The term river system refers to a ‘river along with its tributaries’.

Based on their source, the Indian River system is classified in to -

Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers.

The Himalayan Rivers, as the name suggests originate from the

Himalayas and flow through the Northern Plains.

The major Himalayan River systems are

• The Indus River System,

• The Ganga River System
• The Yamuna River System
• The Brahmaputra River System

Peninsular River System or Peninsular Drainage emerges mainly from

the Western Ghats. Since the Western Ghats form a ‘water divide’, these
rivers either flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal or into the Arabian
Sea towards the west. Peninsular Rivers are basically ‘rain fed’ rivers.

The major Peninsular River Systems are:

• Mahanadi
• Godavari
• Krishna
• Cauvery

Drain into Bay of Bengal as they flow eastwards on the plateau and
make ‘deltas’ at their mouths; whereas Narmada

Tapti - the west flowing rivers fall into the Arabian Sea and make
‘estuaries’.

not originate in glaciers, but are rain fed rivers. These rivers reduce
considerably or dry up during summers.

THE HIMALAYAN RIVERS

Indus River System

The reference of Indus River or Sindhu River is found in the early Hindu
Scriptures and mythological texts.. It is known as ‘Puranik River’. The
river originates in Tibet near Mansarovar Lake. Flowing westwards, it
enters India in Jammu and Kashmir, further flows through Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab and enters Pakistan. Flowing further westwards, it
reaches the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Indus is the largest river in
Pakistan and is the country's national river. Its tributaries in India are
Zanskar, Nubra and Shyok, and Hunza in Pakistan. Sutlej, Ravi, Beas,
Chenab and Jhelum are its other tributaries after which the state of
Punjab is named.

Ganga River System

Ganga (Ganges) River system is the largest river system in India. It

originates in the Gangotri glaciers.The upstream Bhagirathi joins the
other stream named Alaknanda at Devprayag to form River Ganga.
Ganga has tributaries on both banks; its right bank tributaries are the
Yamuna (which is a major river), and Son. While Gomti, Ghaghara,
Gandak, Kosi. are some left bank tributaries. Ganges flows through
Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. It
finally reaches the Bay of Bengal.

Yamuna River System

The Yamuna is a major river system in Northern India. The river rises
from Yamnotri and flows through Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and
Haryana. It passes through Delhi, Mathura, Agra and meets the rivers
Chambal, Betwa and Ken to finally join the Ganga at Allahabad.. Major
tributaries of Yamuna are Tons, Chambal, Hindon, Betwa and Ken.

Brahmaputra River System

Brahmaputra, one of the major rivers in India, originates in the Angsi

glacier of Himalayas in Tibet. There it is known as the Tsangpo River. It
enters in to India in Arunachal Pradesh and is called the Dihang River. It
is joined by many other tributaries; the Dibang, the Lohit, the Kenula to
form the main Brahamaputra River and flows its longest course through
Assam, enters Bangladesh and finally falls into the Bay of Bengal. The
Brahmaputra has the greatest volume of water of all the rivers in India.

THE PENINSULAR RIVERS

Mahanadi

The Mahanadi is a major river in East-central India. It originates in the

Sihava mountains of Chhattisgarhandflows its major course through the
state of Orissa (Odisha). This river deposits more silt than any other river
in the Indian subcontinent. Mahanadi flows through cities Sambalpur,
Cuttack and Banki.

Godavari

The Godavari River covers the second longest course in India after the
Ganga. The river originates at Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra, and
together with its tributaries (Pravara, Indravati, Maner Sabri etc,) flows
through the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa (Odisha), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
Puducherry, to finally flow in to the Bay of Bengal. Thanks to its long
course, the river is described as Dakshina Ganga.

Krishna River

The Krishna is the third longest river in India with a length of about 1300
kms. Originating from Maharashtra's Mahabaleshwar region it flows
through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh to finally pour into
the Bay of Bengal.

Kaveri River

The Kaveri (Cauvery) is a major river in Southern India and originates in

Kogadu, Karnataka.in the form of a spring at Brahmagiri Hill at
Talakaveri, Also known as th Ganges of the South, it is one of the
holiest rivers in South India. Kaveri River widens as many tributaries
such as Hemavati, Moyari, Shimsha, Arkavati, Honnuhole, Kabini,
Bhavani, Noyill and Amaravati join it. The slithers about 800 kilometers
across the three states, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu, slightly
touching Pudducherry and drains in to the Bay of Bengal.

