Madhavi Gaur
August 01, 2023 07:51
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India is blessed with a vast network of rivers that crisscross the country, nourishing its fertile lands and sustaining a rich ecosystem. These rivers have played a crucial role in shaping India’s history, culture, and economy. In this article we will have a look at the Longest Rivers of India, and the different systems of Rivers in India.
The rivers in India significantly impact the lives of its people, providing energy, transportation, irrigation, and drinking water. The river systems are vital for the livelihoods of many, with major cities often situated along their banks. These rivers hold great religious significance for Hindus, deeply ingrained in Hindu mythology.
The Indian River System consists of seven major rivers, including the Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi, along with numerous tributaries. Most of these rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal, while some in the western region of the country discharge into the Arabian Sea. There are also instances of inland drainage in certain areas, such as Ladakh, the northern Aravalli range, and the Thar Desert.
All major rivers in India originate from one of three primary watersheds:
Here’s a table listing some of the major rivers in India:
| River Name | Length (Kilometers) | Source | Mouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganges (Ganga) | 2,525 | Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | Bay of Bengal, West Bengal |
| Yamuna | 1,376 | Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | Ganges River, Allahabad, UP |
| Brahmaputra | 3,848 | Tibet, China | Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh |
| Indus | 3,180 | Tibet, China | Arabian Sea, Pakistan |
| Godavari | 1,465 | Trimbak, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh |
| Krishna | 1,400 | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh |
| Narmada | 1,312 | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Arabian Sea, Gujarat |
| Tapi | 724 | Multai, Madhya Pradesh | Arabian Sea, Gulf of Khambhat |
| Mahanadi | 858 | Sihawa, Chhattisgarh | Bay of Bengal, Odisha |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | 800 | Talakaveri, Karnataka | Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu |
1. Ganges: The Ganges, also known as the Ganga, is considered the holiest river in India. Originating from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, it flows across the northern plains of India, passing through several major cities such as Haridwar, Varanasi, and Kolkata, before finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges holds immense religious and cultural significance for Hindus and is believed to purify sins and grant salvation. It is also a lifeline for millions of people who depend on its water for drinking, irrigation, and bathing.
2. Yamuna: The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganges and runs parallel to it. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, it flows through the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, before joining the Ganges at Allahabad. The Yamuna is revered as a sacred river and is associated with Lord Krishna. It provides water for agriculture and supports the livelihoods of millions of people.
3. Brahmaputra: The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers in India and flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh. Originating from the Mansarovar Lake in the Himalayas, it enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and traverses Assam before merging with the Ganges in Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra is known for its powerful currents and vast river basin, which supports a diverse ecosystem and is crucial for agriculture and transportation.
4. Godavari: The Godavari is the second-longest river in India, originating from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. It flows through several states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari is often referred to as the “Dakshina Ganga” or the Ganges of the South, and it holds immense religious significance. It is also a lifeline for irrigation, providing water to the agriculturally rich regions along its course.
5. Krishna: The Krishna River originates from the Mahabaleshwar hills in Maharashtra and flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal. The Krishna River is an important source of irrigation, supplying water to extensive agricultural lands. It is also associated with various mythological tales and is revered by locals.
6. Narmada: The Narmada River holds great spiritual significance and is considered one of the seven sacred rivers in Hinduism. Originating from the Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh, it flows through Gujarat, forming a picturesque gorge known as the Marble Rocks near Jabalpur. The Narmada River plays a vital role in providing water for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply.
7. Kaveri: The Kaveri, also known as the Cauvery, is one of the major rivers in South India. Originating from the Brahmagiri hills in Karnataka, it flows through Tamil Nadu and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Kaveri River is revered by the people of both states and is vital for agriculture, providing water for irrigation in the fertile regions it passes through.
The primary Himalayan river systems in India include the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra rivers. These rivers have carved out vast basins as they flow through the Himalayas. Over time, the process of down-cutting during the Himalayan uplift has created deep valleys with steep rock sides. These rivers carry substantial amounts of sand and silt upstream due to their vigorous erosional activity. In the plains, they form extensive meanders and various depositional structures such as flood plains, river cliffs, and levees.
