Mysore is a beautiful city and a city with innumerable formations, structures and palaces. While we know about some of them we don’t know about some. But the city of Mysore actually has a lot to offer to its visitors. The city has been an important location historically and for that reason you will also find historically important locations here as well. But not all historical locations are always forts or palaces. The KRS Dam Mysore is one such location that holds a lot of importance historically. However this is one such location that is functionally important for the state of Mysore too. You will have to actually read about the KRS dam to know the greatness of this location.
This is a historically relevant location that is still important and relevant in the present day. This dam is a huge source for supplying water in the state of Mysore and around for various purposes. However other than that this is a popular sightseeing spot in Mysore as well. The location, the massiveness of the construction and the surroundings here makes it a popular spot for sightseeing in Mysore. So if you are ever visiting Mysore you need to make sure that you are including this location in your itinerary. Keep on reading about this article as here I will mention each and everything that you probably need to know about the KRS Dam Mysore. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this location.
KRS Dam Mysore
Location of KRS Dam Mysore: Krishnarajasagara, Mysuru, Karnataka
Timings of KRS Dam Mysore: The KRS Dam timings are from 6:30 am to 9 pm on all days
Entry fee of KRS Dam Mysore: KRS Dam entry fee is Rs.15 per person for adults and for children from 5 years to 10 years of age it is Rs. 5 per person
How to reach KRS Dam Mysore
Major locations are connected well with this spot and it is located at an accessible spot. Both roadways and railways are well connected to the city of Mysore.
By air
The Mysore Airport is the nearest airport to reach the KRS Dam and it is 33.4 km away from the dam. It would take around 49 minutes to reach the location from the airport. Coimbatore International Airport is the major international airport to reach Mysore. This is about 215 km away from the dam.
By train
The nearest railway station to reach this location is the Mysore railway station. The station is around 19 km away from the dam and it would take around 36 minutes to reach here. You can easily get local transports like auto rickshaws from the railway station to reach the dam.
By road
The city of Mysore is well connected to major cities and you will get buses or you can even hire a car to reach here from nearby cities by road. From Bangalore the distance is about 148 km, from Coorg it is 115 km, from Coimbatore it is 222 km. So you can opt for travelling by road as well.
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Best time to visit KRS Dam
This is one such location that you can technically visit any time of the year. For the whole year the site looks mesmerizing. However still if you are looking for the ideal time to visit this location then the time during and after the monsoon season is the best. From the months of June to August the water increases in the dam and that makes it even more alluring as a site. Also when the full capacity of 124 feet is reached then the water also flows through the gates automatically that looks pristine. And when the water gushes through its full force through the gate a cascading massive stream of water is formed. This is surely a site worth experiencing.
However keep in mind that if the rainfall is too heavy and the water increases beyond a certain specific level then the dam remains closed for visitors. So whenever you are planning a visit here do keep a note of that. Another reason for visiting this spot during the monsoon is because the whole surrounding remains covered in lush greenery during this time. And overall the whole area looks beautiful in its appearance. So plan your visit accordingly.
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Overview of KRS Dam Mysore
KRS Dam or Krishna Raja Sagara Dam is one of the most famous dams in South India. This dam is named after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV of Mysore and is located at a beautiful location. This dam is situated on river Kaveri or Cauvery very close to the conjunction of Cauvery River, Hemavathi Rivera and Lakshmana Tirtha. This is a major source of drinking water in Mysore as well as in the city of Bangalore. Other than that the KRS Dam Mysore is also a chief source of irrigation water in Mandya and Mysore.
Another thing the dam is important for is supplying power to the Shivanasamudra Hydroelectric Power Station. The length of the dam is 3 km and is one of the first irrigation dams that you can find in India. The current inflow of the dam is 5,365 cusecs and the KRS Dam water level is 111.13 feet. Maximum level of the dam is 124.8 feet. Overall the KRS Dam has a capacity to store 1,368,847,000 cubic meters of water. This dam spreads for an area of 10,619 sq km.
Other than the functional benefits of this dam, the location of this dam also makes it special. It is located at a beautiful backdrop with lush greenery, beautiful hills and musical fountains and water bodies. No wonder this is a site that a lot of movie directors have featured in their films. The KRS Dam is located in between the town of Srirangapatna and the city of Mysore. Therefore this location is a very popular getaway for the people in Mysore. Also the creation of the Brindavan Gardens in the premises of the dam makes it even more interesting for the visitors here. This is therefore one of the most popular sightseeing places in Mysore.
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Brindavan Gardens
Timings: 6 am to 8 pm on all days
Lighting Timings: 7 am to 8 pm on all days
Brindavan Gardens KRS Dam musical fountain timings: from Monday to Friday it is 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and on weekends the timings are from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Brindavan Gardens is basically a terrace garden located within the complex of the KRS Dam. The work of this garden started in 1927 and ended in 1932. The Public Works Department, Police Department, Irrigation Department and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation maintain this site. This is a beautiful lush green garden with several fountains in it. Also you will find play areas for kids, flower beds here that attract a huge number of tourists here. The park is also popular for activities like boating that the visitors enjoy a lot here. However the light and sound show still remains the showstopper here and you should not miss out on that. With the illuminating fountains dancing to the tunes of music it surely creates a beautiful ambience here which is quite enjoyable.
History of KRS Dam Mysore
The creation of the KRS Dam goes back to 1932 during the rule of Wodeyar’s and is especially popular for its breathtaking architecture. With an impressive height of 130 feet this dam has 152 sluice gates. Sir M Vishweshwaraiah one the greatest engineers of all times is the creator behind this masterpiece. He was also popular as the “Architect of Modern Mysore” and “Father of Planning in India”. This architectural masterpiece was way ahead of its time. The excellent planning and the even better execution makes it a popular sightseeing spot today. To mark the contribution of Sir Vishveshwaraiah India celebrates the Engineer’s Day on the 15th of September every year and acknowledges his contribution and greatness in his field of work.
However this dam got its name after the king of Mysore at that time, Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. He was the one who financed the construction of this whole project. One of the most important attractions of this dam is that Sir Vishsheswaraiah has used Surkhi, which is the mixture of brick powder and limestone in the construction instead of using cement like any other construction of the dam. The walls of this dam have a huge length of 2621 meters and have a height of 39 meters. It has a reservoir of 130 sq km which was the largest in India at the time when this dam was built.
What’s more?
The local name of the dam is Kannambadi Katte that is significant according to its location. The word Kannambadi came from the Kanveshwara Temple. Also there was a small village Kannambadi which the authorities chose as the spot for the creation of this dam. However with the construction of the KRS Dam the village submerged in the water. Before the construction of the location it was popular as Kanvapuri. The name came from the name of a great saint Kanva who was a worshipper of Lord Shiva and had worshipped Lord Shiva here.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you know everything about the KRS Dam Mysore, you must plan a visit to this beautiful location. There are very few sites which are historically enriching yet being relevant at present. This dam is a masterpiece when it comes to construction. And obviously there are multiple reasons why people prefer to visit this alluring spot in Mysore. The dam was way ahead of its time when it was constructed. The architectural brilliance would certainly leave you awestruck. Along with the backdrop of this dam and the spectacular Brindavan Gardens makes it an even popular tourist spot.
So when are you planning a visit to the KRS Dam Mysore? And let me know if this particular article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this beautiful location. You surely cannot miss out on visiting this spot when you plan to visit Mysore.
