List of Ganga River Tributaries: Map, Left and Right Bank Tributaries

The Ganga River is one of the most important and sacred rivers of Asia, forming the backbone of the Ganga basin rivers and supporting millions of people across India and Bangladesh. Its extensive network of Ganga river tributaries not only maintains the river’s perennial flow but also sustains agriculture, ecology, and human settlements along its course. 

For UPSC aspirants, a thorough understanding of the Ganga river system and its tributaries of Ganga river is crucial for Geography, Environment, and General Studies papers.

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About Ganga River 

The Ganga originates as the Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand at an elevation of about 3,892 metres. Several small streams form the headwaters of the Ganga system. The important tributaries in the upper course include the Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, Pindar, Mandakini, and Bhilangana rivers.

At Devprayag, where the Alaknanda meets the Bhagirathi, the river officially takes the name Ganga. From this point, the Ganga flows for nearly 2,525 km before finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The river system is formed by six major headstreams and five important confluences, known as the Panch Prayag.

The major confluences Ganga River are:

• Vishnuprayag: Confluence of the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers

• Nandaprayag: Confluence of the Nandakini and Alaknanda rivers

• Karnaprayag: Confluence of the Pindar and Alaknanda rivers

• Rudraprayag: Confluence of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers

• Devprayag: Confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers

The Bhagirathi, regarded as the main source stream of the Ganga, rises from Gaumukh at the foot of the Gangotri Glacier. After its long journey across the northern plains of India, the Ganga finally drains into the Bay of Bengal.

About Ganga River Basin

Ganga Basin extends across India, Tibet (China), Nepal, and Bangladesh, covering a total area of about 10,86,000 sq km. The largest share of the basin lies in India, making it the biggest river basin in the country. In India, it drains an area of 8,61,452 sq km, which is slightly more than one-fourth (26.3 percent) of the country’s total geographical area. The basin covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.

Ganga Basin extends across India, Tibet (China), Nepal, and Bangladesh, covering a total area of about 10,86,000 sq km. The largest share of the basin lies in India, making it the biggest river basin in the country. In India, it drains an area of 8,61,452 sq km, which is slightly more than one-fourth (26.3 percent) of the country’s total geographical area. The basin covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.

Ganga River Tributaries

The Ganga river system originates in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, flowing approximately 2,525 km through northern India before entering Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, it is known as the Padma, where it eventually merges with the Jamuna (Brahmaputra) and Meghna, forming the Ganga Delta, one of the largest river deltas in the world.

The river system is fed by numerous left bank tributaries of Ganga from the Himalayas and right bank tributaries of Ganga from the Peninsular Plateau. These rivers collectively form the Ganga river tributaries list, which is essential knowledge for UPSC Geography and current affairs.

Left Bank Tributaries of Ganga

Left bank tributaries of Ganga mainly originate from the Himalayas and contribute the maximum flow to the river, especially during the monsoon. Some of the major tributaries of Ganga on the left bank include:

1. Ramganga River – Tributary of Ganga

The Ramganga river tributary of Ganga originates from the Dudhatoli Hills in Uttarakhand and flows through the Jim Corbett National Park. The river joins the Ganga near Kannauj, providing water for agriculture and irrigation. Bareilly is an important urban settlement along its banks.

2. Gomti River – Tributary of Ganga

The Gomti river tributary of Ganga rises from Gomat Taal (Pilibhit, UP). Flowing for about 900 km, it joins the Ganga at Ghazipur. Cities like Lucknow, Jaunpur, and Sultanpur are located on its banks. The Sai River is a significant tributary of the Gomti.

3. Ghaghara River – Tributary of Ganga

The Ghaghara river tributary of Ganga, also known as Karnali in Nepal, originates from the Tibetan Plateau near Lake Mansarovar. It enters India at Brahmaghat and joins the Ganga at Chhapra, Bihar. Major tributaries include Rapti, Sarayu, and Sharda, making it one of the major tributaries of Ganga.

4. Gandak River – Tributary of Ganga

The Gandak river tributary of Ganga is formed by the Kali and Trisuli rivers in Nepal, known as Narayani in its upper course. Entering India, it joins the Ganga near Sonepur, Bihar. The Gandak river has deep valleys in the upper reaches and fertile floodplains in the lower course.

5. Kosi River – Tributary of Ganga

The Kosi river tributary of Ganga, also called the “Sorrow of Bihar”, originates in Tibet and Nepal. It joins the Ganga near Kursela, Bihar. This river is highly unstable due to heavy silt deposition, causing frequent flooding. It is one of the major tributaries of Ganga that contribute significantly to the river’s volume.

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Right Bank Tributaries of Ganga

Right bank tributaries of Ganga mostly originate from the Peninsular Plateau. They generally carry less water than left bank tributaries but play an important role in irrigation, water management, and regional ecology.

1. Yamuna – Tributary of Ganga

The Yamuna tributary of Ganga is the largest and most important right bank tributary. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, it flows through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, joining the Ganga at Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam). The Yamuna forms the Yamuna–Ganga Doab, a fertile agricultural region critical for food security.

2. Son River – Tributary of Ganga

The Son river tributary of Ganga originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh. Flowing through MP, UP, Jharkhand, and Bihar, it joins the Ganga near Patna. Important tributaries of the Son include the Rihand and North Koel rivers. The river valley is sparsely populated but ecologically significant.

3. Damodar River – Tributary of Ganga

The Damodar river tributary of Ganga rises in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and is historically prone to floods. It now joins the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganga. The river supports industrial and coal-rich regions of Jharkhand and West Bengal.

4. Other Right Bank Tributaries

Other important right bank tributaries of the Ganga include Tamsa (Tons), Karmanasa, Punpun, Falgu, Kiul, Chandan, Ajay, and Rupnarayan, which play critical roles in irrigation and local ecosystems.

Ganga Tributaries Map and Flow Pattern

The Ganga tributaries map reveals the spatial distribution of rivers in the Ganga basin:

• Left bank tributaries originate in the Himalayas and Nepal, contributing the maximum seasonal discharge.
  
• Right bank tributaries originate from the Peninsular Plateau, contributing a smaller but steady flow.
  
• The Ganga river system has a dendritic pattern in the plains and a trellis pattern in the foothills.
  
• Knowledge of the Ganga river tributaries list is vital for UPSC questions on Indian rivers, river basins, and hydrography.
  

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Importance of Ganga River Tributaries

The tributaries of Ganga river are crucial for:

• Sustaining perennial flow of the Ganga
  
• Irrigation and agriculture across the Ganga basin
  
• Groundwater recharge and wetland ecosystems
  
• Navigation and hydropower
  
• Supporting biodiversity, fisheries, and regional ecology
  

Understanding the Ganga river system and its Ganga basin rivers helps UPSC aspirants answer questions related to water resources, rivers, and environmental geography.

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