In addition to the well-known monuments and historical sites, you can also take in the scenery during your visit to North Karnataka. Almatti Dam is one such location where you can relish the stunning scenery.
Table of Contents
About Almatti Dam
The Almatti dam, also known as the Lal Bahadur Shastri dam, is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna River. It was built in 2005 in the Vijayapura district of Karnataka. Almatti dam is the main reservoir for the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project and after power generation, the water flows to the Narayanpur reservoir for irrigation. It is located between Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts. Despite its location in Vijayapura district, it has submerged large areas of Bagalkot district due to reservoir filling that led to the construction of Bagalkot Navanagar. One of the dam’s main attractions is the musical dancing fountain show. Aside from that, Almatti has lovely gardens to visit. Lava Kusha, Krishna, Rock, Mughal, and Rose gardens are among them.
Sightseeing around Almatti Dam
Rock Garden
There is a Rock Garden on the way to the musical fountain show. It costs only 20 rupees per Indian adult to enter. The entrance features a pair of four metal statues, one facing the road and one facing the garden. Among the statues are men facing the road and women facing the garden. A pond is located directly in the center of the garden, and the path that circles it leads to various spots across the garden. The rock garden is large, and it will take you at least an hour to just walk through it at a leisurely pace. Even though there are sign boards, there is no proper map for the garden, so getting around to explore may be a little confusing.
The pond had boats, but they did not appear to be in use during our tour. There are comfortable benches and seating areas, play areas for children and adults, refreshment shops, and a Japanese garden inside the complex. Depictions of village life and various animals and birds carved into life-sized statues were other highlights of this place. Other attractions include a fun time for children and adults. Overall, it’s a nice spot for a picnic with the kids and family. We stayed in the park for nearly an hour before leaving to see the fountain show.
Mughal and Rose garden
Mughal and Rose Garden is located inside the plaza where the musical fountain show takes place. It is open to the public from 6 am to 7.30 pm. A grand arch leads to a semicircular plaza with decorated pillars. The entrance fee for adults is 40 rupees. As you enter the gate and move away from the arch, you will notice the well-kept and well-groomed gardens and fountains. Mughal and rose gardens are vibrant especially if you visit in the evening. You can also indulge in the illuminated color-changing small fountains throughout the gardens and appreciate the view. Further, you can take pictures of the gardens and fountains.
Musical Fountain
Musical Fountain Laser Show
The first laser light musical show occurs in a large open-air amphitheatre, with seating available to watch the show. The dam crest gates are located right behind this amphitheatre, and we can clearly see them from our seats, especially if we are in the last rows. Generally, two laser shows occur depending on the crowd. The first performance begins at 7.15 pm, followed by the second in the same amphitheatre. The first show is nearly 20 minutes long and the charm of this laser show is the visual display of the songs through the water.
Musical Dancing Fountain
The next musical fountain show takes place in another amphitheatre. Actually, we were unaware of the second show and assumed it was a repeat of the first, only to discover it was not. It is preferable to follow the crowd because proper directions are lacking. This will take place in a larger circular amphitheatre than the previous one. This show follows the conclusion of the second show at the first amphitheatre. There is only one performance here that lasts for 20mins. This is a complete musical dancing fountain show where the fountains come to life to music.
Semicircular Arch 3D Show
After the show, we walked through the gardens to the exit. Another 3D show at the entrance arch was a surprise to us. This show is unique and completely captivating. Due to their likely unawareness, the majority of the audience had already left when this show began. This show is only 10 minutes long. In total, there are two musical fountain shows and one 3D show.
Tips to visit Musical Fountain shows
- If you arrive by 6.30 pm, you will be able to enjoy views of the garden and colorful fountains.
- The place fills up entirely on weekends for the show. So, get your tickets and arrive at the amphitheater by 7.15 pm.
- These shows almost always run until 8.30 pm. So, if you are staying far away, please plan your departure ahead of time. You may be late due to the traffic jam during your departure.
- We went in August, so the dam gate was open for us to witness and appreciate the beauty of nature as well. The spillway gates are visible from the first amphitheatre.
Almatti Dam Crest Gates
Almatti Dam has a total of 26 crest gates. Water flows through these spillway gates when the dam is full during the rainy season, which is a sight to behold. The Almatti dam crest gates are partially visible at the opposite end of the garden, near the musical fountain show arena. The crest gates are also visible from the train and the State highway that connects Bagalkot and Almatti.
Lava Kusha and Krishna Gardens
Lava Kusha and Krishna Gardens are one of Almatti’s most beautiful gardens. It is located 6 km from the Almatti Dam and is open daily from 6 am to 7 pm. One of our friends informed us that the garden features massive sculptures of Lava Kusha and Krishna made of cement and steel. It has a beautiful vantage point with a panoramic view of the Almatti Dam. We skipped it this time because we arrived in Almatti in the evening and couldn’t cover all the places. So, we are planning to go there on our next visit.
How to reach Almatti Dam
From Bangalore
By Road
Bike/Car:
- The shortest path from Bangalore to Almatti is through Tumkur, Chitradurga, Ilkal, and Almatti on NH 48 and NH 50. It will take about 8 hours to get there.
Bus:
- Buses run from Bangalore to Almatti during the day and at night. It will take roughly 8 hours to arrive during the night.
By Rail
- There are three night trains that run from Bangalore to Almatti. You have the option of choosing the Golgumbaz Express, BJP YPR EXP#, or Basava Express.
- It will approximately take 12 hours.
By Air
- Hubli and Belgaum are the closest domestic airports to Almatti. Hubli is 168 km away, and Belgaum is 186 km away respectively.
Travel tips to visit Almatti dam
- You can visit Almatti Dam throughout the year. Especially, the months of July and August are ideal for viewing the outflow of water through the spillway gates.
- The majority of the gardens are open from 6 am to 7 pm. However, except for the Mughal and Rose Gardens, the entry will close at 6 pm, so try to arrive before then. Almatti’s gardens are well-kept and finely nurtured. These gardens will take at least an hour to tour.
- If you don’t have time to visit all of the gardens, spend time in any one of them. All of the gardens have a small entry fee.
- Almatti offers a few lodges with basic amenities. You can easily reserve a room at any of these lodges. KSTDC lodge Mayura is also available, which is quite good. Other options include staying at the district headquarters in Bagalkot or Vijayapura, where there are a variety of lodging options to suit all preferences. If you’re interested, you can read about our post on Vijayapura tourist attractions here.
- There are not many Pure Vegetarian hotels close to the Almatti Dam. There are only a few vegetarian hotels, such as Sankalp and Rasoi. Aside from that, there are a few small eateries and bakeries.
- Do read out our post on North Karnataka Itinerary for a suggested itinerary for well-known North Karnataka attractions.
