IN INDIA, THE RIVERS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO MAIN GROUPS:

HIMALAYAN RIVERS
PENINSULAR RIVERS

Indian Rivers
HIMALAYAN RIVERS :
Rises from Great Himalaya, Karakoram .Ladakh, Zaskar, Kailasah and Trasns –
Himalaya ranges and ultimately join to form 3 great river systems.
The Indus system : One of the world’s largest river system
RIVER ORIGIN TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES
INDUS Tibet, near Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, It ultimately ends in China, , Pakistan
Mansarover. Beas & Satluj the Bay of Bengal in India( Punjab )
Bangladesh, where it is
known as Padmaa.
JHELUM Verinag at the Pir Lidar: at the head of it Finally joining the India (Kashmir) and
Panjal Chenab at Trimmu. Pakistan.
Wular Lake: The lake basin was formed as a Mangla Dam
result of tectonic activity and is fed by the
Jhelum River.
CHENAB Himachal mountains It is the largest of It is also known as the Passes through
near Kulu Indus tributaries Chandrabhaga in Himachal Pradesh,
Chandra and Bhaga are Himachal Pradesh. It is J& K and Punjab
2 head streams further joined by the
Ravi and the Sutlej in
Pakistan.
RAVI Rohtang pass Beas, Sutlej, Chenab , It flows as a part of the India and Pakistan
Indus Indo-Pakistan border
for some distance
before entering
Pakistan and joining
the Chenab river.
Cont’d

RIVER ORIGIN TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES

SARASWATI joins Ghaggar

BEAS Bias Kund, lying near It flows for some Himachal

the Rohtang pass 470 km (290 miles) to Pradesh( Manali and
the Sutlej River in South Kulu)
Punjab of India. Jammu &
Kashmir( Ladakh)
SUTLEJ Lake Rakshastal in Tibet Spiti It enters Pakistan near India (Himachal
near Mount Kailas Sulemanki, and is later Pradesh), Pakistan
joined by the Chenab

Bhakra Nangal (Joint project of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan):

India’s biggest multipurpose river valley project comprises a straight
gravity dam across the Satlej at Bhakra, the Nangal dam, the Nangal
hydal channel, two power houses at Bhakra dam at and two power
station at Ganguwal and Kotla.

The Brahmaputra System: also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major
rivers of Asia.
From its origin in southwestern Tibet as the Yarlung Zangbo River, it flows across southern Tibet to break
through the Himalayas in Great gorges and into Arunachal Pradesh
Where it is known as Dihang.
It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna
(not to be mistaken with Yamuna of India).
There it merges with the Ganges to form a vast delta.
About 1,800 miles (2,900 km) long, the river is an important source for irrigation and transportation.
The Ganga System : important river system, covers fourth of country’s total surface;
Bhagirathi: upper course of river , Source: Gangotri Glacier(Gomukh)
Alakananda: another stream from Alaka Glacier , Devprayag: two head streams meet at Devprayag , largest river basin in country

RIVER ORIGIN TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES

THE Yamontri glacier Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sindh Before merging with the Ganges at Joins @
Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, and the Allahabad ; Chambal ( rises
YAMUNA
Panchnad Dam: This Dam has been constructed 16 km downstream of confluence of site for the Kumbha Mela every
rivers Yamuna, Chambal, Sindh, Kunwari and Pahuj. near Mhow ), Sind ,
twelve years.
Chambal (joint project of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan): The project comprises Betwa ,Ken
Gandhi Sagar dam , Rana Sagar dam and Jawahar Sagar dam

THE SON Amarkantak Joins Yamuna @Etawah district joining Ganga near
Ramnagar
THE RAM Kumaon Himalaya Ghaghar River , Banas River, Gopad joining Ganga near Ramnagar Madhya Pradesh,
GANGA River, Rihand River, Kanhar River, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh,
North Koel River Bihar

