The Balimela Reservoir is situated 30 km from Malkangiri and 105 km from Jeypore town, which serves as the operational headquarters of the Hydroelectric Project 22 km from Chitrakonda. Balimela Power Project represents the second stage of the development of the Machkund-Sileru River, which began with Stage One as the Machkund Project.
The river water released from Machkund Power House and the inflow source from the intermediate catchment between Machkund-Balimela Dam has created an earth cum rockfill dam at Chitrakonda called Balimela Dam. The Balimela Dam View Point is developed for viewing the natural beauty of this place. This place receives good tourism, especially visitors who come for the Winter Weekend Party at Balimela Reservoir.
Balimela Dam is a joint project of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The inflow into Balimela Reservoir is shared between the two states in a 50:50 ratio. In 1962, the estimate was framed for the agreement between the two states, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, which was originally estimated at 24 crores.
Reconception of estimates at different phases of investigations and construction of Projects was necessitated due to a variety of factors, such as an increase in the prices of various spares, consumables, and wages of different categories of workers and employees, reduction in the efficiency of machinery due to longer usage and idling for lack of spare, increase in the distance to reach borrow areas and higher levels of the Dam from year to year, etc. Balimela Dam has now become one of the top tourist attractions in Malkangir District.
How to Reach, Destination Facilities, Transportation, Destination Attractions, Accessibility
Best Time to visit
The best time to visit the Balimela Dam Picnic spot is from October to June and the winter season.
Nearby Bus Stand
The nearby Bus stand is Malkangiri, which is located around 8 Km distance from Balimela Dam & Reservoir
Nearby Railway Station from Balimela Reservoir & Dam
The Nearby Railway Station is Jeypore, which is located around 120 Km distance from Balimela Dam & Reservoir
Nearby Airport
The nearby airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, which is located around 628 Km distance from Balimela Dam & Reservoir
