Longest River in India, Top 10 Rivers, State-Wise List, and Map

The longest river in India is the Ganga, stretching 2,525 km from Uttarakhand to the Bay of Bengal. Other major rivers include Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna, Narmada, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Cauvery, and Tapi. Explore the top 10 longest rivers in India, their state-wise distribution, and the longest river in north, south, and North East India with a detailed rivers map of India.

Longest River in India, Top 10 Rivers, State-Wise List, and Map

India’s Longest River: The Ganga is the longest river in India, about 2,525 kilometres from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. It’s not just long, it’s super important to people’s culture and beliefs. It starts way up in the Himalayas at the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. The Ganga goes through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Looking at a map shows where it goes and the areas it helps along the way.

Longest River in India 

India has tons of rivers that shape everything from the land to the culture and jobs. The Ganga is the longest, going over 2,525 kilometres from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Other big rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Brahmaputra are important for farming, travel, and daily life.

Top 10 Longest Rivers in India

India has so many rivers! Some are long, some short, but they are all very important. This list of the longest rivers lets you know how they’re spread out all over the country. The Ganga is still the longest, but the Godavari and Krishna are big in the south, and the Brahmaputra is important in the northeast. Here are the top 10 with their length, where they start, and where they end up:

Top 10 Longest Rivers in India
S.No River Length in India (km) Total Length (km) Origin Empties Into
1 Ganga 2,525 2,525 Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand Bay of Bengal
2 Godavari 1,464 1,465 Trimbak, Maharashtra Bay of Bengal
3 Krishna 1,400 1,400 Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra Bay of Bengal
4 Yamuna 1,376 1,376 Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand Confluence with Ganga
5 Narmada 1,312 1,312 Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh Arabian Sea
6 Indus 1,114 3,180 Tibet (near Lake Mansarovar) Arabian Sea
7 Brahmaputra 916 2,900 Angsi Glacier, Tibet Bay of Bengal
8 Mahanadi 890 890 Sihawa Hills, Chhattisgarh Bay of Bengal
9 Cauvery 800 800 Brahmagiri Hills, Karnataka Bay of Bengal
10 Tapi (Tapti) 724 724 Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh Arabian Sea

Longest River in North India

North India has some important rivers. The Ganga is the longest. It runs over 2,525 kilometres, starting at the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and going through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Lots of smaller rivers join it. On the left, the Ramganga, Garra, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, and Mahananda flow into the Ganga. On the right, the Yamuna, Tamsa, Son, Punpun, Kiul, Karmanasa, and Chandan add to it.

The Ganga also helps a lot with farming in northern India, watering the fertile land in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Cities and towns along it get water, transport, and trade. It’s also really important for religious reasons and is a lifeline for millions of people.

Longest River in South India

Rivers in South India flow in a special curved pattern. The Godavari is the longest, at 1,464 kilometres. It starts near Trimbak in Maharashtra and goes through Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Many rivers join the Godavari. The Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, and Purna join on the left, while the Nasardi, Darna, and Pravara join on the right. The Godavari is important for watering crops, making electricity, and giving water to people in the southern states. It’s home to lots of different plants and animals and many people live near it, so it’s a super important river.

Longest River in North East India

The Brahmaputra is the longest river in Northeast India. It’s 2,900 kilometres long in total, but 916 kilometres of it are in India. It starts at the Angsi Glacier in Tibet and enters India in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Dibang, Lohit, and Dhansiri rivers join it on the left, and the Kameng, Manas, Jaldhaka, Teesta, and Subansiri join on the right. In Assam, the Brahmaputra makes Majuli, a really famous river island. In Bangladesh, it’s called the Jamuna and joins the Ganges (Padma) before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

River Map of India

A river map of India shows all the rivers across the country. They go all over, from mountains to plains to coasts. A map can show which way the rivers flow and where they start and end. For example, the Ganga flows east into the Bay of Bengal, but the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea.

Looking at a river map is helpful for seeing where things are, where the rivers flow, and where the water is. It’s also helpful for seeing where farms, power plants, and transportation routes are. A map can help you learn about the longest river in India, its smaller rivers, and why they are important.

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Longest River in India State Wise List

India has different states, and each one has big rivers that flow through it. Knowing the longest river in each state helps you see how important rivers are in each state. Here’s a list:

Longest River in India State Wise List

State/Union Territory

Longest/Most Significant River

Andhra Pradesh Godavari, Krishna
Assam Brahmaputra
Bihar Ganges, Kosi
Chhattisgarh Mahanadi, Son
Gujarat Narmada, Tapti (Tapi), Mahi
Himachal Pradesh Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej (tributaries of Indus system)
Karnataka Krishna, Kaveri
Madhya Pradesh Narmada, Chambal
Maharashtra Godavari, Krishna
Odisha Mahanadi
Punjab Sutlej, Ravi, Beas (tributaries of Indus system)
Rajasthan Chambal, Banas
Tamil Nadu Kaveri
Telangana Godavari, Krishna
Uttar Pradesh Ganges, Yamuna
Uttarakhand Ganges (Bhagirathi and Alaknanda headwaters), Yamuna
West Bengal Ganges (as Hooghly and Padma)
Kerala Periyar
Goa Mandovi (or Mahadayi)
Sikkim Teesta
Jammu and Kashmir Jhelum
Ladakh Indus

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest river in North India?

The Ganga runs through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Which is the longest river in South India?

The Godavari goes through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Which is the longest river in Northeast India?

The Brahmaputra enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and flows into Assam.

Where can I see a map of India's rivers?

The one above shows the main rivers and where they go.

What's the longest river in each state?

It's different for each one. For example, the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, and the Brahmaputra in Assam.

Longest River in India, Top 10 Rivers, State-Wise List, and Map

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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