Tungabhadra Dam and Garden - Hospet
The long stretches of paddy fields in Ballari, Koppal and Raichur districts indicate the change that the Tungabhadra dam brought to the lives and landscapes of the region. River Tungabhadra, a tributary of the mighty Krishna river, is significant to Karnataka in many ways. The dam, built on it near the city of Hospet in Ballari district, is one of the biggest water reservoirs in the state. It is said that the rulers of Vijayanagar dynasty harnessed this water source by constructing over 12 small dams across the river and supplied water to agricultural fields though 16 channels.
Till date, this ancient irrigation system is active around this region. Construction of the dam began in 1949 and completed by 1953. The Dam has a total length of 2449 metres and a height of 49.50 metres from the deepest foundation. The reservoir spreads over 378 sq km of area with a storage capacity of 4 lakh hectares. The dam serves multiple functions as it controls irrigation, electricity generation etc. It is a joint project between the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and serves purposes of functionality and attracts tourists who visit the nearby Hampi ruins.
The views from atop this reservoir are simply magnificent and a simple walk along the river is sure to please even the toughest critics. There are three powerhouses constructed and in function under the project. The dam also gradually attracted migratory and resident aquatic fowl. The availability of abundant food sources ensure food security for more than 90 bird species. The small islands in the middle of the dam are ideal breeding grounds for birds and thus, the reservoir is a biodiversity hotspot for faunal species. Since completion of the dam, the tourism board has developed and maintained gardens and parks, downstream of the dam. The gardens near the dam are attracting many tourists.
The Nandavana garden is designed and developed on the lines of Brindavan Gardens at Krishna Raja Sagar near Mysore. The first terrace houses a circular fountain with a Shiva statue at the center. The other three terraces are equipped with fountains of various designs, running parallel and perpendicular to the garden. There is one Japanese park adjacent to the dam which has 3 water ponds, namely mango pond, bean-shaped pond and children's peddle pond. A musical dancing fountain and an aquarium provides an added attraction for visitors. The dam looks extremely beautiful at sunset and the dam's green lights start engulfing the darkness again. The majestic view of the dam also attracts tourists from near and afar.