Dams in Andhra Pradesh serve the purposes of irrigation, thermal power and drinking water to all the districts of the state. The colossal dams not only supply water for irrigation and are the source of hydro electricity but are also regarded as the popular tourist spots.Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Srisailam Project, Srisailam Dam, Nizam Sagar Joorala project, Telugu Ganga, Nijam Sagar Reservoir and Osman Sagar are some of the prime dams in Andhra Pradesh, primarily serving irrigational purposes. The dams, barrages and projects are carried out in Andhra Pradesh particularly on rivers like Penner, Musi, Tungabhadra, Godavari and Krishna. The Shriram Sagar Reservoir, Dowleswaram Barrage, Inchampalli multi-purpose irrigation project, Dummaguden Dam are constructed across the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. Tatipudi Reservoir Project was constructed across River Gosthani in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh. Yellampalli project or the Sripada Sagar project stands on Godavari River in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Ramagundam dam is a thermal project built in Andhra Pradesh. Singur Dam was constructed in Andhra Pradesh in 1989. Sunkesula Barrage is constructed on the Tungabhadra River in Andhra Pradesh. Nagarjuna Sagar Tail Pond Project is constructed at downstream of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, across River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh. The Pulichintala Project is also build over the Krishna River at Pulichintala Village in Andhra Pradesh. Prakasam Barrage was build across the River Krishna in 1855. Lower Manair Reservoir is situated in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, since 1985. Gandipalem Reservoir and Somasila Dam are built on the River Penner in Andhra Pradesh. The Dindi Reservoir is constructed in Andhra Pradesh for the purpose of irrigational water. Himayat Sagar Reservoir is constructed across the Musi River in Andhra Pradesh.

The Nizam Sagar Dam is one of the major dams in Andhra Pradesh which is located at a distance of 144 kilometers to the northwest of Hyderabad. This reservoir was built on the River Manjira, which is a tributary of the Godavari River. The Nizam Sagar dam was erected in between the Banjapalle and the Achampet villages of the district of Nizamabad in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The entire surrounding of the Nizam Sagar Dam is very much famous for its scenic beauty and which is why people visit this place to enjoy the natural environment of peace and tranquility. The most striking thing about it is that there is a motorable road of 14 ft in width over the dam measuring three kilometers long. The surroundings of the Nizam Sagar Dam is well-known as one of the major tourist destinations in Andhra Pradesh where one can avail budget as well as luxury accommodation close to the area. Neighboring the Nizam Sagar reservoir is the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay. Huge volume of water from this reservoir and also from the river is released to the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad. One will get to see a very beautiful garden next to the Nizam Sagar Dam. At the time of monsoon a large number of tourists from the nearby states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and several other districts of Karimnagar, Medak and Hyderabad and various other places visit the Nizam Sagar Dam area. There is also the availability of boating in the Nizam Sagar reservoir.

Somasila Dam in Andhra Pradesh stands on the Pennar River. This is also among the most prominent attractions for tourists in the state. The Somasila Dam is constructed over the river Pennar River in a small town by the name of Somasila in the district of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The place is famous for Somasila Water Project constructed across the River Penner and the Lord Shiva temple. The Lord Shiva temple is associated with a very old history and it is situated close to the dam. The Somasila Water Project was constructed during the period of the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N.T. Rama Rao. This project has become very vital as far as agriculture in the state is concerned. It supplies water to several agricultural fields of different villages in Andhra Pradesh. One of the villages is Penna Baddevolu which is situated downstream of the River Penner.

Water of the K-C canal from the Rajolibanda dam was reopened as a vent in the Sunkesula barrage that mainly took care of the drinking water problem of the Mahabubnagar region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. A delegation of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs and senior leaders along with the support of the then Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy implemented the government order for the construction of the Rajolibanda dam.

