Rivers in india

The major Himalayan River systems are

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.

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).