Banasura Sagar Dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project consisting of a dam and a canal project started in 1979.
It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia and a starting point for hikes into the surrounding mountains
Have the time of your life zooming across the vast expanse of crystal clear waters in a power boat, zigzagging between the tiny islands that speckle the lake face.
Situated about 15 km from Kalpetta, the dam holds a large expanse of water and its picturesque beauty is enhanced by the chain of mountains seen on the backdrop. It is constructed in the Banasura Lake and the nearby mountains are known as Banasura Hills. Legends say that the Asura king of Banasura, (the son of King Mahabali, who is believed to visit Kerala during every Onam festival) undertook a severe penance on the top of these hills and thus it was named after him. The scenic mountains beckon adventure tourists and the dam site is an ideal starting point for trekking.
During monsoon, visitors may also be
able to see small islands in the dam’s reservoir. They are formed while
the flooded reservoir submerges the surrounding areas too. The vast
expanse of the crystal clear water of the dam dotted with small islands
is a photographer’s delight.