Nagarjunasagar and Nagarjunakonda
A major dam on the Krishna, and an island museum holding Buddhist remains rescued from the valley it flooded.
About
Nagarjunasagar is one of the large masonry dams built on the Krishna in the decades after independence, and the reservoir behind it is vast. What makes the place unusual is what lies beneath it. The valley now under water, Nagarjunakonda, was a major Buddhist centre, and before the reservoir filled, excavated structures were dismantled and rebuilt on high ground that is now an island in the lake. The museum there holds sculpture and reconstructed monuments, and is reached by boat from the shore.
Worth your time
- The dam and reservoir
- Nagarjunakonda island museum, reached by boat
- Reconstructed Buddhist stupas and viharas
- Ethipothala waterfall nearby
The island is the reason to come, and the boat is the constraint. Services run to a limited schedule and are affected by water level and weather, so the crossing dictates the shape of the day rather than fitting around it.
Confirm boat timings locally before committing to a same-day return.
Temples in the same region
Boat services, permits, entry fees and road access change with the season and at short notice. Check anything your plan depends on before setting out.