Dams are the perfect holiday spot for the tourist who wants a bit more out of everything. They are high on both visual beauty and being useful by providing water storage and power harnessing facilities. Nowadays there are activities you can indulge in like photography, sightseeing or boat rides along the dams. Karnataka is a place known for a famous tourism industry featuring temples, palaces, ample history and the like. When you combine the two, Karnataka and dam tourism, what you get is a match made in water tourism heaven. Stay with us as we list the top 5 for you.
1. Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam
This is possibly the most famous dam in this area, which is located within an equally popular and beautiful tourist spot, Mysore. How can it not be so? Krishna Raja Sagar Dam was constructed by M. Visveswarya and dedicated to the memory of a local monarch. It features tall walls all around, which look like a Roman amphitheatre and also features sprightly waterfalls at intervals along the crystal lake waters that combine to make this haven special to visitors. It also serves utility purposes like irrigation water supply and also drinking water to locals of several professions.
2. Tungabhadra Dam
This is another dam of the same level of influence as its precedent. It is stretched across the Tungabhadra, one of the most important rivers of India for various reasons, and is also one of the dams that hold the largest water volume and power tapping potential in India. As such, it gains widespread exposure to tourism. Tourism is centred on acts like photography, given the very striking scenery all around, and the bird’s eye view is spectacular, like a maze set in green.
3. Vani Vilasa Sagar
This dam was built in times when none other of its kind existed in the near abouts. Vani Vilasa Sagar was built before India got independence, as well. It is built along the region of Chitradurga, which is notable for spawning memorable folk literature indigenous to it. There are a lot of other tourist attractions around this dam that’s yet to carve a niche in the tourism world- there is a historic fort and a garden that holds herb species which heal diseases.
4. Supa Dam
Supa dam is located to the north of the area across the river Kali, named for the Hindu Goddess. It provides breathtaking aesthetic along with strict utility, it is involved in hydro power generation with the stored water and is now under the management of the proper power authorities. At sunset, it looks picture postcard pretty in the dying yellow light, with silhouettes like mountains behind it and structures on the surface that look like floating boats. All these together make for perfect photography and a very good crowd pulling landmark.
5. Almatti Dam
Almatti Dam is concerned with power generation side by side with tourism attraction as well. It generates electricity and hydro power with stored water and the cascading waters provide complete visual magnificence. A lot has been done to increase tourism appeal, including setting up of tuneful fountains and decorated gardens around the place. There’s also another dam nearby that does its bit to attract tourists. This dam is one of the priority visit places if you are touring Karnataka.
Karnataka in South India is gradually shifting gears from old age tourism to new, and somehow, dams have been included in the bargain. High maintenance, along with huge investment and output are some factors which characterise dams’ workings. But that does not mean its all business- indeed, dams are very good for tourism purposes too, with drool worthy scenery at most places and secondary attractions like lakes, fountains and gardens always close at hand. If you believe you as a tourist are evolving with the times, never fail to make a visit to these dams that testify to the extremely well workings of man and nature together!
