Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore – What Binds Utility with Exquisiteness

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, or KRS Dam as it is better known as, is a major tourist attraction in Mysore, Karnataka. It is also an important source of drinking water supplied to the nearby cities – Mysore and Bangalore. The water received by the dam is mainly sourced from the River Cauvery, and supplies water for irrigation in Mysore and Mandya especially. It is the first irrigation dam of India and runs 3km (1.9mi) in length.

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam – A Quick Glance

Famous for: Picturesque beauty, main source of drinking water

Built on: River Cauvery

Built in: 1911 - 1938

Type: Gravity dam of size stone masonry

Size: 8,597 feet long and 130.80 feet high (above river-bed level)

Maximum inflow level: 124.8 feet

Total capacity: 49.452 TMC (1,368,847,000 cubic meters with a catchment area of 10,619 square km)

Gates: 18 in total

Filling: June to September

Depletion: October to May

Timing: 6:30am - 9:00pm

Visit duration: 2 hours

Best time to visit: Monsoon season (June to August)

Entry fee: INR 50

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam – An Overview

One of the most famous tourist attractions of the city Mysore (Mysuru) is Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, or the KRS Dam. It was named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV of Mysore, the major contributor during the creation of this dam, in terms of finance. It was built by the Chief Engineer of Mysore M. Visvesvaraya who came up with a blueprint of the dam to be built near the Kannambadi Village. The construction took 27 years and 10,000 workers and what stands tall today is masterpiece serving several purposes.

The dam is built over the River Cauvery, near the conjunction of Cauvery, Hemavathi & Lakshmana Thirtha.

The dam stands out mainly for its spectacular surrounding. There are several colourful and illuminated attractions that include gard ens, musical fountains and water bodies. The spot is often used as a shooting spot for movies. It is also one of the main destinations to visit during Mysore trip, as well as an easy escape from Bangalore.

Architecture of Mysore Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore is one of India’s greatest architectural marvels of the modern times. Considered as a civil engineering wonder, the dam was ideated and built under the supervision of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, who is also known as the ‘father of planning in India’ or ‘architect of modern Mysore’. The dam was built with ultimate precision and excellence to showcase it as a sight to behold, and a place to breathe fresh and feel energetic. The construction of the dam was commissioned by Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, who was the king of Mysore during that period.

Sir Visvesvaraya used a mix of limestone and brick powder (surkhi) and didn’t use cement in the construction of the dam, as it is normally used in other constructions especially dams. With walls measuring a length of 2,621 metres (8,600 feet) and a height of 39 metres (128 feet), the dam has a reservoir with a huge area of 130 square kilometres (32,123 acres). This makes it the largest dam in Asia during the period it was created. A total sum of 10 million in Indian currency was spent in the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore.

History of Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore

Legends say that the place where the dam stands today is where a sage called Kanva used to live. Kanva was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, and used to be a frequent visitor of the Kanveshvara Temple. Hence, the place has been named after him and is called Kanvapuri.

The Shiva Temple called Kanveshvara Temple that once was there at the same spot was sunken under water once the dam was completed.

The dam is also known by the name of “Kannambadi Katte” as the local residents call it. The Kanveshvara Temple was located in the Kannambadi village where the dam is constructed now and from which the local name was derived. The small village also got submerged in the water once the dam was completely built.

Places to visit near Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

There are several places of interest near the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam in Mysore. The nearest and the most popular one is the beautiful and ornamental garden called Brindavan Gardens that is located right next to the dam. Visited by millions of tourists every year, the garden is undoubtedly among the greatest attractions of Mysore.

Another must-visit place is the Nagarhole National Park popular for its lush green and outstanding flora and fauna. The wildlife of the National Park is worth mentionable with the presence of wild animals like tigers, hyena, leopards, wild dogs, and sloth bear. The population of herbivores are also quite high, mainly including elephant, wild boar, gaur, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, and four-horned antelope.

Some of the other places to visit near the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore are Chamundi Hills, Mysore Palace, Rail Museum, Somnathpur Temples, St Philomena’s Church, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mysore Zoo, and Regional Museum of National history.

How to Reach Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

Mysore is well connected with all major cities of the country by railways as well as by road. Hence, reaching Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore isn’t a tough job. The Srirangapatna town is accessible from all other prominent cities.

One can take the route by road or by railways to Mysore. Upon reaching the city, multiple options for public transport as well as private cars are available that would take you directly to the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore. The same can be done from Bangalore city where long route buses, or private cars are abundantly available. Tourists can reach Mysore, Srirangapatna via railways, and then can take auto rickshaws from the railway station to reach the dam directly.

 It doesn’t take long to cover the distance, and the roads leading to the dam is quite clean and well-maintained as well.

With the availability of various resorts and hotels around in the city of Mysore, accommodation isn’t a problem while visiting the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore. One can pick from a wide range of hotels ranging from luxury stay to budget hotels and guest houses as per individual preferences and affordability.

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Mysore is an amazing spot to visit in Mysore. Don’t miss the spot out on your next visit to the city. You can also make it a great option for a quick weekend trip from Bangalore.

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