Dowleswaram Barrage - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 10 km from Rajahmundry Railway Station, Dowleswaram Barrage is an irrigation structure which is built at Dowleswaram, on the lower stretch of the Godavari River before it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The barrage was built by a British irrigation engineer, Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton.

This barrage provides water for East and West Godavari districts for agriculture. Before this barrage was constructed, this region was suffering from drought in summer and floods in monsoons. The barrage controlled the water flow and ensured continuous water supply to both Godavari district. The Dowleswaram Barrage is 15 feet high and 3.5 km long, with 175 crest gates to pass the floods. The full reservoir level of the barrage is 14 m MSL with 2.93 TMC gross storage capacity. The dam alignment crosses two mid-stream islands and the barrage was constructed in four sections, which allowed flood passage during the construction period which was completed in 1850.

Sir Arthur Cotton Museum was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Nandamuri Tarakarama Rao in 1988. It has pictures describing the working of the dam and a display of the tools used during the dam's construction. Lot of Models collected from various places, projects and the machinery of various types which were used at the time of construction of the barrage are also preserved and kept open for visitors. There is a statue of Sir Arthur Cotton in the village.

Another attraction is boating on the Godavari. Sunset at Dowleswaram barrage is very amazing.