Narmada and Tapi or Tapti

The Narmada and the Tapti are the only major rivers that flow into the
Arabian Sea. The total length of Narmada flowing through the states of
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat equals to 1312 kms.
Amarkantak in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh is the place of origin of
Narmada. Flowing mainly through Central india, from eastward direction
to westward, Narmada merges into the Arabian Sea.

The Tapti follows a parallel course to the South of Narmada, flowing

through the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on its way into the Gulf of
Khambhat. Its three major tributaries are Purna, Girna and Panjhra.

Almost all the major Indian cities are situated on the banks of its rivers.
Indian rivers also play a crucial role in the lives of its people,
economically as well as culturally. Indian agriculture is dependent on
irrigation of water drawn from its network of rivers. Most of its religious,
cultural and harvest festivals are celebrated on the banks of rivers. Like
most ancient religions, Hindu religion and its mythology regard rivers as
sacred. There are nine important rivers of India and they are: The
Ganges, Yamuna (a tributary of Ganges), Brahmaputra, Mahanadi,
Narmada, Godavari, Tapi, Krishna, and Kaveri. Parts of the Indus River
also flow over Indian soil.

Eight important rivers together with their various tributaries comprise the
River System of India. Majority of the rivers discharge their waters into
the Bay of Bengal; nevertheless, a number of the rivers whose itineraries
take them across the western end of India and in the direction of the
east pour into the Arabian Sea. Northern portions of the Aravalli range,
portions of Ladakh, and the barren areas of the Thar Desert have Inland
Drainage. (Refers to drainage where the rivers do not reach an ocean or
sea but empty their waters in a lake or an inland sea).

River Systems of India

Length Ends Places

Name Area Originates From
(km) in Benefited
3180/ in Tibet in northern
3,21,289 Arabian India and
Indus 1114 in slopes of Mount
Sq.Km. sea Pakistan
India Kailash
Uttar
Pradesh,
Ganga 1.08 million Gangotri in Bay of
2525 Uttrakhand,
(Bhagirathi) Sq.Km. Uttrakhand Bengal
Bihar, West
Bengal
 Length Ends Places
Name Area Originates From
(km) in Benefited
Delhi,
Yamuna 366223 Yamunotri in Bay of
1376 Haryana and
(Jamuna) Sq.Km. Garhwall Bengal
UP
916 - 194413 Assam,
Bay of
Brahmaputra in Sq.Km. - in Angsi glacier in Tibet Arunachal
Bengal
India India Pradesh
Kaveri
(Dakshina Karnataka
81155 Brahmagiri hills Bay of
Ganga or 765 and Tamil
Sq.Km. in Kogadu, Karnataka Bengal
Ganges of the Nadu
south)
South-
3,12,812 Triambakeshwar in Bay of eastern part
Godavari 1465
Sq.Km. Maharashtra Bengal of Andhra
Pradesh
Maharashtra
258948 Mahabaleshwar in Bay of
Krishna 1400 & Andhra
Sq.Km. Maharashtra Bengal
Pradesh
Madhya
98,796 Amarkantak in Arabian
Narmada 1312 Pradesh and
Sq.Km. Madhya Pradesh Sea
Maharashtra
Betul district of Madhya
65,300 Arabian
Tapti 724 Madhya Pradesh in Pradesh and
Sq.Km. Sea
the Satpura range Maharashtra
Jharkhand,
1,41,600 Sihava mountains of Bay of
Mahanadi 858 Chhattisgarh,
Sq.Km. Chhattisgarh Bengal
Orissa
Bay of Madurai in
Vaigai 258 7,741Sq.Km. Varusanadu Hills
Bengal Tamil Nadu
Sivagiri peaks of
5,398 Bay of Tamil Nadu
Periyar 244 Sundaramala, Tamil
Sq.Km. Bengal and Kerala
Nadu.
Agastyarkoodam peak
4,400 Gulf of
Thamirabarani 185 of Pothigai hills of Tamil Nadu
Sq.Km. Mannar
the Western Ghats,
Complete List of Rivers |Their Lengths, Origins and Tributaries

Following list shows the names of rivers in India with their lengths,
origins and tributaries.

