Srisailam Dam, Srisailam - Timings, Boating, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 14 km from Srisailam Bus Station & 15 km from Srisailam Temple, Srisailam Dam is constructed across Krishna River on the border of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana (Left bank) and Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh (Right bank). It is one of the largest dams in India and the 3rd largest hydroelectric project in India. Srisailam Dam is among the prime places to visit in Srisailam, situated on Hyderabad to Srisailam route. This is another popular attraction to visit as part of Hyderabad tour packages.

The construction of the dam was started in 1960 and took over 20 years to be completed and was opened in 1981. The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in Nallamala hills, 300 meters above sea level. The dam is 512 meters long, 240.79 meters (885 ft) high and has 12 radial crest gates. The dam has a live storage of 274 TMC and provides irrigation water for about 200,000 acres of land in Kurnool and Cuddapah Districts, which are in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. Special permission is needed to go on to the main dam. By the year 1987 the dam had been made into a multipurpose project with a power generation capacity of 770 MW.

The Srisailam Dam is a manmade marvel that has become one of the main tourist attractions of the area. Surrounded by beautiful nature all around, the dam offers wonderful views during monsoon season when all the gates are open. The excellent greenery all around, the sound of the water gushing through and the rhythmic fall of water makes it a haven for nature lovers. However, visitors should avoid travelling on the Hyderabad- Srisailam road during night as this particular route remains closed to traffic overnight from 9 pm to 6 am.

There are a couple of view points on both sides of the dam to capture the wonderful views of the reservoir when the gates are open.

APSRTC operates a 2.5 hours bus tour covering Srisailam Dam, Phaladhara & Panchadhara, Hathakeswaram and Sikharam.