THE SARDA Greater Himalayas at the river flows southeast across the Nepal, India
Kalapaani Ganges basin until it merges into
the Ghaghara River, an affluent of
It is called the Mahakali River in Nepal and Kali Gad by local Pahari the Ganges
people.
THE GHAGHRA Originating on the Bheri, Sarju, Kuwana, Rapti, Little Joins the Sarda River at Brahmaghat in Tibet (China), Nepal, India
Tibetan plateau near Gandak, Seti, Dahawar, Sarda India. Together they form the Ghaghara
Lake Mansarovar. River, a major left bank tributary of the
Ganges.

THE GANDAK Nhubine Himal Meets Ganga on its left at Sonpur

Glacier (Nepal china
border )
THE KOSI originate in the Tibet Some of the rivers of the Kosi Nepal, India ( Bihar)
Autonomous Region system, such as the Arun, the Sun
of China Kosi and the Bhote Kosi

THE DAMODAR Chhotanagpur Garhi, Konar, Jamunia. Barakar merges with the Hooghly River, Jharkhand and West
Plateau which is in the south west of Bengal
Kolkata.
Formerly known as Sorrow of Bengal,
PENINSULAR RIVERS:
The main peninsular river systems include the Narmada, the Tapi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri and the Mahanadi river
systems.
The Peninsular rivers flow through shallow valleys. A large number of them are seasonal as their flow is dependent on rainfall.
The intensity of erosional activities is also comparatively low because of the gentler slope. The hard rock bed and lack of silt and sand
does not allow any significant meandering. Many rivers therefore have straight and linear courses. These rivers provide huge
opportunities for hydro-electric power. Of the major rivers of peninsular India, only the Narmada, the Tapti and the Mahi run from east
to west
  The East-flowing Rivers
RIVER ORIGIN TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES

MAHANADI near Sihawa in Seonath, Telen, Ib Hirakud Dam: is built across the Mahanadi Chhattisgarh,
Raipur River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the Maharashtra, Orissa ,
(Chhattisgarh) state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam Jharkhand
is one of the world's longest earthen dams.
Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud
Reservoir, 55 km long.

GODAVARI Trambak(Nasik – Manjra , Penganga , The Sri Ram Sagar Project which was constructed Maharashtra, Andhra
(Vrindha western Ghats ) Pranhita, on this river (1964–69) serves the irrigation needs Pradesh
Wardha, Waingangā of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and largest of peninsula and
Ganga)
,Indrāvati, Tal , Sabari, Mula Warangal districts. 2nd largest river of
Jayakwadi(Maharashtra) : A masonry spillway
and Pravara across the river Godavari
country

KRISHNA North of Tungabhadra –largest Nagarjuna Sagar Dam : built across Krishna Maharashtra, Karnataka,
(Dakshin Mahabaleshar tributary(Tunga+Bhadra):ori River in Nagarjuna Sagar,Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh
Ganga) (western Ghats ) ginates in Mysore and join Andhra Pradesh
below shimoga Kolleru Lake (A.P): Kolleru is located
Bhima: flows thru between Krishna and Godavari delta. The
Maharashtra and Andhra largest freshwater lake in India.
Pradesh

SUBARNAR Chhotanagpur Kanchi River, Kharkai Chandil Dam, Jharkhand, West Bengal,
EKHA Plateau(Ranchi) Orissa
Cont’d

RIVER ORIGIN TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES

PENNER rises on the hill of Nandi Hills in Chitravati and Papaghni Somasila Dam Karnataka, Andhra
Chikballapur District of Karnataka Pradesh
state

BAITARANI Keonjar Plateau in Orissa The proposed Bhimkund Orissa

and upper Baitarani multi-
purpose projects envisage
many more dams across
this river and its
tributaries to provide
irrigation to more than
1,000 km².

