The Indian rivers can be divided into two main groups :
(A) Himalayan Rivers of India
In this, three major river systems are there:
The Indus System
It has a total length of 2880 km (709 km in India). Rises in Tibet (China) near Mansarovar Lake.
In Jammu and Kashmir, its Himalayan tributaries are : Zanskar, Dras, Gartang, Shyok, Shigar,
Nubra, Gligit, etc.
Its most important tributaries, which join Indius at various places, are: Jhelum (725 km), Chenab
(1800 km), Ravi (720 km), Beas (470 km) & Sutlej (1050 km).
Sources : Jhelum from Verinag (SE Kashmir), Chenab from Bara Lacha Pass (Lahaul-Sprit, H.R.),
Ravi from Kullu Hills near Rohtang Pass in H.R., Beas from a place near Rohtang Pass in H.E. and
Satluj from Mansarovar-Rakas lakes in W. Tibet.
In Nari Khorsan province of Tibet, Satuj has created an extraordinary canyon, comparable to the
Grand Canyon of Colorado (US).
According to the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, India can utlise
only 20% of the total discharge of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
The Ganga System
It is 2525 km long of which 1450 km is in Uttarakhand and UP, 445 km in Bihar and 520 km in West Bengal.
The Ganga, the head stream is constituted of two main rivers-Bhagirthi and Alaknanda, which
combine at Devprayag to form Ganga.
Before Alknanda meets Bhagirthi at Devprayag, Mandakini meets Alknanda at Rudraprayag.
Source : Bhagirthi from Gaumukh, Alkananda from Badrinath, Mandakini from Kedarnath (all
from Uttarkhand ).
Yamuna (1375 km) is its most important tributary (on right bank). It rises at the Yamunotri
glacier in Uttarkhand. It runs parallel to Ganga from 800 km and joins it at Allahabad. Important
tributaries of Yamuna are Chambal (1050 km), Sind, Betwa (480 km) and Ken (all from south).
Apart from Yamuna, other tributaries of Ganga are Ghaghra (1080 km), Kosi (730 km), Gomti
(805 km), Damodar (541 km). Kosi is infamous as ‘Sorrow of Bihar’, while Damodar gets the
name ‘Sorrow of Bengal’ as these cause floods in these regions.
Hooghly is a distributor of Ganga flowing through Kolkata.
The Brahmaputra System
It has a total length of 2900 km. It rises in Tibet (from Chemayungdung glacier), where it is called
Tsangpo, and enters the Indian territory (in Arunachal Pradesh) under the name Dihang.
Important Tributaries : Subansiri, Kameng, Dhansiri, Manasa, Teesta.
In Bangladesh, Brahmaputra is known as Padma. Their combined stream is known as Padma
only. Meghana is the most important distributor before it enters the Bay of Bengal.
The combined stream of Ganga and Brahmaputra form the biggest delta in the world, the
Sundarbans, covering an area of 58,752 sq.km. Its major part is in Bangladesh.
On Brahmaputra, or the Red River, is navigable for a distance of 1384 km up to Dibrugarh and
serves as an excellent inland water transport route.
(B) Rivers of the Peninsular India
Different from the Himalayan rivers because they are seasonal in their flow (while Himalayan
rivers are perennial). They can divide into two groups:
East –flowing Rivers of India (or Delta-forming rivers)
Mahanadi River (858 km) : Rises in Raipur dist. In Chhattisgarh. Main tributaries : Ib, Seonath,
Hasdo, Mand, Jonk,Tel,etc.
Cauvery River (805 km) : it is the largest peninsular river (maximum amount of water ).
In fact, it is the only peninsular river which flows almost throughout the year. Known as the ‘Ganga of the South’.
It rises from the Brahmagri range of Western Ghats.
Main tributaries : Hemavati, Lokpawni, Shimsa.
It is less seasonal thant others as its upper catchment are receives rainfall during summer by the S.W. mansoon and the lower catchment area during winter season by the retreating N.E. monsoon.
Its 90% - 95% irrigation and power production potential is already being harnessed.
Godavari River (1465 km) : Also called Vriddha Ganga or Dakshina Ganga. It is the longest
peninsular river. Rises in Nasik. Main tributaries : Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Indravati,
Wainganga, Sabari, etc.
Krishna River (1327 km) : Rise in Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. Main tributaries : Koyna,
Dudhganga, Panchganga, Malprabha, Ghatprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi, etc.
Swarnarekh River (395 km) and Brahmani (705 km) : Rise from Ranchi Plateau.
West – flowing Rivers of India
Narmada River (1057 km) : Has only 1/10 th part in Gujrat. Rises in Amarkantak Plateau and
flows into Gulf of Khambat. It forms the famous Dhuan Dhar Falls near Jabalpur. Main
Tributaries : Hiran, Burhner, Banjar, Shar, Shakkar, Tawa, etc.
Tapti River (724 km) : Rises from Betul distt. In MP. Also known as twin of handmaid of
Narmada. Main tributaries : Ourna, Betul, Arunavati, Ganjal, etc.
Sabarmati River (416 km) : Rises from Aravallis in Rajastan.
Mahi River (560 km) : Rises from Vindhyas in MP.
Luni River (450 km) : Rises from Aravallis. Also called Salt River. It is finally lost in the marshy
grounds at the head of the Rann of Kuchchh.
Sharavathi River is a west – flowing river of the Sahyadris. It forms the famous Jog of Gersoppa
or Mahatma Gandhi Falls (289 m ) , which is the highest waterfall in India.
Inland Drainage
Some rivers of India are not able to reach the sea and constitute inland drainage. Ghaggar (494
km) is the most important of such drainage.
It is a seasonal stream which rises on the lower slopes of the Himalayas and gets lost in the dry
sands of Rajasthan near Hanumangarh. It is considered the old Saraswati of the Vedic times.
Important Facts
The largest man-made lake in India is Indira Sagar Lake, which is the reservoir of Sardar
Sarovar Project, Onkareshwar Project and Maheshwar Project in Gujarat-MP.
Chika Lake (Odisha) is the largest brackish water lake of India. Otherwise also, it is the
largest lake in India.
Wular Lake (J & K) is the largest freshwater lake of India. Due Lake is also there in J & K.
From Sambhar and Didwana Lake (Rajastan), salt is produced.
Other important lakes are Vembanad in Kerala and Kolleru & Pulicat in A.P.
The three important Gulfs in the Indian Territory are:
Gulf of Kuchch (west of Gujarat) : Region with highest potential of tidal energy generation.
Gulf of Cambay or Gulf of Khambat (Gujarat) : Narmada, Tapti, Mahi and Sabarmati drain
into it.
Gulf of Mannar (south-east of Tamil Nadu) : Asia’s first marine biosphere reserve.
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