The idea of building Prakasam Barrage across River Krishna dates back to 1798. However, the construction planning was revised and redesigned by captain Buckle in 1839, and latter again in 1841 by Captain Best and Captain Lake. After the support of Major Cotton, the board of Directors of British East India Company approved the plan of Prakasam Barrage on 5th January 1850. The construction of Prakasam Barrage was started in 1852 and completed in 1855. Later the State Government builds a new regulator cum-round bridge that was named after Sri Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The barrage started to work officially since 1957 and it helps irrigating over 12 lakhs of acres. The Prakasam Barrage provides a panoramic view of the river. The magnificent structure of this barrage extends to a distance of 1223.5 meters over the Krishna River. The Prakasam Barrage also acts as one of the major road bridges in Andhra Pradesh spanning over a beautiful lake. There are three canals which are linked to this barrage running through Vijayawada. The project of Prakasam Barrage was one of the first major irrigation projects of the southern parts of India which became completely successful in its mission. The richness in the field of agriculture for the state of Andhra Pradesh is due to the Prakasam Barrage since the barrage is irrigating a large patch of agricultural lands every year. Sightseeing is one of the major attractions at this place with the barrage offering a pleasant view along with the beaming lake. The pleasant breeze blowing all the time along with the calm waters make it a suitable destination for tourists in Vijayawada.

The Dindi Reservoir is constructed between the area of Brahminepalle and Dindi on Krishna River. The geographical condition of the region is flat with a very lesser number of canals and large areas of cultivated lands. Apart from the Dindi Reservoir, there are many more canals in the region. The Dindi Reservoir is situated in close proximity to the Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Another Dam in the state is the Lower Manair Dam which is located at Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh. The construction work of the Lower Manair Dam was initiated in the year 1974 and the same was fully completed in the year 1985. During monsoon, water in the reservoir increases in large volumes.

Tatipudi Reservoir Project was built from the period 1963 to 1968. This project is constructed across the Gosthani River in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Tatipudi Reservoir Project in Andhra Pradesh provides water for the irrigation of a total of 15,378 acres land in the Vizianagaram district. It also forms the major source of drinking water for the people of the city of Visakhapatnam. This Project uses 3.325 TMC of the water and the storage capacity of reservoir is about 3 TMC. The approximate price of the project was Rs.1.820 crores. The Srisailam Dam is situated across the River Krishna at Srisailam in the district of Kurnool. This is one of the major dam projects of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is also one of the 12 largest hydroelectric projects in India. The Srisailam Dam is constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala hills and it is placed 300 meters above sea level. This dam is 512 meter in length and 240.79 meter in height. It is having twelve radial crest gates. The Srisailam Dam provides water for irrigation to about 800 Sq Kilometers of land in the districts of Kurnool and Cuddapah. This dam of Andhra Pradesh is the prominent source of water in the Rayalaseema region which is having shortage of water throughout the year. In order to go to the main dam the tourists need to take special permission from the concerned authority. The town of Srisailam is situated at a distance of about 232 kilometers to the south of the city of Hyderabad. There are several places of interest close to the Srisailam Dam like the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy temple situated on the hilly regions of Nallamala Forest. One can also find the Sikhareswara Swamy temple and the Sri Ganapathi temple which are in close proximity to this dam. The railway station close to this dam is Nandyal situated on the Guntur-Hubli broad gauge line. This railway station is at a distance of about 158 kilometers from the Srisailam Dam.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has come up with a scheme for the construction of Joorala Project. The site of the project is located at a distance of about 10 kilometers from Kuravapur. The people living in the surrounding area of the project in Andhra Pradesh will be highly benefited by it. The Kurvapur Kshetra River is merging with water of the Joorala Project and the construction work of the Joorala Project is still under progress. Another dam in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India is the Singur Dam. The construction of the Singur dam was completed by the Government of India in the year 1989 in Andhra Pradesh. With the support of World Bank, the Sanitation project and Hyderabad Water Supply was in charge of the dam and its smooth functioning. The huge reservoir constructed by the Singur Dam forms the primary source of electric power, water for irrigation and drinking water in the nearby areas. Due to the construction work of the Singur Dam, a large number of residents of that surrounding area had to relocate their dwellings resulting in the lost of their livelihoods. Afterwards, the Hyderabad Sanitation Project and Water Supply extended a helping hand towards displaced persons and helped them in resettling. The project, in all, helped in resettling at about 3,600 households and identified 4,600 families which require immediate support for the reestablishment of their economic productivity.

