Gold Mines in India: Where Is the Next Big Discovery?

In India, gold is more than a natural resource, it is legacy, tradition and prosperity. But few are aware that India has a rich legacy of gold mining, gold is one of the largest consuming countries for gold across the Globe. From the depths of Karnataka’s storied mines to new-found deposits in Odisha, here’s a glimpse of India’s largest gold mines and their unfulfilled promise.


Mining of Gold in India dates back to the pre-historic times 2000 years ago, as ancient civilizations sampled the metal, albeit without the techniques we know today. The Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), once the world’s deepest mines, were a major source of gold for centuries, until closing down in 2001. Even now, India continues to find untapped reserves, which gives the mining sector a promising future.



The shining star: Hutti Gold Mines, Karnataka – the heartbeat of Indian gold mining
Hutti Gold Mines, in Karnataka’s Raichur district, is the only mine still active across all of India today, producing around 99% of the country’s gold. Behind this mine is more than two thousand years of history, and it remains the bedrock of Indian gold. The greenstone belt in the region continues to pump out gold as all exploration projects that seek to push its lifeline out continues.

Kilogram Gold Fields (KGF) was recognized as India’s first and largest gold mines which were running for over 120 years but closed down due to economic challenges. THESE MINES WERE SOME OF THE DEEPEST IN THE WORLD, GOING DOWN UP TO 3.2 KILOMETERS. The speculation about it was based on KGF, with KGF west reopening with sophisticated extraction technology, but after the mining operations were ended.

It began in 2020 with a report from Sonbhadra district of a possible gold mine: The chatter about unexplored gold reserves in India took off. The first estimates suggested large deposits, but more studies are needed before it can be determined whether extraction will actually be feasible. If successful, the discovery could place Uttar Pradesh on India’s gold-mining map.

India’s first private sector gold mining project, the Jonnagiri Gold Project, is being set up as a joint venture between Deccan Gold Mines and Geomysore Services. In this project, estimated mineable reserves are fixed at 6.8 million tonnes, which will be an opportunity for the private sector to mine gold.
But Ramgiri’s gold-laden deposits are ancient and miners have long been known to work there. Underexplored in recent decades but with renewed interest in reviving operations, recent developments suggest a glimpse into the future.



Odisha has now emerged as one of the major venues for gold fishing not only across India. In March 2025, gold deposits were found in the Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Angul and Koraput districts. Odisha is already set to become a gold hub in the coming years, as the state government has already declared about plans to auction mining blocks.



Apart from these top locations, there are several other gold-rich locations in India including:

Known for high-grade gold veins

A rich history of mining.Large deposit endowment.

Kept for potential exploration.



From October 2022 to September 2023, India's gold imports, worth ₹19.2 trillion, accounted for 1600% of its gold reserves, even as India continues to grapple with high production costs, issues with anti-mining laws, and environmental concerns that lead the nation to be the world's largest gold importer as well. But recent technological developments and skyrocketing private investment raise an urgent revival of India’s gold mining industry.



There is plenty more left to write in the saga of gold mining in India. While the private sector continues to get in on the action and new discoveries are made, the future of this space looks bright. Who knows? After all the next great gold rush could be a few blocks away on your computer.

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