Jawahar Minar

Jawahar Minar is an observation tower located at the Hirakud Dam near Sambalpur in Odisha. Built as part of the Hirakud Dam project, it stands at one end of the dam opposite Gandhi Minar. Named after India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the tower offers panoramic views of the dam, reservoir and Mahanadi River. It is a popular viewpoint for visitors to appreciate the scale of one of India's longest earthen dams.

Visitors can expect a tall observation tower at the northern end of Hirakud Dam with a viewing platform accessible via stairs. From the top, there are panoramic views of the Hirakud Dam, the vast reservoir, the Mahanadi River and surrounding landscape. The setting is open and windy, within the dam complex. Visitors can explore the platform, take photographs and view the dam structure extending across the river. The area is typically visited together with Gandhi Minar at the opposite end of the dam.

Built as part of the Hirakud Dam project constructed between 1948 and 1957 across the Mahanadi River. The dam was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 January 1957, and the observation tower at its northern end was named Jawahar Minar in his honour. Paired with Gandhi Minar at the southern end, it was created to allow visitors and officials to view the dam, one of the longest earthen dams in the world.

Represents post-independence engineering heritage and is associated with the developmental significance of the Hirakud Dam project for Odisha and the Mahanadi river valley.