The Dowleswaram Barrage in the state of Andhra Pradesh is constructed on the last stretch of the River Godavari. It is an irrigation structure. The Godavari River empties its entire water into the Bay of Bengal after flowing a few miles from the Dowleswaram Barrage. Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton, a British irrigation engineer, constructed the Dowleswaram Barrage which helped in boosting the economy of the state in large scale. The village Dowleshwaram is at a distance of eight kilometers to the downstream of Rajamundry. Rajamundry is a large town situated on the left bank of Godavari River. The upstream, where the River is divided into two streams or distributaries called the Gautami to the left and the Vasistha to the right, forms the dividing line between the West Godavari and the East Godavari districts. The height of the Dowleswaram Barrage is 15 feet and its construction was completed in the year 1850. Adjoining two mid stream islands, the barrage is constructed in four sections. From east to west; Dowleshwaram is on the left, Ryali, Bobbarlanka and Vijjheswaram to the right, segregated by the islands in between. The two sections in the middle are smaller. The primary canals are there in the central part of the island for the central delta and one each on both the flanks, near Nidadavole and at Dowleshwaram. There is another canal branching off at Nidadavole called the Eluru canal towards the right following a contour flowing till Vijayawada, where a barrage was constructed by one of the junior colleagues of Sir Cotton, Capt. Orr, on the Krishna River. The Krishna Barrage was constructed exactly at the same place where the earlier barrage was present in the 1960s. In the year 1980, the Government of Andhra Pradesh undertook extensive renovation work of the barrage and a road was constructed on the top of it for motor vehicles.

The Gandipalem Reservoir is also known as the Gandipalem state reservoir which is situated in Andhra Pradesh. The Gandipalem Reservoir was constructed with the aim of saving the lives of a large number of people of different villages in Udaygiri Mandal from famine in the summer season. Another major objective behind the construction of the Reservoir was to provide water for the irrigation of about 600 square kilometers of land which are located far away from Pennar River. The major source of water for the Gandipalem reservoir is the Manneru River. This river is a tributary to the River Pennar. The length of the Manneru River is 130 kilometer which starts near the village Pillipalli of Kanigiri taluk of the district of Prakasam. Dokkalavagu, Pillaperu, Uppuvagu and Upputeru are the main tributaries of the Manneru River. Another reservoir in Andhra Pradesh is the Musi Reservoir. It is within the district of Nalgonda and is constructed across the Musi River.

The Osman Sagar is an artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad. It is famously called Gandipet and the lake is about 46 square kilometers and possesses a reservoir covering an area of 29 square kilometers. Osman Sagar Dam was built in the year 1920 by damming the River Musi, for supplying drinking water to the people of Hyderabad and also checking the devastation caused by flood to the city. During the rule of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, the city witnessed a flood of devastating nature which subsequently led to the construction of this dam and the name also came from it. The Sagar Mahal, a princely guesthouse was erected close to the Dam as the last Nizam`s summer resort. This guesthouse is regarded as a heritage building overlooking a picturesque lake. This guest house is situated on the banks of the River Musi and it is in close proximity to the Osman Sagar Dam. This dam chiefly serves the purpose of drinking water for people living in the city of Hyderabad. The Osman Sagar Dam is one of the best tourist destinations in Hyderabad. At the time of rainy season, when the reservoir is filled with crystal clear water and the blowing of sweet breezes, tourists in large numbers visit this place. Another suitable tourist destination close to the Osman Sagar Dam is the Lake Himayat Sagar. The Srisailam Project is situated in the Rayalaseema Region across the River Krishna in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Srisailam Project possesses a live storage capacity of 250 thousand million cubic feet. The Srisailam Project reservoir was firstly planned for the generation of hydropower but the same was afterwards changed to a multi-purpose facility station for irrigation and water supply. The left bank generates 6*150 MW of power and the right bank generates 7*110 MW of power. The project is situated in Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh. More than 102 villages in Mahaboobnagar and Kurnool districts were displaced as a result of the construction of Srisailam Hydro Electric Project at Srisailam.

