Almatti Dam

About:

Alamatti is In Bijapur district B.Bagewadi Taluk. Dam hight is raised from 509 to 519 M [ SC order on April 26, 2000 ]. Under the present scheme, Karnataka has been allocated 700 tmcft of Krishna river water.The Upper Krishna Project [ Alamatti Dam ] across the river Krishna, provides for irrigation to the drought prone areas of Bijapur, Bagalkote, Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal Districts.

Almatti dam is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna project, an irrigation project. The 290 MW power project is located on the right toe of Almatti Dam. The Power House has 5 units of 55 MW each and 1 unit of 15 MW. The turbines are vertical kaplan. The annual design energy is 713 Million Units. The project, when allotted for private initiative was estimated to cost Rs.1470 crores. Subsequently, KPCL took up the project at an estimated cost of Rs.674 crores and completed the project at a cost of Rs.520 crores in a period of 40 months by July 2005.

• SCADA system
• Structural steel frames for super structure & Gal volume sheets for roofing
• Machine hall without generator floor; steel barrel instead of concrete barrel for generator
• Generator transformer of 15 MW unit also serves as station transformer
• Separate tapping provided from penstock for transformer cooling system

Built in Bijapur District of Karnataka, MCC was responsible for construction of the Almatti Dam from its foundation and raising it to partial height. This involved construction of a spillway, portion of the non-overflow masonry dam and earthen dam.

Almatti dam is the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna project, an irrigation project. The 290 MW power project is located on the right toe of Almatti Dam. The Power House has 5 units of 55 MW each and 1 unit of 15 MW. The turbines are vertical kaplan. The annual design energy is 713 Million Units. The project, when allotted for private initiative was estimated to cost Rs.1470 crores. Subsequently, KPCL took up the project at an estimated cost of Rs.674 crores and completed the project at a cost of Rs.520 crores in a period of 40 months by July 2005.

Almatti is at the edge of Bijapur and Bagalkot districts. But geographically, it is included in Bijapur district.[1] Large areas of Bagalkot district have been submerged due to dam back waters[citation needed]. The dam is allowed to store 42.19 TMC of water while at the height of 52.25 meters.

Location info:

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History:

The Almatti Dam is part of the Upper Krishna Project, initiated to harness the waters of the Krishna River for irrigation and power generation. The project was conceived in response to the growing need for water supply in the drought-prone regions of Karnataka, particularly in Bijapur, Bagalkote, Gulbarga, Raichur, and Koppal Districts.

The dam construction began in the early 1990s, and it was officially opened in July 2005. Originally, the dam's height was set at 509 meters, but it was raised to 519 meters following a Supreme Court order in April 2000, which facilitated an increased allocation of water from the Krishna River.

Almatti Dam not only serves as a critical water reservoir but also features a hydroelectric power project with a capacity of 290 MW, enhancing the energy supply for the region. The dam has become a pivotal infrastructure project, significantly contributing to irrigation and energy generation in North Karnataka.

The project was initially estimated to cost Rs. 1,470 crores when it was proposed for private initiative. However, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) later took over the project, completing it at a cost of Rs. 520 crores over a span of 40 months, thanks to innovative engineering and technology.

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Mobile range info:

The mobile network coverage around Almatti Dam can vary depending on the service provider. Generally, major networks have decent coverage in the area; however, users may experience weak signals or intermittent connectivity due to the dam's location and surrounding geography.

How to reach?

By Air:
Nearest Airport: Belagavi Airport (IXG) - Approximately 150 km from Almatti Dam.
From the airport, you can hire a taxi or rent a car to reach the dam.

By Train:
Nearest Railway Station: Bagalkot Railway Station - About 80 km from Almatti Dam.
Taxis and buses are available from the station to reach the dam.

By Road: From Bengaluru (460 km, ~8-9 hours via NH 44 and NH 50), from Pune (500 km, ~9-10 hours via NH 48 and NH 50), from Solapur (170 km, ~3-4 hours via NH 65 and NH 50).

Nearest Visiting places:

Bijapur is rich in historical attractions, mainly related to Islamic architecture.
Gol Gumbaz: This is the most famous monument in Bijapur. It is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (ruled 1627-1657). It is the second largest dome ever built, next in size only to St Peter's Basilica in Rome. A particular attraction in this monument is the central chamber, where every sound is echoed seven times. Another attraction at the Gol Gumbaz is the Whispering Gallery, where even minute sounds can be heard clearly 37 metres away. Gol Gumbaz complex includes a mosque, a Naqqar Khana (a hall for the trumpeters) (Now it is used as museum) and the ruins of guest houses.
Ibrahim Rauza: This is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II (ruled 1580-1627), the fifth king of the dynasty and, like the Mughal emperor Akbar, known for religious tolerance. Built on a single rock bed, it is noted for the symmetry of its features. It is said that the design for the Ibrahim Rauza served as an inspiration for that of the famous Taj Mahal.

