Bhandardara Dam

Bhandardara Dam, also known as Wilson Dam, is a historic masonry gravity dam built across the Pravara River in Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra. Constructed by the British starting in 1910 and completed in 1926, it forms the Arthur Lake reservoir and serves irrigation and hydroelectric power generation purposes. Situated at an elevation of approximately 150 meters above ground level in the Western Ghats, the dam is noted for its engineering significance and scenic surroundings within the Bhandardara holiday resort area.

Visitors can view the historic masonry dam structure and the expansive Arthur Lake reservoir surrounded by hills and forests. During the monsoon season, overflow creates the seasonal Umbrella Falls near the dam site. The area offers opportunities for boating on the lake and viewing the surrounding Sahyadri landscape. Access to certain areas may be controlled by forest authorities with applicable entry charges for vehicles or persons entering the reserve zone.

Construction commenced in 1910 and was completed in 1926 by the British administration. Named after Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, then Governor of Bombay, it was one of the earliest significant irrigation projects in India and represented advanced engineering design for that era. The dam constitutes the main storage reservoir for the Pravara Canals system.