The Ramagundam dam is situated in Karimnagar in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The approved capacity of the Ramagundam dam is 2600 MW. The sources of water for this dam are the Sri Ram Sagar Dam build across the River Godavari and a canal from the Pochampad Reservoir. The states benefiting from the Ramagundam dam are Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited took up the lead for the construction of the Dummaguden Dam across the Godavari River in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Dummaguden Dam is owned and controlled by the Government of Andhra Pradesh-Commercial Enterprises. The Dummaguden Dam is at the Pamulapally village of the Bhadrachalam area in the district of Khammam. The Government invested at about Rs.1, 700/- crores for the construction of this hydel-based dam. Sunkesula Barrage is a structure of Tungabhadra Barrage Head Works close to the Sunkesula Village in the district of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. TBC, I & CAD DEPARTMENT, Government of Andhra Pradesh is the owner and in control of the Sunkesula Barrage project. Rs.303.92/- millions is the contract value of the project and 1020.00 MT of steel is used for the construction of this barrage. The Pulichintala Project was planned to be built on the Krishna River at the village Pulichintala of the district of Guntur in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The estimated cost of the Pulichintala Project was Rs.565.87 crores in order to stabilize and create an IP of 13, 08,849 acres in the Krishna, Prakasam, Guntur and West Godavari districts.

Himayat Sagar reservoir is situated in the city of Hyderabad, the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is placed twenty kilometers away from Hyderabad. The Himayat Sagar reservoir is constructed over the River Musi and the construction work was completed in the year 1927. The Himayat Sagar reservoir serves the purpose of drinking water for the people of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The reservoir was built over the River Esi which is a tributary of the River Musi with the aim of providing drinking to the people of Hyderabad and also saving the city from severe floods. The reservoir was constructed during the rule of the last Hyderabad Nizam, Nizam VII and therefore the name of the dam was given after the name of his youngest son Himayat Ali Khan. Shriram Sagar Reservoir in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh generates 27 MW power and provides water to irrigate 18 lakh hectors of land. The Shriram Sagar Reservoir was constructed on the Godavari River. It is also the first reservoir in the state of Andhra Pradesh which was built on the River Godavari. There is a legend behind the place which is associated with the Hindu Epic Ramayana. It is said that Lord Rama visited this place. It is for this reason the project was given the name, Sri Rama Sagar Project. The Basara Saraswathi temple situated at a close proximity to this reservoir is visited by a large number of pilgrims.

Dams in Andhra Pradesh act as the major source of water for irrigation and also help in regulating excess water which goes on to check the excess flood. Apart from serving as the major sources of irrigation, the Andhra Pradesh dams also serve as the most favourable tourist destinations. Some of the dams are situated close to temples which are visited by a large number of devotees who also visit the dams. Tourists also go for swimming in some of the reservoirs. The blowing of cool breezes and the greenery all around make some of the dams in Andhra Pradesh the most renowned tourist destinations.

 

The dams of Jammu & Kashmir

Dams in Kerala are famous for their beautiful architectural design and building component like brick, concrete, stone and also sometimes an unusual mixture of jaggery and quick lime as in the construction of a number of dams in the state. The state of Kerala is positioned in the south-west of peninsular India. It is in the region which is famously known as the Malabar Coast. This Indian state is having its borders as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The state of Kerala is in the form of a very narrow piece of land positioned in the middle of the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats. The state is thus known for its natural beauty and here several dams are constructed to check the flow of water and also for the generation of hydroelectricity. The Banasura Sagar Dam impounds its waters in the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River. The Banasura Sagar Dam is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project started in 1979.