A file photo of Bara Kaman Circa 1870
Malik-e-Maidan (The Monarch of the Plains) the largest medieval cannon in the world. Being 4 m long, 1,5 m in diameter and weighing 55 tons, this gun was brought back from Ahmadnagar in the 17th century as a trophy of war by 400 oxen, 10 elephants and tens of men. It was placed on the Sherza Burj (Lion Gate) on a platform especially built for it. The cannon's nozzle is fashioned into the shape of a lion's head with open jaws & between the carved fangs is depicted an elephant being crushed to death. It is said that after igniting the cannon, the gunner would remain underwater in a tank of water on the platform to avoid the deafening explosion. The cannon remains cool even in strong sunlight and if tapped, tinkles like a bell. In 1854 the cannon was auctioned for Rs. 150 but the sale was cancelled in the end.

The Gun: Malik-E-Maidan, which means the master of the war front
Upri Buruj, Built around 1584 by Hyder Khan, is an 80 ft (24 m) high tower standing to the north of Dakhani Idgah in Bijapur. This is a spherical structure with stone steps winding round the outside. Top of the tower offers a commanding view of the city. This is also known as ;Hyder Burj", "Upli Burj". On top of Upli Burj there are two guns of huge size. The parafeet this tower which was used for monitoring purposes has been fenced now. One needs to climb the circular stairs to reach the top. However except for this tower there is very little evidence of the citadel wall in this area due to rampant construction.
Chand Bawdi, Ali Adil Shah (1557-1580) built this tank near eastern boundary of Bijapur. When there was large influx of people into Bijapur after the fall of the Vijayanagar empire, and new settlements came up within the walled city raising the need for better infrastructure and providing water supply. This has a storage capacity of 20 million litres. Later it became a model for many other tanks constructed in the city. A grandeur complex came up around it, which was mainly used to house the maintenance staff though members of the royal family occasionally used it for recreation. He named this after his wife "Chand Bibi".

The incomplete masolueum of Adil Shah, Barakaman(Ali Roza-II), India, which means twelve arches in Urdu
Asar Mahal, The Asar Mahal was built by Mohammed Adil Shah in about 1646, which was used to serve as a Hall of Justice. The building was also used to house hairs from the Prophet's beard. The rooms on the upper storey are decorated with frescoes and the front is graced with a square tank. Here women are not allowed inside. Every year there is urs (festival) held at this place. In front of the hall, one can see three tanks the bigger tank, which is at the centre is about 15 feet (4.6 m) deep however the other two are comparatively smaller in size as well as depth. Behind Asar Mahal one can still see the remain of the citadel. Just a kilometer away behind Asar Mahal, one can still find the old mosque which is on top of the citadel wall. There is a big entrance with arc below this mosque. Many stones have inscriptions. The site is under maintenance of Archeological Survey of India.

Asar Mahal
Gagan Mahal, Which means Sky Palace, is built with a 21- meter facade and four wooden massive pillars, has a majestic central arch. Sikandar Adil Shah, in silver chains, surrendered to Aurangzeb in 1681 here.

Gagan Mahal
Barakaman (Ali Roza-II) A mausoleum of Ali Roza built in 1672. It was previously named as Ali Roza, but Shah Nawab Khan changed its name to Bara Kaman as this was the 12th monument during his reign. It has now seven arches and the tomb containing the graves of Ali, his queens and eleven other ladies possibly belonging to the Zenana of the queens.
Among the other historical attractions at Bijapur, some notable ones are the Anand Mahal, Jod Gumbaz, Jumma Mosque, Sat Manzil, and Jal Manzil. Also among old houses at Bijapur, the most famous is Elavia House ( Nauzer Elavia) which is more than 100 years old.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

IndianOil BVReshmi Station
Ground Floor, Bijapur Almat RS,
Sindagi - 586201, Karnataka
Contact: +91 9448102975

IndianOil Kiran Petroleums
NH 13, Almatti Bijapur Road,
Almat RS, Sindagi - 586201, Karnataka
Contact: +91 9448013020

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

KSTDC Hotel Mayura Krishna Almatti
Location: Bagalkot, Karnataka
Description: A government-run hotel offering rooms and cottages with views of Almatti Dam. Amenities include a restaurant, garden, and free Wi-Fi.

Kanthi Resorts
Location: Bagalkot, Karnataka
Description: A 4-star resort spread across 29 acres, featuring mini suites, cottages, a multi-cuisine restaurant, swimming pool, and a man-made forest.

Hotel Mayura Krishna Almatti Dam
Location: Bagalkot, Karnataka
Description: A budget-friendly hotel situated near Almatti Dam, offering basic amenities and comfortable rooms.

Hotel East Park
Location: Bilaspur, Karnataka
Description: A hotel providing a wide range of amenities, including free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front desk, and room service.

Hotel Silver Oak
Location: Bilaspur, Karnataka
Description: A hotel within a short drive of local parks, offering room service and a 24-hour front desk.

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Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Almatti Police Station
Location: Almatti, Bagalkot District, Karnataka
Phone: +91 84262 81103
Address: Almatti Police Station, Almatti, Bagalkot District, Karnataka

Kanthi Hospital
Location: Bagalkot, Karnataka
Phone: +91 836 222 2222
Address: Kanthi Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka

Almatti Dam Nearest Attraction