Nugu Dam is located in Beerwal village under Heggadadevana Kote or H. D. Kote taluk of Mysore district in Karnataka. The dam is constructed across the river Nugu flowing through the Kaveri basin. The reservoir was built to serve the purpose of irrigation and hydroelectricity generation. The construction of the dam was started in the year 1956-57 and was completed in the year 1959. The dam was built under the supervision of Sir M. Visveshwariah.
The reservoir has a length of 637.65 meters and a height of 43.58 meters above its deepest foundation. The total catchment area of the reservoir is 30.8 Th ha. The full reservoir level (FRL) of the structure stands at 753.4656 meters. The dam has 4 spillway gates of radial type.
Nugu Dam. Photo courtesy Dilip on Flickr
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Built on | River Nugu |
| Type | Earthen + Gravity Dam |
| Length | 637.65 meters |
| Height | 43.58 meters above its deepest foundation |
| Catchment Area | 30.8 Th ha |
| Full Reservoir Level (FRL) | 753.4656 meters |
| Minimum Draw Down Level (MDDL) | 753.4656 meters |
| Gross storage capacity | 154.042 mcm |
| Live storage capacity | 129.85 mcm |
| Purpose | Irrigation, Hydroelectric |
| Length of Spillway | 80.772 meters |
| Type of Spillway Gates | Radial |
| Number of Spillway gates | 4 |
| Size of Spillway Gates | 40 m x 40 m |
| Projects | Irrigation Project |
Nugu Dam: A wonderful picnic spot
Nugu dam is situated in a picturesque location. The dam is surrounded by small hills on all sides. The area surrounding the reservoir is restricted for human activities except for the movement of the villagers living in the nearby spaces. But the back water catchment area is a wonderful spot for picnics. The catchment area extends to a hilly region that touches the border of Kerala. The place offers immense opportunities to bird photographers to capture various species of birds.
Tourist attractions near Nugu Dam
Nugu dam is situated in Mysore, one of the most famous districts of South India. Visitors can explore a number of tourist attractions while on a trip to the reservoir. Mysore and its surrounding areas are full of historic sites, natural attractions and archeological wonders. A few of the well-known tourist attractions of the region surrounding the dam are as follows:
Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary: The Bandipur National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks of the country. The park is surrounded by the lofty Western Ghat Mountains. It covers an area of 874.2 sq. km. It is home to several endangered species of animals and birds.
Gopalaswamy Betta: The Gopalaswamy Betta is famous for the Krishna temple situated atop the hill. The place retains a cool temperature throughout the year. This ancient temple was built in 1315 AD. The hill is located inside the Bandipur National Park. It is extensively wooded and has the highest peak in the Bandipur National Park.
Mysore Palace: Mysore Palace is one of the largest and most magnificent monuments of the country. The palace was the official residence of the former royal family of Mysore and is also known as Amba Vilas. The palace is a major tourist attraction for people visiting Mysore. It is a museum now but a portion of the palace still serves as the residence of the royal family.
Brindavan Gardens: One of the most spectacular attractions of Mysore is the Brindavan Gardens. The show garden has a lovely botanical park and is built adjacent to the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam. The main attraction of these gardens is the illuminated fountains that dance to the tune of music after the sunset and offers a majestic view to the onlookers.
Chamundi Hills: The Chamundi hills are located near Mysore and offer a wonderful view of the city from atop the hills. The hills have a height of 1000 meters. The view of the city is especially beautiful during the Dashara festival when the Mysore Palace is illuminated with thousands of lights.
St. Philomena’s Church: Saint Philomena’s Church was built in the year 1956 in the Neo Gothic architectural style. The church was constructed in honor of Saint Philomena. It is a huge attraction for tourists visiting Mysore.
Mysore Zoo: Mysore zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country. The zoo houses several wild animals, birds and reptiles. The zoo was established in the year 1892 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Mysore.
How to reach Nugu Dam
The nearest international airport to reach Nugu dam is the Bengaluru International Airport at Bangalore. Though Mysore has an airport of its own, currently it is not operational.
The main railway station to reach the Nugu reservoir is the Mysore Junction station. It is the major station of Mysore and has several trains connecting it to several parts of the state and the country. There are daily trains between Mysore and places like Bangalore, Chennai, Thanjavur, Mumbai, New Delhi and several other towns and cities. The Nanjangud station is the nearest station to the dam and is connected to the Mysore station through regular trains.
The road network of Mysore is excellent. There are buses leaving for Bangalore from Mysore at a frequency of every 5 minutes. Travellers have the option to select A/C and non-A/C vehicles for their journey.
Mysore can also be reached by taxi from Bangalore. The only transportation available to reach the dam from Mysore and nearby areas is the bus transportation.
Resorts and hotels near Nugu Dam
There are several hotels, lodges and resorts in and around H.D. Kote taluk that are ideal for staying and exploring tourist attractions like Nugu dam and other places. The hotels and lodges provide all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. The resorts offer luxurious facilities to make the holiday of guests a lavish affair. Travelers can select accommodation according to their budget. They can go for advance booking of rooms in their selected hotels and resorts if they wish to do so.
Contact address and phone numbers of a few resorts and hotels of the area are listed below:
Kabini River Lodge
Karapur, Nissana Belthur Post
H.D. Kote Taluk, Mysore,
Karnataka – 571114
Phone: +91 821 2559 7021 /4
Waterwoods Kabini
19, Karapura
N. Belthur Post Office
H.D. Kote Taluk
Mysore, Karnataka – 571114
Phone: +91 822 8264 421
Website: http://www.waterwoods.in/
Orange County Resort
Bheeramballi Village & Post,
H.D. Kote Taluk, Mysore – 571116
Karnataka
Phone: +91 8228 269 100
Fax: +91 8228 269 108
Email: kabini@orangecounty.in
Website: http://www.orangecounty.in/
Chitravana Resort
# 39, Manandavadi Road,
H D Kote Road, Kalavadi Gate,
Mysore – 570008, Karnataka
Phone: +91 821 2597 790