| River | Length (Km) | Source | Confluence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | 2,525 | Gangotri Glacier (Bhagirathi), Uttarakhand | Bay of Bengal |
| Yamuna | 1,376 | Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | Merges with Ganga at Allahabad (Triveni Sangam – Kumbh Mela spot) |
| Brahmaputra | 1,800 | Himalayan Glacier in Tibet, enters India in Arunachal Pradesh | Merges with Ganga and ends in Bay of Bengal |
| Chambal | 960 | Tributary of Yamuna, starting at Madhya Pradesh | Joins Yamuna river in UP |
| Son | 784 | Tributary of Ganga, starting at Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Joins Ganga just above Patna – also considered part of Vindhya river system |
| Gandak | 630 | Nepal; Ganges tributary at Indo-Nepal border (Triveni Sangam) | Joins Ganga near Patna |
| Kosi | 720 | Starts from Bihar near Indo-Nepal border | Joins Ganga near Katihar district of Bihar |
| Betwa | 590 | Tributary of Yamuna, rises at Vindhya region, MP | Joins Yamuna at Hamirpur in UP |
| Gomti | 900 | Tributary of Ganga, starting at Gomat Taal, UP | Joins Ganga in Varanasi district |
| Ghaghra | 1080 | Himalayan Glacier in Tibet, tributary of Ganga | Joins Ganga in Bihar |
| Hugli (Hooghly) | 260 | Tributary of Ganga near West Bengal | Merges with Ganga at the Bay of Bengal |
| Damodar | 592 | Tributary of Hooghly, rises in Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand | Joins Hooghly near Howrah, West Bengal |
The major peninsular rivers of India, including the Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and Mahanadi river systems, flow through the southern part of the country. Unlike the Himalayan rivers, these rivers traverse modest valleys and have relatively gentler slopes. Many of these rivers are seasonal, relying on rainfall for their flow. The peninsular rivers are characterized by their firm granite bed and lack of sand and silt, which limit meandering, resulting in straight, horizontal courses. These rivers offer numerous opportunities for hydroelectric power generation.
The Mahanadi is a significant river in east-central India. It originates from the Sihava Mountains in Chhattisgarh and primarily flows through the state of Odisha. It is known for depositing the most silt among all rivers in the Indian subcontinent. The cities of Sambalpur, Cuttack, and Banki are situated along the course of the Mahanadi.
The Godavari River has the second-longest course in India after the Ganga. It originates from Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra and flows through the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Puducherry before finally emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The river is often referred to as Dakshina Ganga due to its extensive course.
The Narmada, also known as Nerbudda, is a central Indian river that serves as the traditional border between North India and South India. It stretches for 1,289 kilometers (801 miles) in length.
The Tapi River is located in central India and has a length of approximately 724 km. It is one of the main rivers in peninsular India that flows from east to west. The Tapi, Narmada, and Mahi are the only peninsular rivers that follow this westward flow.
The Krishna River is one of India’s longest rivers, with a length of about 1300 km. It originates from Mahabaleswar in Maharashtra, passes through Sangli, and finally joins the sea at Hamasaladeevi in Andhra Pradesh, where it flows into the Bay of Bengal.
The Kaveri, also known as Cauvery or Kavery, is one of India’s major rivers, highly revered by Hindus. It is often referred to as Dakshin Ganga and flows into the Bay of Bengal.
In addition to the Tapi River, the Narmada River, and the Mahi River, there are no other major peninsular rivers that flow from east to west. Most of the peninsular rivers flow from west to east or south to north.
| River | States | Length (Approx.) | Origin | Endpoint | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Maharashtra, | 1,465 km | Trimbak, Nasik, | Bay of Bengal | Second longest river in India; Godavari Delta |
| Telangana, | Maharashtra | is a fertile agricultural region | |||
| Andhra Pradesh | |||||
| Krishna | Maharashtra, | 1,400 km | Mahabaleshwar, | Bay of Bengal | Forms a large delta; used for irrigation and |
| Karnataka, | Satara district, | hydropower generation | |||
| Telangana, | Maharashtra | ||||
| Andhra Pradesh | |||||
| Mahanadi | Chhattisgarh, | 858 km | Sihawa, Dhamtari district | Bay of Bengal | Major river in Odisha; Mahanadi Delta is an |
| Odisha | important agricultural area | ||||
| Kaveri | Karnataka, | 800 km | Talakaveri, Kodagu | Bay of Bengal | Known for the Kaveri Delta, providing water |
| Tamil Nadu | for irrigation in South India | ||||
| Narmada | Madhya Pradesh, | 1,312 km | Amarkantak, | Arabian Sea | Narmada Valley is known for its scenic beauty |
| Gujarat | Anuppur district | and marble rocks | |||
| Tapti | Madhya Pradesh, | 724 km | Multai, Betul district | Arabian Sea | Flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, |
| Maharashtra, Gujarat | Maharashtra, and Gujarat |
The table below contains the list of Peninsular Rivers of India Flowing from West to East:
Peninsular Rivers in India Flowing from West to East |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Name | Source | States Flowed Through | Length (in km) | Tributaries |
| Narmada | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat | 1,312 | Tawa, Hiran, Kolar, Man, Burhner, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tendoni, Barna, Kundi, Ganjal, Golar, Kukdi, Karjan, Hathi, Orsang, etc. |
| Tapti | Multai, Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat | 724 | Purna, Girna, Panzara, Arunavati, Aner, Bori, Sipna, etc. |
