The Major Indian River Systems : Their Origins, Ends and Tributaries

Indian River System

India's river system is comprised of eight major rivers, including the Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganga, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi, along with many tributaries. Most of the rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal, while some flow into the Arabian Sea. Inland drainage is found in Ladakh, the northern Aravalli range, and the Thar Desert. All major rivers in India originate from one of the three primary watersheds.

The Ganga River System

• The Ganga river originates as the Bhagirathi from the Gangotri glacier.
• Before reaching Devprayag in the Garhwal Division, several rivers merge into the Alaknanda, which combines with the Bhagirathi to form the Ganga:
• Mandakini
• Pindar
• Dhauliganga
• Bishenganga
• The Pindar River rises from East Trishul and Nanda Devi, and unites with the Alaknanda at Karan Prayag. The Mandakini meets at Rudraprayag.
• The water from both Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda flows in the name of the Ganga at Devprayag.
• The concept of Panch Prayag includes five holy confluences in the Garhwal region, including:
1. Vishnuprayag: where the river Alaknanda meets river Dhauli Ganga
2. Nandprayag: where river Alaknanda meets river Nandakini
3. Karnaprayag: where river Alaknanda meets river Pinder
4. Rudraprayag: where river Alaknanda meets river Mandakini
5. Devprayag: where river Alaknanda meets river Bhagirathi - forming the Ganga
• The principal tributaries of the Ganga are Yamuna, Damodar, Sapta Kosi, Ram Ganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, and Son.
• After traveling a distance of 2525 km from its source, the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal.

The Godavari River System

• The second-longest river in India with brownish water is the Godavari River. 
• The river is often called the Dakshin (South) Ganga or Vriddh (Old) Ganga. 
• During summers, the Godavari River is a seasonal river and dries up, while it widens during the monsoons. 
• Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik in Maharashtra is where the river originates from. 
• The Godavari River flows south-east across south-central India through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa before draining into the Bay of Bengal. 
• The river forms a fertile delta at Rajahmundry. 
• Many pilgrimage sites are located on the banks of the Godavari River, such as Nasik(MH), Bhadrachalam(TS), and Trimbak. 
• Pranahita (Combination of Penuganga and Warda), Indravati River, Bindusara, Sabari, and Manjira are some of the tributaries of this river. 
• The river Godavari has Asia’s largest rail-cum-road bridge that links Kovvur and Rajahmundry located on it.

The Krishna River System

The Krishna River originates from Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and is one of the longest rivers in India. 

• The river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. 
• The Tungabhadra River is the main tributary, which is formed by the Tunga and Bhadra rivers that originate in the Western Ghats. 
• The river flows through Sangli and drains into the Bay of Bengal. 
• Dudhganga Rivers, Koyna, Bhima, Mallaprabha, Dindi, Ghataprabha, Warna, Yerla, and Musi are some of the other tributaries.

The Yamuna River System

•  The Yamuna River is the largest tributary of the Ganga River. 
•  It is originated from the Yamunotri glacier, at the Bandarpoonch peak in Uttarakhand. 
•  The river is joined by several main tributaries including the Sin, Hindon, Betwa Ken, and Chambal. 
•  The largest tributary of the Yamuna is the Tons. 
•  The catchment of the river extends to the states of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. 

The Narmada River System: 

•  The Narmada is a river situated in central India. It originates from the Amarkantak Hill summit in Madhya Pradesh state. 
•  It serves as the traditional boundary between North India and South India. 
•  The Narmada, the Tapti, and the Mahi rivers are the only rivers that run from east to west in peninsular India. 
•  The river flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. 
•  The Narmada River drains into the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. 

