Largest Dam in India - Top 10 Largest Dams Name List

The largest dam in India shrouded in history, engineering excellence and environmental importance stands as a symbol of the nation's progress and its unwavering commitment to harness the power of its rivers . In this article we embark on a journey to explore the largest dam in India, delving into its origins, purpose and the profound impact it has on the nation's landscapes, livelihoods and aspirations . Join us as we unveil the majesty of this iconic structure showcasing how it weaves its story into the tapestry of India's ever-evolving identity.

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Largest Dam in India - Tehri Dam

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The largest dam in India is the Tehri Dam, located on the Bhagirathi River in the state of Uttarakhand. It is a 260.5 meter tall earth-fill and rock-fill dam with a crest length of 575 meters. The dam has a reservoir capacity of 3,540 million cubic meters (MCM) and generates 1,000 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectric power.

The Tehri Dam was completed in 2005 and is one of the highest dams in the world . It plays a vital role in India's water management system, providing water for irrigation, hydropower generation and drinking water supply. The dam also helps to control floods and protect downstream communities from flooding.

The Tehri Dam is a controversial project, due to its environmental and social impacts. The construction of the dam displaced over 100,000 people and submerged several villages. The dam has also been linked to increased seismic activity in the region.

Despite its controversies, the Tehri Dam is a major engineering feat and plays an important role in India's water management system.In recent years, several new dams have been completed, further strengthening India's water infrastructure. One such project is the Shahpurkandi Dam in Punjab, completed in early 2024. It is constructed on the Ravi River and aims to prevent the unutilized Indian share of river water from flowing into Pakistan, while also generating hydroelectricity and supporting irrigation. Another notable development is the Mapithel (Thoubal) Dam in Manipur, which became fully operational around 2024. Designed for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower generation, it marks a major milestone in the Northeast’s water resource management.

India is home to numerous dams that serve various purposes such as flood control, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and more. Here, we present a list of the top 10 largest dams in India by length, highlighting their purposes, the rivers they are built on, and their key details.

Top 10 Highest Dams in India

Below is the list of the top 10 highest dams in India, featuring details about their heights, intended functions, associated rivers, and other relevant information.

S. No.

Name

Max Height (m)

Purpose

River

Nearest City

District

State

Basin

Status

Completion Year

Type

Length (m)

Storage Capacity (MCM)

1

Tehri Dam

260.5

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Bhagirathi

Pratapnagar

Tehri Garhwal

Uttarakhand

Ganga

Completed

2005

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

575

3540

2

Lakhwar Dam

204

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Yamuna

Dehradun

Dehradun

Uttarakhand

Ganga

Proposed

–

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

451

587.84

3

Idukki (Eb)/Idukki Arch Dam

169

Hydroelectric

Periyar

Todupulai

Idukki

Kerala

West flowing rivers (Tadri to Kanyakumari)

Completed

1974

Gravity & Masonry

366

1998.57

4

Bhakra Dam

167.64

Hydroelectric, Irrigation, Recreation

Satluj

Bilaspur

Bilaspur

Himachal Pradesh

Indus up to International Border

Completed

1963

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

518.16

9867.84

5

Pakal Dul Dam

167

Hydroelectric

Marusudar

Kishtwar

Kishtwar

Jammu & Kashmir

Indus up to International Border

Proposed

–

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

305

0.1254

6

Sardar Sarovar Gujarat Dam

163

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Narmada

Rajpipla

Narmada

Gujarat

Narmada

Completed

2017

Gravity & Masonry

1210

9500

7

Srisailam (N.S.R.S.P) Dam

145

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Krishna

Nandikotkur

Kurnool

Telangana

Krishna

Completed

1984

Earthen

512

8724.88

8

Ranjit Sagar Dam

145

Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Ravi

Pathankot

Kathua

Punjab

Indus up to International Border

Completed

1999

Earthen

617

3280

9

Baglihar Dam

143

Hydroelectric

Chenab

Ramban

Ramban

Jammu & Kashmir

Indus up to International Border

Completed

2009

Gravity & Masonry

364.362

475

10

Chamera I Dam

140

Hydroelectric

Ravi

Bhattiyat

Chamba

Himachal Pradesh

Indus up to International Border

Completed

1994

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

295

242.3

Top 10 Biggest Dams in India by Capacity

Below is the list of the top 10 biggest dam in India by their design gross storage capacity, featuring details about their purposes, associated rivers, and other relevant information.

