitpur/Chanderi (bordered UP/MP | 573 | 73 | 96 | Irrigation, Water storage, Electric Power | Earthen / Masonry |
| Kulamavu (Eb) Dam | Kilivillithode | Todupulai (Idukki), Kerala | 385 | 100 | 1998.57 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Koteshwar Dam | Bhagirathi | Pratapnagar (Tehri Garhwal), Uttarakhand | 300.5 | 97.5 | 88.9 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Lower : PPSP Dam | Kistobazar nalla | Puruliya, West Bengal | 310 | 95 | 16 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Rockfill |
| Doyang Hep Dam | Doyang | Wokha, Nagaland | 462 | 92 | 565 | Hydroelectric, Drinking, Water Supply | Earthen |
| Rihand Dam | Rihand | Dudhi (Sonbhadra), Uttar Pradesh | 932 | 91.46 | 10608.32 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry |
| Indira Sagar (NHDC) Dam | Narmada | Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh | 654 | 91.4 | 12220 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Warna Dam | Varna | Shahuwadi (Kolhapur), Maharashtra | 1580 | 88.8 | 974.188 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Bhatsa Dam | Bhatsa and chorna | Shahapur (Thane), Maharashtra | 959 | 88.5 | 976.1 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Pillur Dam | Bhavani | Mettuppalaiyam (Coimbatore), Tamil Nadu | 357 | 88 | 44.4 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Upper Kodayar Dam | Kodayar | Kalkulam (Kanniyakumari), Tamil Nadu | 166 | 88 | 98.51 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Hasdeo Bango (Minimata) Dam | Hasdeo | Katghora (Korba), Chhattisgarh | 554.5 | 87 | 3417 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Jakham Main Dam | Jakham (mahi) | Pratapgarh, Rajasthan | 253 | 87 | 142.02 | Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry |
| Teesta-V (NHPC) Dam | Teesta | North Sikkim | 176.5 | 86.8 | 13.5 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Lower Ghatghar Dam | Shahi Nalla | Shahapur (Thane), Maharashtra | 449 | 86.14 | 3.21 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Kallada (Parappar) (Id) Dam | Kallada | Pattanapuram (Kollam), Kerala | 335 | 85.35 | 524 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry |
| Madupetty (Eb) Dam | Palar | Devikolam (Idukki), Kerala | 237.74 | 85.34 | 55.4 | Hydroelectric | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Parbati II Dam | Parbati | Kullu, Himachal Pradesh | 101.5 | 85 | 6.55 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Chakra Dam | Chakra | Hosanagara (Shimoga), Karnataka | 570 | 84 | 222.6 | Irrigation | Rockfill |
| Bandardhara Dam | Paravara | Akola, Maharashtra | 2717 | 82.35 | 312.6 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Gravity & Masonry |
| Lower Vaitarna Dam | Vaitarna | Shahapur (Thane), Maharashtra | 567.07 | 82 | 204.98 | Drinking / Water Supply | Gravity & Masonry |
| Ukai Dam | Tapi | Songadh, Gujarat | 4927 | 81 | 8510 | Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry |
| Upper Aliyar Dam | Aliyar | Pollachi (Coimbatore), Tamil Nadu | 315 | 81 | 26.57 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
| Aruna Dam | Aruna | Vaibhavwadi (Sindhudurg), Maharashtra | 1240 | 80.41 | 93.378 | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Earthen |
| Singur Dam | Manjira | Sangareddy, Telangana | 7520 | 33 | 30 TmcFt | Irrigation, Hydroelectric, Drinking Water | Earthen / Gravity |
| Upper Bhavani Dam | Bhavani | Udagamandalam, Tamil Nadu | 419 | 80 | 101.2 | Hydroelectric | Gravity & Masonry |
Dams GK Quiz for Competitive Exams
National Register of Large Dam (NRLD) is a compilation of the dams in India. In NRLD the definition of “large dams” has been adopted as per the norms of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). At present there are 5264 completed large dams and 437 large dams are under construction in India. Read the latest general knowledge on dams. Dams of National Importance are such dams with height 100 metre and above or gross storage capacity of 1 billion cubic metre and above. According to the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) specifications and definition of large dam is following.
- A dam with height of more than 15 meters from its deepest foundation to the crest.
- A dam between 10 and 15 meters in height, provided it complies with one of the following terms:
- length of crest is not less than 500 meters
- at least one million cubic meters storage capacity of the formed reservoir
- max 2000 cubic meters per second flood discharge dealt
- having specially difficult foundation problems
- having an unusual design