Malampuzha Dam is one of the major tourist attractions in the state of Kerala and also the largest reservoir of the state, situated in close proximity to Palakkad. The Malampuzha Dam is surrounded with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in its background. The Chalakudy Dam is built across the Chalakudy River in the district of Thrissur in Kerala state. Also known as the Sholayar Dam, it lies at a distance of 65 kilometers to the east of Chalakudy town. Peechi Dam is a popular place for the arrangement of picnic, situated at a distance of 23 kilometers from the district of Thrissur. This dam project was initially built as an irrigation project but later also catered to the drinking water requirements of the region. Vazhani dam is one biggest dam of the Thrissur district, made purely of clay, mainly used for irrigation and drinking.

Located near Palakkad, the largest reservoir of Kerela, Malampuzha Dam is one of the tourist attraction spots of the state. The Dam is surrounded with the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background. The Malampuzha Dam is an arrangement of a masonry dam, which is 1,849 metres in length and an earthen dam that is 220 metres in length. The total height of this dam is 6,066 feet and crosses the River Malampuzha, which is a tributary of Bharathappuzha, the longest river of the state of Kerala. Extensive networks of two canal systems serve the reservoir of 42,090 hectares of this dam. The construction of the dam project was initiated in the year 1949 and was over by the year 1955. The total capacity of the reservoir of this dam is 8000 square meters of water and the total catchments area is 145 square kilometers. The canal systems supply water for the irrigation of the farm lands, while the reservoir takes care of the drinking water requirements of Palakkad and a number of other villages close to it.

Standing across the Cherukunnapuzha River, the Mangalam Dam was initially built for the purpose of providing irrigational water in the region. The River Cherukunnapuzha is a tributary of the River Mangalam. The construction work of the canal systems for the purpose of irrigation were over and started to function in the year 1966, in the Alathur taluk of the district of Palakkad in south Indian state of Kerala. The Mangalam Dam is constructed at a distance of 50 kilometers from Palakkad. The surrounding area of this dam is a renowned picnic spot. Mattupatti Dam is constructed near Munnar in Idukki District in Kerala. This dam is a storage stonework dam built in the mountains of Kerala, India to preserve water for hydroelectricity. Kundala Dam is a curved shaped dam with an artificial reservoir lying about 20 km from Munnar. The dam benefits the entire Kundala town. This is one of the most beautiful towns in the district of Idukki in the state of Kerala.

Parambikulam Dam is situated very close to the Udumalaipettai city in the state of Kerala. This dam in Kerala state is designed in the form of an embankment dam over the River Parambikulam in the district of Palakkad in the Western Ghats of Kerala. Walayar Dam stands across the Walayar River - a tributary of Kalpathipuzha River. This dam belongs to the Palakkad district of Kerala in South India. The Idukki Dam stands across the Periyar River, in the canyon lying between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The dam rises to an elevation of 167.68 meters and is one of the highest arch dams in Asia. The Parambikulam Dam in Kerala is well-known as one of the premium dams in India and also as one of the best embankment dams in the entire world in volume capacity as documented in the year 2000.

As per the agreement between the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, it was estimated that the state of Kerala would receive 7.25 TMC feet of water every year from the Parambikulam Aliyar Project and the Parambikulam Dam is an element of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project. In the year 2004, the state of Kerala did not receive any water until the month of February. Thus thousands of acres of paddy dried in Chittur taluk. The Parambikulam Aliyar Project agreement started functioning officially since the month of July 2006.

