Bhakra-Nangal Project is a joint venture by the states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. This is regarded as the biggest multi-purpose project in India. The Bhakra-Nangal Project was initiated in the year 1948 and the same got completed in the year 1968. The name of this project came from the two dams Bhakra and Sutlej, constructed on a tributary of the Indus, the Sutlej.

This jointly-undertaken project consists of the Nangal and the Bhakra dams, two power houses at Bhakra dam, the Nangal hydel channel and two power stations situated in Kotla and Ganguwal. Nangal Dam is at a distance of about 13 kilometers to the downstream of Bhakra Dam and is of a height of 95 ft. This dam comprises of twenty six bays of 30 ft each, modeled to divert the water of Sutlej River into the Nangal Hydel Channel and Anandpur Sahib Hydel Channel for the generation of power and irrigation purpose. Apart from the prevention of destructive floods, the Bhakra-Nangal Project all provides water for the irrigation of agricultural areas lands in the state of Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. This project also generates one million kilowatt of hydro-electricity.

The Bhakra dam was erected on the River Sutlej. It is situated at the foot of the Sivalik Hills in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Late, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, dedicated this dam to the nation on the 20th of November, 1963. The Bhakra dam is the highest Concrete gravity dam in Asia and the second highest in the world. The Bhakra dam has played an important role in checking the floods in the river Sutlej.

The Nangal dam was erected over the River Sutlej and it is about twelve kilometers downstream at Nangal in the state of Punjab. This reservoir is used as a backup in case the Bhakra dam fluctuates. Storing the water of the Sutlej River coming from the Bhakra dam, the Nangal dam forms a six kilometer long artificial lake. The height of the Nangal dam is 29 metres and the length of it is 304.8 metres. This dam is also a part of the Bhakra-Nangal Project.

Rightly described by the Late Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, as ‘New Temple of Resurgent India’, the project has also opened a suitable option for the tourists to visit the sites of the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Situated in between a green surrounding, the dams provide a wonderful view of the vicinity and thus attract a large number of tourists from all parts of India.