Nagarjunasagar Dam and Buddhist Heritage Site of Krishna

The Nagarjunasagar Dam on the Krishna river, completed in 1969, is one of the world's largest masonry dams, creating a reservoir that submerged the ancient Buddhist site of Nagarjunakonda — named after the 2nd-3rd century CE Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna who lived there. Archaeological excavations before submersion rescued sculptures, stupas, and viharas; the island of Nagarjunakonda, created by the reservoir, now hosts a museum displaying the rescued heritage. The dam's two canal systems — left bank (Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal) and right bank — irrigate 24 lakh acres across Krishna, Guntur, Nalgonda, and Khammam districts. The project's construction is considered one of India's greatest post-independence engineering achievements and employed over 100,000 workers.