Another major dam in Kerala is the Mullaperiyar Dam which was constructed over the headwaters of the Periyar River in Kerala, India. The Periyar National Park, Thekkady is located in close proximity to the Periyar reservoir. The backwaters of this dam form this park. Neyyar Dam was established in 1958 in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India. A popular picnic spot, this dam has the southern low hills of the Western Ghats in its background. Siruvani Dam is constructed close to Coiampatoor and Kanjirapuzha dam in Kerela. The Kanjirapuzha Dam is a fascinating dam, enfolded by hills and situated about 38 kilometers from Palakkad. Meenkara Dam is built across the River Meenkara, which is a sub-tributary of Gayathripuzha. The dam is situated in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. The Chulliyar Dam is a place of amazing beauty and pleasure for the tourists and is located in Muthalamada Panchayat in Palakkad. This dam provides water to the villages and houses close to it. This amazing place of natural beauty is one of the major attractions in the state and the people living in this area have fishing as their most prominent occupation. This dam is filled with water round the year. It is surrounded by a beautiful groundnut, paddy and coconut fields.

Walayar is one of the small towns in the state of Kerala which lies in the border area between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the national highway number 47, where the check post of sales tax is situated. The small town of Walayar has become known for the presence of the Sales Tax Check post which is one of the 10 biggest Indian check posts and also for the presence of Malabar Cements. The RTO Check post is also situated in Walayar, being the biggest in the state of Kerala. The Walayar hills are visible from the northern parts of the small town. One of the tributaries of the Kalpathipuzha River is the River Walayar. River Kalpathipuzha is one of the prominent tributaries of the River Bharathapuzha, which is also the second-longest river in the state of Kerala. Over this river the Walayar Dam was erected. The construction work of the dam was completed in the year 1964 and in the same year the dam also started to function. The water of Walayar Dam is the primary source of irrigation in the entire surrounding areas. Various industries have been settled in the nearby areas relying on the source of water of the Walayar Dam. Among the major industries, the MALABAR cement industry is one of the major industries in Kerala which depends on the Walayar Dam for its requirement of water daily. This dam is located at a distance of about 15 kilometers from Palakkad. The surrounding area of this dam is a suitable destination for family vacations and airport close to it is the C A Coimbatore Airport. There are other attractions close to this dam like the Deer Park and the Loknayak J P Smrithivanam. The water of this dam is mainly utilized for the irrigation of the nearby agricultural lands. A large reservoir area is possessed by this dam and it helps the people living close to it with their daily water requirements.

Among the major dams in Kerala, the Neyyar dam is the most striking one. The dam was constructed in the year 1958 in the district Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala in South India. The dam lies only 32 km east of Trivandrum. A popular picnic spot, this dam has the southern low hills of the Western Ghats in its background. Neyyar Dam has a beautiful lake in its catchment area. The dam was initially built for irrigation purpose. The Neyyar dam has adjacent forested areas, which also serves as a sanctuary. The wild life includes Gaur, Sambar Deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Sloth Bear, Jungle Cat, Nilgiri Langur and wild elephants. The nearest airport to Neyyar dam is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Thiruvananthapuram is the nearest railway station, lying at a distance of about 32 kilometers. Neyyar dam is included in the province of Kallikkad Panchayath of Neyyattinkara Taluk. The peak Agasthya Kooodam is a lovely spot, very close to the Neyyar dam. One canal of River Neyyar flows into the western districts of Tamil Nadu. The main river Neyyar flows across Kallikkadu, Aryancode, Marayamuttom Neyyattinkara, Ottasekharamangalam, Kezaroor, and Poovar. The river finally debouches at Arabian Sea. The major attractions at the Neyyar dam are the adjacent Lion safari park, Crocodile farm, Deer park, Miniature wild life sanctuary and Lake Garden where a large number of tourists visit from different parts of India and various other parts of the world. Facility for boating is also available of the tourists at the reservoir. There is also a large swimming pool within the limits of this dam. The watchtower offers a bird`s eye view of the river as well as the reservoir of the Neyyar dam.