| Godavari | Trimbak, Maharashtra | Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh | 1,465 | Pravara, Indravati, Manjira, Sabari, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, etc. |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh | 1,400 | Koyna, Tungabhadra, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Musi, etc. |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Talakaveri, Karnataka | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala | 765 | Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathy, Kabini, Amaravati, Bhavani, etc. |
The Indus River originates from the northern Kailash range in Tibet, near Lake Manasarovar. It flows northwest through Tibet and enters Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir, forming an attractive gorge in the region. In the Kashmir region, it is joined by several tributaries, including the Zaskar, Shyok, Nubra, and Hunza rivers. In India, the principal tributaries of the Indus River are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
Rivers of India: The Indus River System |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Name | Length (Km) | Origin | End Point | Major States | Important Features |
| Indus | 3,180 | Tibetan Plateau | Arabian Sea | Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sindh | One of the longest rivers in the world. Originates from Tibet and flows through India and Pakistan. Important source of water for irrigation and hydropower generation. |
| Jhelum | 725 | Verinag Spring, Anantnag District, J&K | Chenab River | Jammu and Kashmir | Flows through the Kashmir Valley. |
| Chenab | 960 | Bara Lacha Pass, Himachal Pradesh | Indus River | Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan | Known for its turbulent flow and hydropower potential. |
| Ravi | 720 | Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh | Chenab River | Himachal Pradesh, Punjab | Transboundary river between India and Pakistan. |
| Beas | 470 | Beas Kund, Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej River | Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana | Important for irrigation and hydropower projects. |
| Sutlej | 1,450 | Rakshastal, Tibet | Chenab River | Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir | One of the longest rivers in India. Major source of hydropower and irrigation in northern India. |
The Brahmaputra River originates from the Mansarovar Lake, which is also the source of the Indus and the Satluj rivers. While the majority of its course lies outside of India, it is significantly longer than the Indus. The Brahmaputra flows parallel to the Himalayas in an eastward direction. After passing Namcha Barwa (7757 m), it makes a U-turn to enter Arunachal Pradesh, India, where it is called the Dihang. The river undergoes a massive undercutting of about 5500 meters. As it flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India, it receives several tributaries.
The table below contains the list of rivers in India and their notable features:
Rivers in India and Their Features |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Name | States | Length (km) | Origin | Destination | Notable Features |
| Ganga | Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, others | 2,525 | Gangotri Glacier | Bay of Bengal | Holiest river in Hinduism, sacred cities like Varanasi |
| Yamuna | Uttarakhand, UP, Haryana, Delhi | 1,376 | Yamunotri Glacier | Merges with Ganga | Flows through the capital city, Delhi |
| Brahmaputra | Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, others | 2,900 | Tibet | Bay of Bengal | Transboundary river, creates the world’s largest river island (Majuli) |
| Indus | Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir), Punjab, others | 3,180 | Tibetan Plateau | Arabian Sea | Originates from Tibet, important for the Indus Valley Civilization |
| Godavari | Maharashtra, Telangana, AP, others | 1,465 | Brahmagiri Mountains | Bay of Bengal | Second longest river in India, Godavari Pushkaram festival |
| Krishna | Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana, others | 1,400 | Mahabaleshwar | Bay of Bengal | Known for Nagarjunasagar Dam, flows through Vijayawada |
| Narmada | MP, Gujarat | 1,312 | Amarkantak Plateau | Gulf of Khambhat | One of the major westward flowing rivers in India, Narmada Sagar Dam |
| Tapi | MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat | 724 | Multai, Betul District | Arabian Sea | Flows through Surat, important for the Surat economy |
| Mahanadi | Chhattisgarh, Odisha, others | 858 | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | Bay of Bengal | Major water resource for irrigation and industrial needs |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, others | 800 | Brahmagiri Hills | Bay of Bengal | Provides water to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, sacred river in Hinduism |
| Beas | HP, Punjab, others | 470 | Beas Kund, HP | Sutlej River | Tributary of Sutlej, important for irrigation and hydropower |
| Chenab | Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, others | 960 | Bara Lacha La, HP | Jhelum River, Pakistan | Part of the Indus River Basin, flows through Jammu and Kashmir |
| Ravi | HP, Punjab, others | 720 | Rohtang Pass, HP | Chenab River | Flows through Punjab and Himachal Pradesh |
| Sutlej | HP, Punjab, others | 1,448 | Rakas Tal, Tibet | Chenab River | Flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab |
| Luni | Rajasthan, Gujarat | 495 | Pushkar Valley | Rann of Kutch | Only major river in Rajasthan, often dry in the lower reaches |
India is blessed with a vast network of rivers in India, some of which are among the longest in the world. These rivers in India play a crucial role in shaping the geography, culture, and economy of the country. Let’s take a closer look at the longest rivers of India and their significance:
Meghna River: The Meghna River in India is a significant river in Bangladesh. It is a major tributary of the Indian Brahmaputra river and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The river plays a crucial role in the hydrology and water resources of the region.
Top 10 Longest Rivers in the World
List of Lakes in India, Important state-wise lakes of India 2023
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