CAUVERY Brahmagiri hills in Coorg dist. Bhavani, Noyil, 55% of Cauvery basin lies Krishna Raja Sagara Dam
Amaravati, Hemavati, in Tamil Nadu and Mettur Dam
Shimsa and Kabbani Karnataka (41%) & Kerala Banasura Sagar Dam
(5%) project on
Kabini River tributary
Sivanasamudra Falls on
the Kaveri

TAMBRAPANI Agastyamalai’s slope (western

Ghats )
The West-flowing Rivers( runs east to west )
RIVER ORIGIN
NARMADA Amarkantak Plateau (M.P.)
It empties into the Arabian Sea
in the Bharuch district of
Gujarat.
TAPTI near Multai Plateau (Satpura)
Gulf of Cambay
Ukai Dam: constructed across the Tapti River, is the largest reservoir in
Gujarat. It is also known as Vallabh Sagar. Constructed in 1971, the
originates power
LUNIis meant for irrigation,
dam in the Pushkar valley
generation
and flood
of the Aravalli Range, near
Ajmer
originates from Dhebar lake in
SABARMATI Aravalli Range of the Udaipur
District of Rajasthan
MAHI It rises in Madhya Pradesh
TRIBUTARIES OTHER FEATURES STATES
forms the traditional boundary drainage areas: 53%M.P
between North India and South and Chhattisgarh
India, ,46%Orissa and rest- M.P.
largest of west flowing rivers ; and Jharkhand
Dhuandhara Falls: it cascades Madhya Pradesh,
down to make the narrow gorge Maharashtra, and Gujarat
of Marble Rocks
Purna River, Girna 2nd largest of west flowing rivers, Madhya Pradesh,
River, Panzara River, Draining Madhya Pradesh's historic Maharashtra, and Gujarat
Waghur River, Bori Nimar region, Maharashtra's historic
River and Aner River. Khandesh and east Vidarbha regions
in the northwest corner of the
Deccan Plateau and South Gujarat
before emptying into the Gulf of
Cambay of the Arabian Sea, in the
State of Gujarat.
Sarsuti,
which
control. ends in the marshy lands of Rann
originates from of Kutch in Gujarat,
Pushkar Lake
Wakal river, Sei Nadi, meets the Gulf of Cambay of Gujarat, Rajasthan
Harnav River, Arabian Sea
Hathmati River,
Watrak River
Empties in Gulf of Cambay
Important River Valley Projects in India

On Sutlej in Punjab. Highest in India. Ht 226 m. Reservoir is

Bhakra Nangal Project
Mandi Project
Chambal Valley Project
Damodar Valley Project
called Gobind Sagar Lake
On Beas in H.P
On Chambal in M.P & Rajasthan. 3 dams are there: Gandhi
Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam and Jawahar Sagar dam
On Damodar in Bihar. Based on Tennessee Valley Project, USA

Hirakud On Mahanadi in Orissa. World's longest dam: 4801 m

On Son in Mirzapur. Reservoir is called Govind Vallabh Pant
Rihand reservoir
Kosi Project On Kosi in N. Bihar

Mayurkashi Project On Mayurkashi in W.B

Kakrapara Project On Tapi in Gujarat

Nizamsagar Project On Manjra in A.P

Nagarjuna Sagar Project On Krishna in A.P

Tungabhadra On Tungabhadra in A.P & Karnataka

Cont’d

Shivasamudram Project On Cauvery in Karnataka

Tata Hydel Scheme On Bhima in Maharashtra
Sharavathi Hydel Project On Jog Falls in Karnataka
Kundah & Periyar Project In TN
On Ganga in W.B. Apart from power and
Farakka Project irrigation it helps to remove silt for easy
navigation
Ukai Project On Tapti in Gujarat
Mahi Project On Mahi in Gujarat
Salal Project On Chenab in J & K
Mata Tila Multipurpose Project On Betwa in U.P & M.P
Thein Project On Ravi, Punjab
Pong Dam On Beos, Punjab