Kerala also holds another dam by the mane of Kundala Dam. This is an artificial reservoir lying at a distance of about 20 kilometers from Munnar. The dam benefits the Kundala town. The charming Kundala town is located in the district of Idukki in the state of Kerala. The Kundala Dam is comparatively very small in size and is having a curved shape. A narrow road on the top of the dam offers a panoramic view of the catchments area of the Kundala Dam. There is boating facility for the visitors at the reservoir adjoined to the Kundala Dam. The major attractions close to this dam are the Kundala Lake and Aruvikkad Waterfall where people in large numbers visit. The nearest railway station to the Kundala Dam is the Kottayam railway station which is situated at a distance of about 114 km from the Kundala Dam. The Chalakudy dam is constructed across the Chalakudy River in the Thrissur district, within the state of Kerala. This is also known as the Sholayar Dam. The dam is situated at a distance of 65 kilometers to the east of Chalakudy town. Chalakudy is both a city as well as a municipality in India. Athirappilly lies thirty kilometres from Chalakudy, which falls on the way to waterfalls. This route is a well-known tourist destination, where two water theme parks are the major attractions. The name ‘Chalakudy’ is taken from the word ‘Shalakudy’ depicting a place where sacrifices were made. Tourists often visit this spot to enjoy the beauty of Athirappilly Water fall and Sholayar Dam, while on the way to Sholayar city.

The district of Thrissur in the state of Kerala holds the Vazhani dam which is one of the biggest dams in the state made purely of clay. The water of this dam is chiefly used for drinking and irrigation by the people of the area. The Vazhani dam is an integral source of water for the people of the Thrissur district. Several renovations are being made to the Vazhani dam, in order to make it a suitable place for the tourists to visit. This earthen dam is of a length of 792.48 metres which stands across the River Wadakkanchery. The Wadakkanchery town is situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from the Vazhani dam. Siruvani dam in Kerala is another major dam which is built in close proximity to Kanjirapuzha and Coiampatoor dam of the state. The site of the Siruvani Dam is at a distance of about 48 Kilometers from Palakkad and it is also of the same distance from the city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Visiting Siruvani is a thrilling experience through the winding roads. The site of the dam is encircled by thick forests which possess different types of wild animals. The Chulliyar Dam is a charming spot for the tourists and is situated in Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad. This dam was build across the tributary of Gayathripuzha River in 1960. The dam offers a superb view of Nelliyampathy Hills. The Gayathri Project possesses two storage reservoirs. One is the Chulliar dam over the River Chulliar and the other is the Meenkara dam over the River Meenakara. The River Meenakara and Chulliar are the tributaries of the River Bharathappuzha. A network of canal system is there in the Chittur taluk having an ayacut of 10,930 hectares of land.

Banasura Sagar Dam in Kerala impounds its waters in the Karamanathodu tributary of the River Kabini. The Banasura Sagar Dam in the state of Kerala is a part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project which was initiated in the year 1979. The project consists of a canal and a dam project. The main aim of the project is to support the Kakkayam Hydro electric power project and cater to the demands and requirements of the irrigation and drinking water in areas having the problem of water scarcity in seasonal dry periods.

The Banasura Sagar Dam is situated at a distance of about 21 kilometers from Kalpetta, in the district of Wayanad in Kerala in the Western Ghats. Banasura Sagar Dam is also famous as the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest earthen dam in Asia. The Banasura Sagar Dam is also the starting point for hikers and trekkers into the lap of scenic mountains. The site of the Banasura Sagar Dam is a major tourist attraction, which is being renovated with all kinds of amenities to facilitate the tourists. Amidst the reservoir of the Banasura Sagar Dam, there is a set of islands which were created as a result of the submerging of the nearby areas by the reservoir. One can get to enjoy a spectacular view of the islands as well as the Banasura hills formed around the background of the dam. The Banasura Sagar Dam is currently functioning while the Banasura Sagar Project is still to get completed.