S.No Lengt
Rivers Origin End
. h (km)

Gangotri Glacier
Bay of
1. Ganga (Bhagirathi), 2,525
Bengal
Uttarakhand

Merges with
Ganga at
Yamunotri Allahabad
2. Yamuna Glacier, 1,376 (Triveni
Uttarakhand Sangam -
Kumbh Mela
spot

Himalayan
Merges with
Glacier in Tibet,
Ganga and
3. Brahmaputra but enters India 1,800
ends in Bay
in Arunachal
of Bengal
Pradesh
 Tributary of
Yamuna river, Joins
4. Chambal starting at 960 Yamuna river
Madhya in UP
Pradesh

Joins Ganga
Tributary of just above
Ganga, starting Patna - also
5. Son at Amarkantak, 784 considered
Madhya part of
Pradesh Vindhya river
system

Nepal; Ganges
tributary at
Joins Ganga
6. Gandak Indo-Nepal 630
near Patna
border (Triveni
Sangam)

Joins Ganga
Starts from
near Katihar
7. Kosi Bihar near Indo- 720
district of
Nepal border
Bihar

Tributary of Joins
Yamuna, rises at Yamuna at
8. Betwa 590
Vindhya region, Hamirpur in
MP UP

Joins Ganga
9. Gomti Tributary of 900 in Varanasi
Ganga, starting district
 at Gomat Taal,
UP

Himalayan
Glacier in Tibet, Joins Ganga
10. Ghaghara 1080
tributary of in Bihar
Ganga

Tributary of Merges with

11. Hugli (Hooghly) Ganga near 260 Ganga at Bay
West Bengal of Bengal

Tributary of
Merges with
Hugli near
12. Damodar 592 Hugli in West
Chandwara,
Bengal
Jharkhand

Paglajhora falls,
Merge in
13. Mahananda Darjeeling, West 360
Ganga
Bengal

Merge in
Satopanth &
Ganga,
14. Alaknanda Bhagirathi- 190
Devprayag,
Kharak glacier
Uttarakhand

Merge in
Gaumukh, Ganga,
15. Bhagirathi 205
Uttarakhand Devprayag,
Uttarakhand
 Originates in
Merges into
Tibetan plateau,
16. Indus 3180 Arabian sea
Enters India in
near Sindh
J&K

Upper
Himalayas in the
Merges with
17. Chenab Spiti district of 960
Indus
Himachal
Pradesh

Merges with
Tributary of
Chenab at
18. Jhelum Chenab river, 725
Jhang
Punjab
(Pakistan)

Starts from Bara

Bhangal, Kangra Joins Chenab
19. Ravi 720
district, Himach in Pakistan
al Pradesh

Tributary of Meets Beas

Indus river, river in
20. Sutlej originates at 1500 Pakistan and
Rakshastal, ends at
Tibet Arabian sea

Rises at
Himalayas in Joins Sutlej
21. Beas central 470 river in
Himachal Punjab, India
Pradesh
 Mixes with
Beas River at
Mantalai Glacier
Bhuntar,
22. Parbati near Pin Prabati -
near Kullu of
Pass
Himachal
Pradesh

Panzella Glacier, Indus, Nurla,

23. Suru Pensi La Pass, 185 Skardu,
Kargil Pakistan

Machoi Glacier,
Zoji La, ear
Suru River at
24. Dras Sonamarg, 86
Kharul, Kargil
Jammu &
Kashmir

Doda River (First

Branch), Indus River
25. Zanskar Kargyag and - near Nimmu
Tsarap River in Ladakh
(Second Branch)

Zanskar
Pankpo La, River,
26. Tsarap 182
Sarchu Padum,
Kargil

Zanskar
Drang-Drung River,
27. Doda 79
Glacier, Pensi La Padum,
Kargil
 Talakaveri in
Ends in Bay
28. Kaveri Western Ghats 765
of Bengal
in Karnataka

Originates in the
Ends in Bay
Western Ghats
of Bengal
29. Krishna near 1400
near Andhra
Mahabaleshwar
Pradesh
in Maharashtra

Starts in
Maharashtra Empties in
30. Godavari and passes 1465 Bay of
through 7 Indian Bengal
states

Joins Krishna
Tributary of river along
Krishna river the border of
31. Tungabhadra 531
staring at Telangana
Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh

Rises in Eastern Empties into

Satpura Ranges, Gulf of
32. Tapti 724
Madhya Khambhat,
Pradesh Gujarat

Flows into
Rises in Madhya
33. Mahi 580 Arabian sea
Pradesh
from Gujarat
 Starts from Drains into
Amarkantak, Arabian sea
34. Narmada 1315
Madhya via Gulf of
Pradesh Cambay

Godavari
near border
Dandakaranya of
35. Indravati range, Kalahandi 535 Maharashtra,
district, Odisha Chhattisgarh
and
Telangana

Confluence of
Godavari,
Wardha and
near
36. Pranhita Wainganga, 113
Kaleshwaram
near Sirpur
, Telangana
Kaghaznagar

Satpura range,
Multai, Betul
Pranhita
37. Wardha district of 528
River
Madhya
Pradesh