The Indus River System 

It is one of the major river systems in Asia, stretching over a total length of approximately 2897 km from its origin near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet to its end at Karachi where it meets the Arabian Sea. Here are some important facts to know about the Indus River system: 

•  Origin: The Indus River originates from the northern slopes of the Kailash range in Tibet, near Lake Mansarovar. 
•  Tributaries: The river has several tributaries in both India and Pakistan, and about 700 km of its total length lies in India. 
•  Entry into India: The Indus River enters Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir, where it forms a picturesque gorge. 
•  Kashmir region: In the Kashmir region, the Indus River is joined by several tributaries, including the Zaskar, the Shyok, the Nubra, and the Hunza. 
•  Leh region: The river flows between the Ladakh Range and the Zaskar Range at Leh. 
•  Himalayan crossing: The Indus River crosses the Himalayas through a deep gorge near Attock, which is located north of Nanga Parbat and has a depth of 5181 m. 
•  Major tributaries in India: The major tributaries of the Indus River in India are the Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. 

The Brahmaputra River System: 

•  The Brahmaputra River originates from Mansarovar Lake, which is also a source of the Indus and Sutlej rivers. 
•  The river is 3848 km long, slightly longer than the Indus River, and most of its course lies outside India. 
•  It flows parallel to the Himalayas in an eastward direction and takes a U-turn around Namcha Barwa before entering India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as the Dihang River. 
•  The Brahmaputra passes through the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India and is connected by several tributaries. 
•  In Assam, the river has a braided channel throughout most of its length. 
•  The river is known as the Tsangpo in Tibet and receives less volume of water with less silt in the Tibet region. 
•  However, in India, the river passes through a region of heavy precipitation and carries large amounts of water during rainfall, as well as a significant amount of silt. 
•  The Brahmaputra is considered one of the largest rivers in India in terms of volume and is known for creating calamities in Assam and Bangladesh. 

The Mahanadi River System 

•  The Mahanadi originates from the Satpura Range of central India and it is a river in eastern India. 
•  Mahanadi is a major river in East-Central India, flowing through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 
•  The river has its source in the hills of Chhattisgarh and flows for about 858 km before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. 
•  The Hirakud Dam, located in Odisha, is one of the longest dams in the world, and is built on the Mahanadi river. 
•  It was constructed for irrigation, power generation, and flood control purposes. 
•  It is also called the "lifeline of Orissa" as it is the primary source of water for irrigation and other purposes in the state. 
•  The river passes through major cities like Raipur, Sambalpur, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar. 
•  The river basin is rich in mineral resources like coal, iron, bauxite, and manganese, which contribute to the economy of the region. 
•  The Mahanadi also has several important tributaries, including the Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ong, Jonk, and Tel rivers. 
•  The river is home to several species of fish, including the Indian major carp, catfish, and freshwater prawn, which are commercially important for the local fishing industry. 

The Cauvery River System: 

•  Talakaveri located in the Western Ghats is the place of origin of the Cauvery River. 
•  The Kodagu district of Karnataka is a famous pilgrimage and tourist spot for the river. 
•  The river's headwaters are in the Western Ghats range of Karnataka state, and it flows through Tamil Nadu. 
•  The river empties into the Bay of Bengal. 
•  The river is a source of irrigation for agriculture and has historically supported ancient kingdoms and modern cities in South India. 
•  The river has several tributaries such as Arkavathy, Shimsha, Hemavati, Kapila, Shimsha, Honnuhole, Amaravati, Lakshmana Kabini, Lokapavani, Bhavani, Noyyal, and Tirtha. 

The Tapi River System 

•  A central Indian river, it is one of the most important rivers of peninsular India with the run from east to west. 
•  Its origin is in the Eastern Satpura Range of southern Madhya Pradesh state. 
•  A westward direction is followed by it, draining some important historic places like Madhya Pradesh’s Nimar region, East Vidarbha region and Maharashtra’s Khandesh in the northwest corner of the Deccan Plateau and South Gujarat before draining into the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea. 
•  The River Basin of Tapi River lies mostly in eastern and northern districts of Maharashtra state. 
•  Some districts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are also covered by the river. 
•  The principal tributaries of Tapi River are Waghur River, Aner River, Girna River, Purna River, Panzara River and Bori River.

List of Indian River System

River Name	Total Length (km)	Length in India	Origin	End