Top 10 Dams in Maharastra by Height & Storage

Dams are architectural and engineering marvels of the country. They generate a huge amount of water energy; Provision of drinking water and irrigation systems for the state and surrounding areas. In Maharashtra, many top huge and tallest dams were built with great storage on rivers to generate electricity and provide drinking water. The dam is mainly used to generate electricity, suppress or control flooding, and provide water for various purposes such as drinking, irrigation, etc. 

Here are the Top 10 Dams in Maharastra by Height & Storage: 

Dhom Dam

Dhom dam is one of the top 10 dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is an earthfill and gravity dam on Krishna River near Wai in state of Maharashtra in India. The height of Dhom Dam above the lowest foundation is 50 meters (160 ft, see box) while the length is 2,478 m (8,130 ft). 

The volume of Dhom Dam is 6,335 km3. It was created to supply of water for agriculture, for industries, and to supply drinking water for Wai, Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar and the surrounding villages on the bank of dam. The Dhom Dam also supplied water for agriculture for Wai, Koregaon, Satara, Javli and Khandala talukas. Overall it is one of the top 10 dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Panshet Dam

It is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is a dam on the Ambi river, a tributary of the Mutha River, about 50 km southwest of the city of Pune in western India. The height of the dam above its lowest foundation is 63.56 m while the length is 1,039 m. The volume content is 4.190 km3 and the gross storage capacity is 303,000 m3.

  The dam was constructed in late 1950s for irrigation and, along with three other dams nearby, Varasgaon, Temghar and Khadakwasla, it supplies drinking water to Pune. Panshet Dam is a visual delight with a surreal landscape that offers a soothing retreat.

 Panshet Dam is encompassed by luxuriant hills and a number of thundering waterfalls that makes it a perfect place for nature lovers too. Nestled amidst the lush green beauty of the mighty Sahyadris, one can find a lot of big and small waterfalls in its surroundings.

  Besides, there are a plethora of water activities to enjoy at this dam – banana boat ride, pedal boating, motor boating, water scooter ride, and kayaking. Overall it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage.  

Gangapur Dam

Gangapur Dam is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is an earthfill dam on River Godavari, and the longest earthen reservoir of Asia.Roughly 10 KM far from the primary city of Nashik is the Gangapur Dam, an exceptionally entrancing traveler spot. 

It is arranged on the banks of the hallowed Godai River. Being developed in the year 1954, it is worked in traditional style utilizing stones, earth, mud and sand. 

People come here to spend a peaceful afternoon on the garden by the river, enjoying the blissful, picturesque scenery of the river, straight out of a dream. Migratory birds can be spotted in the evening, and there is a new boating facility to attract more tourists. That’s why it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Vaitarna Dam

Vaitarna dam is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is situated on Vaitarna River and is a major source of water supply to Mumbai. The dam was a trendsetter as its successful construction way back in 1950s paved way for many such dams to be planned and constructed on similar lines in various parts of Maharashtra and India.

 The construction of the Vaitarna Dam commenced in 1950 and was completed in 1954. It is the first gravity dam of its kind. The design and concrete style of construction was repeated across India to give shape to various dam projects. The dam stands 82 meters high over its lowest foundation and is 567 meters long. The maximum water level of the dam is approximately 164 meters and full reservoir level is 163 meters. 

Tourists to this part of India make it a point to visit the dam and enjoy the beautiful lagoon in its surroundings and the abundance of natural beauty the place has to offer.

The number of visitors proliferates during the monsoon season when the whole area gets a green, carpeted look. The background of the stunning peaks and troughs of the Western Ghats makes the place look absolutely heavenly when the skies open up. Moreover it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Bhatsa Dam

It is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. Bhatsa Dam is one of the principal sources of water supply for Mumbai city. It is a multipurpose project, used for irrigation water supply & hydroelectricity. Height of dam is 89 meters & Length  959 meters. 

Complete location near this lake is covered with greenery and jungle which is an ideal solitude location for a day out for leisure. The flowing stream with pin-drop silence and the humming of those birds near this fresh water river is an ideal hangout location. 

By road the up and down hilly roads are surrounded by green grass till long distance. Due to Bhatsa lake the climate is very fresh throughout the year making it one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage.

Yeldari Dam

It is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is an earthfill dam on Purna river near Yeldari in Jintur taluka of Parbhani district in the state of Maharashtra in India. It is the second-largest dam in the Marathwada region. 

Yeldari Dam was intended to provide water for agriculture and generate electricity, but now many towns in Parbhani and Hingoli depend on the dam for drinking water. The height of the dam above its lowest foundation is 51.2 m  while the length is 4,232 m. 