Sinkaran hills,
38. Kolab (Sabari) 200 Godavari
Koraput, Odisha

Godavari,
near
39. Manjira Balaghat hills 724
Kandakurthi,
Karnataka
 Satpura range,
Mundara, Seoni Pranhita
40. Wainganga 579
district, Madhya River
Pradesh

Wardha
Ajanta range, river,
41. Painganga Aurangabad, 676 Chandrapur
Maharashtra district,
Maharashtra

Tungabhadra
Confluence of
42. Vedavathi - river, near
Veda and Avathi
Siruguppa

Krishna river,
43. Bhima Bhimashankar 861
near raichur

Lonavala,
44. Indrayani Bhima river
Maharashtra

Sahyadri range,
45. Pavana Lonavala 58 Mula river
Maharashtra

Western ghats,
Krishna river,
46. Ghataprabha Sindhudurg, 283
Almatti
Maharashtra
 Krishna river,
Mahabaleshwar,
47. Venna 130 Satara,
Maharashtra
Maharashtra

Krishna river,
Mahabaleshwar,
48. Koyna 130 near Karad,
Maharashtra
Satara

Anamalai hills, Kaveri river

49. Amravati Pambar, Chinnar 282 at Karur,
rivers Tamil Nadu

Kaveri river
Silent valley at Kongu
50. Bhavani National Park, 135 Nadu region
Kerala of Tamil
Nadu

Kaveri river
Western Ghats,
near Krishna
51. Hemavati Chikmagalur, 245
Raja Sagara,
Karnataka
Karnataka

Bay of
Dhamtari, Bengal, near
52. Mahanadi Dandakaranya, 858 False Point,
Chhattisgarh Kendrapara,
Odisha

53. Subarnarekha Chota Nagpur 395 Kirtania Port,

plateau, near near Talsari,
 Ranchi, Bay of
Jharkhand Bengal

Chota Nagpur
Bay of
plateau, Purulia
54. Kangsabati 465 Bengal near
district, West
Haldia
Bengal

Bay of
Nandi Hills,
Bengal, near
Chikkaballapur
55. Penner (Penna) 597 Nellore,
district,
Andhra
Karnataka
Pradesh

Bay of
Nandi hills,
Bengal, near
56. Palar Kolar district 348
Vayalur,
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu

Varusanadu Palk Strait,

57. Vaigai 258
Hills, Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu

Bay of
Bengal, near
58. Vellar Shevaroy Hills 150
Parangipettai
, Tamil Nadu

Nandidurg, Bay of
59. Ponnaiyar 400
Chikkaballapur Bengal
 Velliangiri Hills,
60. Noyyal Western Ghats, 180 Kaveri river
Tamil Nadu

Tapti river,
near
61. Gomai Satpura Range - Prakasha,
Nandurbar,
Maharashtra

Near
Pimpalaner,
62. Panzara - Tapti river
Dhule,
Maharashtra

Tapti river,
Satpura Range,
near
63. Purna Betul, Madhya -
Changdev,
Pradesh
Maharashtra

Narmada,
Vindhya Range,
near Raisen
near Sehore
64. Kolar 101 district of
district, Madhya
Madhya
Pradesh
Pradesh

Narmada
Satpura Range,
near
65. Tawa Betul, Madhya 172
Hoshangaba
Pradesh
d district
 Dhebar lake,
Aravalli range, Gulf of
66. Sabarmati 371
near Udaipur, Khambhat
Rajasthan

Hemad-
67. Zuari Barshem in 34 Arabian sea
western ghats

Near Rajmachi
Vasai creek,
68. Ulhas hills, Sahyadri 122
Mumbai
range

Arabian sea,
Vihar lake and Mahim
69. Mithi 15
Powai lake creek,
Mumbai

Bhimgad,
70. Mandovi 77 Arabian sea
Karnataka

Kushavali,
71. Kali 184 Arabian sea
Karnataka

Arabian sea,
Kudremukh,
near
72. Netravati Chikmagalur, -
Mangalore,
Karnataka
Karnataka
 Arabian sea,
near
Western Ghats, Honnavar,
73. Sharavati Tirthahalli, 128 Uttar
Karnataka Kannada
district,
Karnataka

Sivagiri hills,
Lakshadwee
74. Periyar Sundaramala, 244
p sea, Kerala
Tamil Nadu

Lakshadwee
Bharathappuzh Anamalai Hills, p sea,
75. 209
a Tamil Nadu Ponnani,
Kerala

Pulachimalai
Vembanad
76. Pamba Hills, Western 176
Lake
Ghats

Elambaleri Hills,
Western Ghats, Lakshadwee
77. Chaliyar 169
Wayanad, p sea, Kerala
Kerala