Completed in 1957, the Hirakud Dam is one of the longest earthen dams in the world, stretching approximately 25 kilometres across the Mahanadi River about 15 kilometres from Sambalpur. It was one of India's first major post-independence infrastructure projects and remains an engineering landmark. The dam's two observation towers — Gandhi Minar and Nehru Minar — are open to visitors and give sweeping views across the reservoir and the surrounding plains. The approach road is lined with gardens and the atmosphere on weekends is festive.
The Hirakud reservoir formed by the dam is vast — it spreads across more than 700 square kilometres when full. Between November and February, the shallow margins of the reservoir become an important wintering ground for migratory birds, including bar-headed geese, painted storks, and various species of duck and egret. Local boatmen offer trips from the dam area onto the water, which is the best way to get close to the birdlife. The reservoir also supports a substantial fishing industry; you can watch the fishermen bringing in catches of rohu and catla carp from the dam road.
Entry to the dam viewpoint costs a nominal fee. The site is at its most atmospheric in the early morning and late afternoon, when the light on the water is good and the heat is manageable. Cycle rickshaws and autos from Sambalpur make the journey regularly; it is also easy to combine a dam visit with a stop at the nearby Samaleswari Temple on the same outing.