Krishnaraja Sagara Dam

Krishnaraja Sagara Dam, commonly called KRS Dam, is a gravity dam across the Kaveri River at Krishnarajasagara in Mandya District, about 16 km from Mysore, Karnataka. Built between 1911 and 1932, it was conceived during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and engineered by Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The dam creates the Krishnaraja Sagara reservoir and is noted for its engineering, irrigation and hydroelectric importance and the adjoining Brindavan Gardens.

Visitors can expect a large masonry gravity dam across the Kaveri River forming a vast reservoir, with a roadway on the dam crest, sluice gates and spillways. The adjoining Brindavan Gardens on the downstream side feature terraced lawns, flower beds, topiary, fountains and pathways. The illuminated musical fountain show in the evening is a key attraction. Viewpoints offer panoramic views of the reservoir and dam structure, with garden walks, photography spots and food stalls within the complex.

Constructed between 1911 and 1932 across the Kaveri River, the dam was commissioned by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of Mysore and planned and supervised by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, then Chief Engineer of Mysore. It was among the first major irrigation and hydroelectric projects in India, providing irrigation to Mandya and Mysore regions, drinking water supply and power generation. The dam is named after the Maharaja and remains a landmark of early 20th-century engineering in Karnataka.

The dam and its adjoining Brindavan Gardens, laid out by Sir Mirza Ismail, Diwan of Mysore, are symbols of Mysore's modern engineering and horticultural heritage. The gardens, inspired by Mughal-style terraced gardens, and the reservoir are important recreational and cultural landmarks for the region and are closely associated with the identity of Mysore and the Kaveri River.