Hirakud Dam is located in Sambalpur in the state of Odisha. The Hirakud Dam built on the Mahanadi River is the longest man-made dam in the world and one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects in India. The dam’s lake, called the Hirakud Reservoir, is an important tourist attraction. During the winter season, a sufficient number of migratory birds can be seen here. Hirakud Dam is not only a scenic spot but also an ideal environment that facilitates wildlife to flourish. During the construction of the dam, some old temples were discovered; Tourists can visit these temples by boat in May and June. Apart from this, tourists can also opt for thrilling activities like scuba diving to explore the waters of Hirakud.
So for the important facts of Hirakud Dam and information related to the journey, you must read this article completely –
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History of Hira Kund Dam –
The construction of the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River started in 1948 and was completed in 1953. Whereas in the year 1957, this dam started functioning completely.
Architecture of Hirakud Dam
The Hirakud Dam located in the state of Odisha is a classic example of the engineering prowess of the country and is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. The length of the dam is 4.8 km which is very intelligently built between two hills of Burla and Hirakud. Hirakud Reservoir has a shoreline of over 639 km. There are two observation towers on the dam, one on either side. One of which is known as “Gandhi Minar” and the other is known as “Nehru Minar”. Both observation towers offer spectacular views of the lake.
Important facts of Hirakud Dam
- Please tell that Hirakud Dam has been constructed in 1957 on Mahanadi.
- The length of the Hirakud dam is 8 kilometers, through which 810 crore cubic meters of water is stored.
- The dam covers an area of 1,33,090 square kilometres, which is twice the area of Sri Lanka.
- Hirakud Dam generates electricity and irrigates 7,500,000 hectares of land.
- The lake of Hirakud Dam is the largest man-made lake in Asia, its purpose is flood control and power generation.
What you can do in a trip to Hirakud Dam
If you are going to visit Hirakud Dam with your family or friends, then you can enjoy various activities in your journey which we are going to tell you below-
- One can opt for thrilling activities like scuba diving to explore the waters of Hirakud Lake while visiting Hirakud Dam.
- On the way to Hirakud Dam, you can visit many other attractions of Sambalpur like Huma Temple, Badrama-Sakoti Wildlife Sanctuary and Devalajhari.
- After your visit to the dam, you can relish the local cuisine at the local eateries in Sambalpur.
Lost Temples of Hirakud Dam
Perhaps you may be a little surprised to know that lost temples can also be seen but it is true. After the dam was completed in 1957, the remains of the temples in and around it are believed to have been submerged in water. But during the summer season, when the water level subsides then these temples can be seen. These temples have attracted the attention of many historians and tourists and have become a popular scuba diving spot. Interest in finding these lost temples arose when two stones said to be inscribed (Shila Lekh) were discovered from the Padmaseni temple in Padmapur village. Although there were about 200 submerged, of which 150 have deteriorated and currently another 50 temples can be visited only during summers.
Best time to visit Hirakud Dam
The climate of this place is very extreme, with the temperature rising to around 40 °C in summer and as low as 1 °C in winter. The region receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. That is why the best time to visit Hirakud Sambalpur is considered to be from September to March as the weather is mostly pleasant during this time. Apart from this, if you want to see Hirakud Dam with full fury, then you should visit Hirakud Dam during the monsoon season.
How to reach Hirakud Dam
If you are planning to visit Hirakud Dam located in Sambalpur, Odisha state with your friends and wondering how to reach Hirakud Dam? So let us tell you for your information that you can travel to Hirakud Dam by choosing any of the flight, train or road as per your convenience.
How to reach Hirakud Dam by flight – How To Reach Hirakud Dam By Flight
If you want to travel by flight to visit Hirakud Dam Sambalpur, then let us tell you that the nearest airport to Hirakud Dam is Raipur Airport, which is located at a distance of about 271 km from Hirakud Dam. Traveling to Hirakud Dam by flight can be a bit inconvenient. But if you are going to travel by flight, then after reaching Raipur airport, you can book a bus or taxi and reach Hirakud Dam.
How to reach Hirakud Dam by train
If you have chosen the train route to visit Hirakud Dam, then let us tell you that there are two railway stations, Khetrajpur and Sambalpur, in Sambalpur, the nearest city of Hirakud. However, Khetrajpur Railway Station is the main railway station of Sambalpur and most of the trains stop here. Both the railway stations are located just minutes away from Hirakud Dam. After reaching the railway station, you can reach your destination with the help of local vehicles.
How to reach Hirakud Dam by road
Sambalpur has two railway stations as well as two bus stands which connect Sambalpur to many major cities of Odisha through buses. Apart from this, National Highway 6 connecting Mumbai to Kolkata passes through Sambalpur. While Sambalpur connects to Bhubaneswar via National Highway 42. Thus, to travel to Hirakud by road, one can travel by bus, taxi or by their own private vehicles.
Map of Hirakud Dam