S. No.

Name

Design Gross Storage Capacity (MCM)

Purpose

River

Nearest City

District

State

Basin

Status

Completion Year

Type

Length (m)

Max Height (m)

1

Indira Sagar (NHDC) Dam

12220

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Narmada

Khandwa

East Nimar

Madhya Pradesh

Narmada

Completed

2006

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

654

91.4

2

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

11553

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Krishna

Guruzala

Guntur

Telangana

Krishna

Completed

1974

Earthen

4865

124.66

3

Rihand Dam

10608.32

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Rihand

Dudhi

Sonbhadra

Uttar Pradesh

Ganga

Completed

1962

Gravity & Masonry

932

91.46

4

Bhakra Dam

9867.84

Hydroelectric, Irrigation, Recreation

Satluj

Bilaspur

Bilaspur

Himachal Pradesh

Indus up to International Border

Completed

1963

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

518.16

167.64

5

Sardar Sarovar Gujarat Dam

9500

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Narmada

Rajpipla

Narmada

Gujarat

Narmada

Completed

2017

Gravity & Masonry

1210

163

6

Srisailam (N.S.R.S.P) Dam

8724.88

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Krishna

Nandikotkur

Kurnool

Telangana

Krishna

Completed

1984

Earthen

512

145

7

Pong Dam

8570

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Beas

Dera Gopipur

Kangra

Himachal Pradesh

Indus up to International Border

Completed

1974

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

1950.7

132.59

8

Ukai Dam

8510

Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Tapi

Songadh

Tapi

Gujarat

Tapi

Completed

1972

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

4927

81

9

Supa Dam

4178

Hydroelectric

Kali Nadi

Supa

Uttara Kannada

Karnataka

West flowing rivers from Tapi to Tadri

Completed

1987

Gravity & Masonry

331.29

101

10

Tehri Dam

3540

Hydroelectric, Irrigation

Bhagirathi

Pratapnagar

Tehri Garhwal

Uttarakhand

Ganga

Completed

2005

Earthen / Gravity & Masonry

575

260.5

Definition of Large Dams in India

In India, the classification of large dams is established based on specific criteria, as per the guidelines provided by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). A large dam is identified as one that possesses a maximum height of more than 15 meters from its deepest foundation to the crest.

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However, dams falling within the height range of 10 to 15 meters from their deepest foundation are also included in the category of large dams if they meet certain additional conditions. These conditions encompass one or more of the following criteria:

1. a) The length of the crest of the dam is not less than 500 meters.
2. b) The capacity of the reservoir formed by the dam is not less than one million cubic meters.
3. c) The dam is designed to handle a maximum flood discharge of not less than 2,000 cubic meters per second.
4. d) The dam presents particularly challenging foundation issues.
5. e) The dam exhibits an unusual design that warrants its inclusion in the classification of large dams.

It's important to note that while the above definition for large dams has been maintained for dams other than earthen and rock fill dams, a specific definition has been adopted for earthen and rock fill dams. For these types of dams, the definition considers a large dam as one that exceeds 15 meters in height above the deepest river bed level. Additionally, a dam with a height ranging from 10 to 15 meters is considered a large dam if the volume of earthwork involved exceeds 0.75 million cubic meters, the storage capacity surpasses 1 million cubic meters, or the maximum flood discharge capacity is greater than 2000 cubic meters per second.

As of 2024, India has over 6,100 completed large dams and around 140 more under construction. New entries like Shahpurkandi and Mapithel Dams exemplify India’s ongoing commitment to expanding water and power infrastructure across diverse regions.

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