India’s Lifeline: The Mighty Rivers
India’s rivers are the lifeblood of the nation, deeply woven into the lives of its people. From providing water for drinking and irrigation to powering homes and enabling transportation, these waterways are essential. Unsurprisingly, most major cities have sprung up along their banks.
Hindus hold these rivers sacred, as they play a significant role in their mythology. Seven major rivers – the Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna, and Mahanadi – form the Indian river system, with countless tributaries branching out. Most rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal, while some in the west flow into the Arabian Sea. There are also pockets of inland drainage in Ladakh, the Aravalli Range, and the Thar Desert.
The Source of India’s Water Wealth:
- The Himalayas and Karakoram mountain ranges
- The Vindhya and Satpura ranges of Central India, along with the Chotanagpur plateau
- The Western Ghats (Sahyadri mountains) of Western India
Indian Rivers Names with States
| S. No. | State | Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Godavari & Musi |
| 2 | Bihar | Ganga |
| 3 | Delhi | Yamuna |
| 4 | Goa | Mandovi |
| 5 | Gujarat | Sabarmati |
| 6 | Haryana | Yamuna |
| 7 | Jharkhand | Damodar, Ganga & Subarnarekha |
| 8 | Karnataka | Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Cauvery, Tunga & Pennar |
| 9 | Kerala | Pamba |
| 10 | Madhya Pradesh | Betwa, Tapti, Wainganga, Khan, Narmada, Kshipra, Beehar, Chambal & Mandakini |
| 11 | Maharashtra | Krishna, Godavari, Tapi and Panchganga |
| 12 | Nagaland | Diphu & Dhansiri |
| 13 | Orissa | Brahmini & Mahanadi |
| 14 | Punjab | Satluj |
| 15 | Rajasthan | Chambal |
| 16 | Sikkim | Rani Chu |
| 17 | Tamil Nadu | Cauvery, Adyar, Cooum, Vennar, Vaigai & Tambarani |
| 18 | Uttar Pradesh | Yamuna, Ganga & Gomti |
| 19 | Uttrakhand | Ganga |
| 20 | West Bengal | Ganga, Damodar & Mahananda |
Himalayan Rivers
| Rivers | Length (KM) | Origin | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, but enters India in Arunachal Pradesh | Merges with Ganga and ends in Bay of Bengal |
| Chambal | 960 | Tributary of Yamuna river, 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 | 1,080 | 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 Hugli near Chandwar, Jharkhand | Merges with Hugli in West Bengal |
Peninsular Rivers Flowing West to East And East to West
| Rivers | Details |
|---|---|
| Luni | Originates from the western Aravalli Range near Ajmer, is sometimes known as the Sabarmati, and flows through Gujarat’s swampy Rann of Kutch. |
| Sabarmati | Begins at Dhebar Lake in the Aravalli Range of Udaipur (Rajasthan) and flows through an estuary to the Arabian Sea. |
| Mahi | Comes from the Vindhya range in MP and empties into the Gulf of Cambay. |
| Narmada | Origin: Amarkantak, Shahdol, MP Ends: The Arabian Sea via Estuary Flow Route: MP – Bharuch (Gujrat) – Gulf of Khambat (Gujrat) – The Arabian Sea via Estuary Famous projects: Sardar Sarovar Dam, Maheshwar Dam, Indira Gandhi Sagar Dam It is longest among all east to west flowing rivers. It is also known as Lifeline of MP. Forms Duandhar falls at Jabalpur. Its only tributary is Hiran River. Aliabet is the Largest Island in Estuary. |
| Tapi | Place of Origin: Betul District, MP, Satpura Range, Mahadev Hills. Flow Route: MP to Maharashtra, Cambay to the Arabian Sea through Estuary, Gulf of Khambat. Notable construction initiatives include the Ukai Dam and the Kakrapar Dam. |
| Periyar | Rises from Kerala’s Western Ghats, flows west, and empties into the Arabian Sea via an estuary. |
| Rivers | Details |
|---|---|
| Mahanadi | Flow routes include Chhattisgarh, Orissa, EGs, and BOB. The famous project is the Hirakund Dam. |
| Godavari | Largest Peninsular River’s Origin: Triambakeshwar Plateau, Nashik, WGs Flow Route: Nashik to Andhra Pradesh Notable Tributaries: Penganga, Sabri, Wardha, and Indravati Notable Projects: Poochampad, Jayakwadi, and Polavaram |
| Penganga | It originates in the Ajanta Hills in Maharashtra and is a tributary of the River Wardha before joining the Godavari. |
| Krishna | Place of Origin: WGs, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra Famous Projects: Koyna, Tugrabhdra, Srisailam, and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Flow Route: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and BOB |
| Tungabhadra | One of Krishna’s main tributaries, rising from the Western Ghats. |
| Bhima | Rises from the Balaghat range in Maharashtra and is a Krishna tributary. |
| Kaveri | Origin: Karnataka’s Brahamgiri Hills, WGs Perennial River Flow Route: Karnataka Kaveripatnam (TN) BOB Creates Shivasundaram Falls The projects Krishnaraja Sagar & Mettur are well-known. |
| Penner | Originates in Karnataka, divides into the Krishna and Kaveri, and empties into Bay of Bengal. |
| Vaigai | A seasonal river flowing through Tennessee and originates in the Palni Hills. It drains into the Gulf of Mannar. |
Longest Rivers of India
| River | Length in India (km) | Total Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga | 2525 | 2525 |
| Godavari | 1464 | 1465 |
| Krishna | 1400 | 1400 |
| Yamuna | 1376 | 1376 |
| Narmada | 1312 | 1312 |
| Indus | 1114 | 3180 |
| Brahmaputra | 916 | 2900 |
| Mahanadi | 890 | 890 |
| Kaveri | 800 | 800 |
| Tapti | 724 | 724 |
Also Read: Rivers Of Uttar Pradesh, Rivers Of Bihar, Rivers Of Gujarat.