 The live storage capacity is 0.81 km3. The dam was built between 1958 and 1968 under the observation of Yashwantrao Chavan. It has a hydroelectric power station consisting of three units of 7.5 MW capacities each for 22.5 MW total capacity making it one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Khadakwasla Dam

Khadakwasla dam is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is a dam on the Mutha River 21 km  from the center of the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. The dam created a reservoir known as Khadakwasla Lake which is the main source of water for Pune and its suburbs. 

Khadakwasla Dam extends about 1.6 kilometers over River Mutha which actually begins at the confluence of two other rivers, River Ambi and River Mose.  The Khadakwasla Dam was founded on hard rock.  

Many people come here on weekends and during the monsoon season. The dam stands a little over 31 meters tall and is built over the hard rock in the Mutha riverbed. 

This work of engineering often draws students and enthusiasts too. Scenic places around the dam include Peacock Bay, Kudje village, and Neelakantheshwar, located near Bahuli village just past Kudje. The Sinhagad road, bordering the dam, has become a favorite picnic spot. Overall it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Mula Dam

Built in 1974, Mula Dam is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is located near the Baragoan Nandur village. For Ahmednagar district, which comes under dry zone and hence faces immense water scarcity, this dam is indeed like a lifeline. Construction of this critically important dam was completed in the year 1974.

The height of the dam above lowest foundation is 48.17 m  while the length is 2,856 m. It is used for irrigation purposes in Rahuri, Newasa, Shevgaon, and Pathardi taluka. The main purpose for the construction of this dam was to supply water to the nearby villages from the reservoir, Dnyaneshwar Sagar. 

With a storage capacity of around 26 TMC, the dam supplies drinking water to Ahmednagar City and its adjoining areas. The towns which benefit from this dam are Ahmednagar and Rahuri districts.

 It is also the largest dam in Ahmednagar. To add to all of this, the dam is located in a beautiful place and attracts a number of tourists who love to come here and marvel at the backdrop. 

Popular for its beautiful surroundings and boating facilities, the dam is one of the popular picnic spots around Ahmednagar. It’s surrounding lush greenery and clean water attracts hordes of tourists round the year. 

In fact today Mula Dam is one of the favorite weekend destinations for people of Ahmednagar city. There are also many hotels and resorts around Mula Dam for accommodating visiting tourists. Overall it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Ujjani Dam

Ujjani Dam is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage.  It was constructed on a tributary of the Krishna River, named Bhima River. Therefore, this dam is also called the Bhima Dam. Created as a multi-purpose reservoir, the construction of the Ujani Dam project including the canal system on both the banks was started in 1969 at an initial estimated cost of Rs.480 million.

  It is located on the Bhima River near the Ujjani village in the Solapur district of the state of Maharashtra. The Ujani Dam is an earth-fill cum masonry gravity dam and out of the 22 dams formed by the Bhima River, it is the terminal dam on the river and is the largest in the Bhima Valley that intercepts a catchment area of 14,858 sq. km. 

With a total length of 2,534 m, the Ujani Dam is founded on massive basaltic rock formations and comprises a central portion which is the spillway dam of 602m in length. The total capacity of the reservoir created by the dam is 3,140,000,000 meter cube with a total surface area of 337 sq. km.

  The lake formed by this dam is called Bhadalwadi Lake. The storage created by the Ujjani Dam has resulted in the irrigation of 500 sq. km particularly in the Solapur district, which has resulted in an increase in the yield of jowar and groundnuts. Moreover it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Koyna Dam

The Koyna dam is one of the top 10 largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. It is located at a distance of 50 km from Aurangabad district.  It is a rubble-concrete dam constructed on the Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in the Sahyadri ranges.  

Its name comes from the town Koyna Nagar, which is its exact location. The Koyna dam is built on the Godavari River and is said to be one of Maharashtra’s largest dams. The dam also has India’s largest electric power plant and is often called the ‘lifeline of Maharashtra’. 

The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectricity with some irrigation in neighboring areas. Today the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant in India having a total installed capacity of 1,960 MW. This dam has withstood many severe earthquakes with only a few cracks here and there. 

It is one of the largest civil engineering projects commissioned after Indian independence. The Koyna hydro-electric project is run by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.The breathtaking view of the waters gushing down the ramparts when the gates open will leave you awestruck. Overall it is one of the top largest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. 

Conclusion

As for the final say these are some of the top biggest dams in Maharashtra by height and storage. These dams are some of the tallest dams which are constructed over many years ago. These dams are helpful in generating electricity & also there are quite a few beautiful sites nearby these dams for people to visit.