Situated in the Palakkad District of Kerala, the Kanjirapuzha Dam is an attractive dam, enfolded by hills. The dam is located at a distance of about thirty eight kilometers from Palakkad. The water spread of the Kanjirapuzha Dam extends to a single stretch. There is an evergreen forest by the name of Vettilachola which lies just behind the reservoir of the Kanjirapuzha Dam. This forest is one of the major attractions in the state of Kerala where tourists from different parts of India and various other places visit frequently. One will get to see three islands in this reservoir which are well-known as the prominent attractions for the tourists. These three islands are the best places in the state to be visited in order to perceive the charming marine life which also include several commercial species grown by the department of fisheries. Another notable dam in Kerala is the Peechi Dam which is also one of the oldest dams in the state of Kerala. The site of this dam is a famous picnic spot. It is situated at a distance of 23 kilometers from Thrissur. The Peechi Dam project firstly came up as a project of irrigation, but afterwards the project catered to the drinking water requirements of the people living in the region. The reservoir of this dam provides boating facilities to the visitors, which encourages more number of tourists to visit this place to enjoy boating and the natural beauty of the surrounding. One can get to see wild tuskers on the forested grounds next to the River Manali. A portion of this forested land has become a wildlife sanctuary. The name of the wildlife sanctuary is the Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary which spreads over and area of 125 square kilometers. Frequent buses are available from the bus terminal of Thrissur to get to the wildlife sanctuary. The River Manali possesses a large catchment area of about 3200 acres with far-flung botanical gardens and whirling fountains, thus providing a very natural and attractive setting for the tourists. The Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary is having dense vegetation with damp deciduous and semi-evergreen trees in the drainage basin of the Vazhani and Peechi dams. This sanctuary holds more than 50 different species of medicinal plants and orchids. Truly a preserver of the rarest of fauna and flora, the Peechi-Vazhani Sanctuary is admired by all. Trekking and boating are the major recreational activities which attract a large number of tourists to this place. Tigers, wild dogs and leopards, apart from spotted deer, barking deer and Sambar are found in this natural habitat.

The Idukki Dam in Kerala is constructed over the River Periyar, in the canyon lying between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The Idukki Dam rises to an elevation of 167.68 meters and is one of Asia`s highest arch dams. Idukki Dam started to generate power on the 4th of October 1975. Technically, the dam is a double curvature, concrete, parabolic and thin arc type. History narrates that Shri Kolumban, the head of `Araya` in the year 1922 showed the way to the Malankara Estate Superintendent along with his friend Thomas. Both of them were out for hunting in the forest which is the spot of the present Idukki Arch Dam. He told them about the legend of Kurathi and Kuravan Hills. Thomas was impressed by the sight of water flow between the mountains and the present Idukki Arch Dam was thus born in his mind. Afterwards, in the year 1932, Sri W.J.John of Malankara Estate put forth a report in front of the Government of Travancore on the likelihood of constructing a dam at Idukki for the purpose of Power Generation.

In 1947 Sir P.Joseph John, who was Chief Electrical Engineer to the Government of Travancore at that time made a preliminary investigation report. On Government`s request, the Central Water and Power Commission took up detailed investigation in 1956. The project report was prepared in 1961 and the Planning Commission sanctioned the implementation of the scheme in 1963 and the preliminary works of the project were started. The construction of this Dam commenced on 30 April 1969 and storage of water in Idukki reservoir commenced in February 1973. The inauguration of trial run of the first machine was celebrated on 4th October 1975. Hon. Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi commissioned Commercial operation of the Power Station on 12 February 1976. Construction of this Arch Dam and two other dams at Cheruthony and Kulamavu has created an artificial lake of 60 sq. kms width. The water stored of this lake is utilized for production of electricity at the unique Moolamattom Power house. This is located inside the rocky caves.

Dams in Kerala are not only meant for the generation of hydro electricity but they also serve the purpose of the water required for the irrigation of agricultural land. Water in the reservoirs of the Kerala dams also provides drinking water to the close by areas. Most of the sites of dams in the state of Kerala are favourable tourist destinations