All About Rivers
Static GK
( Geography)
By INDO PATHSHALA
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River System In India
The Indus River System
❖ Indus River
• The Indus is one of the most important drainage systems of the
subcontinent of India.
• It has a length of 2880 Km, of which 709Km lies in India.
• The catchment area of the Indus is about 1,165,000 Sq. km, out of
which about 321,248 Sq. Km is in India.
• The Indus originates from the Bokhar Chu (glacier) in northern slopes
of Mt. Kailash (6714m).
• In Tibet, the river is known as Singi Khambai or Lion’s Mouth
• The Indus is the western most River system in the subcontinent. Jhelum,
Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj are its main tributaries.
• The River passes by the Nanga-Parvat and turns south-west to enter
Pakistan.
✓ Shyok: Right bank tributary of the Indus
o Originates in Depsang Plains and flows along the Karakoram Range
o Forms the eastern limit of the Karakoram
o Fed by various glaciers, including Siachen Glacier
o Completely located within Jammu and Kashmir
✓ Zaskar: Left bank tributary of the Indus
o Flows between the Zaskar Range (S) and the Ladakh Range (N)Joins the
Indus just west of Leh
o Completely located within Jammu and Kashmir
✓ Gilgit: Right bank tributary of the Indus River, currently in PoK
o Rises in the northwest corner of India proper
o Meets the Indus very near to where the latter bends towards the
southwest
o Gilgit city is located on its bank
❖ Jhelum River
▪ The River Jhelum originates from Cheshma Verinag spring near Banihal
Pass in the southeastern Kashmir Valley. It flows west through the
Kashmir Valley. Major tributaries up to Anantnag include Sandran,
Bringi, and Arapath Rivers (right flank).
▪ The Lidder River, the largest tributary, joins 2 km downstream of
Khannabal (right flank).
▪ Between Sangam and Srinagar, the Jhelum receives Watlara and Arapal
(right flank) and Rambiara, Sasara, and Romuhi (left flank).
o
• Near Srinagar, it is joined by a stream from Dal Lake at [Link] Banyari,
20 km downstream, the Jhelum joins Wullar Lake, then flows southwest
for 21 km to Baramulla.
❖ Chenab River
• The river Chenab (or Chandra Bhaga) is formed after the two streams;
the Chandra and the Bhaga merge with each other at Tandi.
• The Chandra and the Bhaga originate from the South-West and North
West faces of Barelacha pass.
• The total length of the river from confluence of Chandra and Bhaga to
Akhnoor is about 410 km.
• The united stream flows through the Pangi Valley parallel to the Pir
Panjal Range.
• Meets the Indus at Panchnad in Pakistan.
• Cities – Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban.
• Projects– Salal, Baglihar, Dul Hasti.
▪ In this reach a number of small streams namely Cheneni, Talsuen,
Yabu, Ans join on the right bank , and Katu Nallah, Mandial and
Painthal Khad joins on the left bank.
❖ Ravi River
• The Ravi River originates in the Himalayas in the Chamba district of
Himachal Pradesh.
• The River drains a total catchment area of 14,442 [Link] in India after
flowing for a length of 725 km.
• Flowing westward, it is hemmed by the PirPanjal and Dhauladhar
ranges, forming a triangular zone.
• It is the smallest of the five Punjab Rivers.
• It flows through Barabhangal, Bara Bansu and Chamba districts.
• Two of its major tributaries, the Budhil and Nai or Dhona join 40 miles
(64 km) downstream from its source.
• It is the most important River of the district Kathua.
❖ Satluj River
• The Satluj River, which is one of the major five rivers of the erstwhile
Punjab, is a main source of water for Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana, Delhi & Rajasthan.
• This river is a tributary of the river Indus & originates near
Mansarover Lake in Tibet at an altitude 4572 m.
• Satluj is joined by the river Spiti at flows through 320 kms from border
through Shipkilla, Pooh, Powari, Tapri, Karcham, Nathpa, Rampur,
Sunni and Dehar to meet Gobindsagar reservoir (Bhakra) near
Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh.
❖ Beas River
• Rises near the Rohtang Pass in HP and meets the Satluj at Harike near
Kapurthala
• Completely in India
• Pong Reservoir (HP)
• Forms a deep gorge in the Dhaula Dhar Range
The Ganga River System
❖ Ganga
• It originates from Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh in Uttarkashi
district in Uttarakhand. It forms various prayags (confluence of two
rivers) as shown below:
• At Farraka, it bifurcates into Bhagirathi-Hugli in West Bengal and
Padma-Meghna in Bangladesh (it ceases to be known as the Ganga
after Farraka).
Brahmaputra (or the Jamuna as it is known here) joins Padma-Meghna
at.
• The total length of the Ganga river from its source to its mouth
(measured along the Hugli) is 2,525 km.
• Haridwar, Kanpur, Soron, Kannauj, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna,
Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Mirzapur, Ballia, Buxar, Saidpur, and Chunar are
the important towns.
• Yamuna
• Origin: Yamunotri Glacier, southwestern slopes of Banderpoonch
peak, Mussoorie range, lower Himalayas.
• States: Flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana,
Delhi; merges with the Ganga near Triveni Sangam, Allahabad
(Prayagraj).
• Tributary: Largest tributary of the Ganga in the northern plains.
• Length: 1,376 km from origin to Allahabad.
• Cities on Banks: Bhagpat, Delhi, Noida, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad,
Etawah, Hamirpur, Allahabad.
• Left Bank: Hindon, Tons, Hanuman Ganga, Sasur Khaderi
• Right Bank: Giri, Baghain, Sabi, Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, Ken.
❖ Tons River
• The Tons is the longest tributary of the Yamuna River and its flows
through Garhwal, the western part of the Himalayan state of
Uttaranchal.
• The river originates at an elevation of 3900 m and joins the Yamuna
below Kalsi near Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• It is one of the most major perennial Indian Himalayan rivers. It is the
biggest tributaries of the Yamuna.
❖ Son River
• The Son River, on the other hand, is a major tributary situated on the
south bank of the Ganga.
• Its source lies in the Amarkantak plateau, and it forms a series of
waterfalls at the plateau’s edge.
• The Son River proceeds westward, passing Arrah, located to the west of
Patna, before finally merging with the Ganga.
❖ Damodar River
• The Damodar River flows along the eastern margins of the
Chotanagpur Plateau, meandering through a rift valley before
eventually merging with the Hugli River.
• Its primary tributary is the Barakar River.
• Once notorious as the “sorrow of Bengal” due to its frequent flooding,
the Damodar River has been effectively managed and controlled by the
Damodar Valley Corporation, which oversees a multipurpose project
in the region.
❖ Chambal River
• The Chambal River, one of the major contributors to the Yamuna,
originates near Mhow in the Malwa plateau of Madhya Pradesh.
• It flows in a northern direction, passing through a gorge beyond Kota in
Rajasthan, where the Gandhi Sagar dam has been constructed.
• Continuing its course, it moves through areas like Bundi, Sawai
Madhopur, and Dholpur before eventually joining the Yamuna.
• The Chambal is renowned for its unique badland topography, known as
the Chambal ravines.
❖ Ramganga
• Tributary of the Ganga river, drains south-western Kumaun
• Originates in southern slopes of Dudhatoli Hill, Chamoli district,
Uttarakhand
• Fed by underground water springs
• Flows through the dun valley of Corbett National Park
• Dam at Kalagarh
• Meets the Ganga near Kannauj
• Bareilly city on its banks
❖ Gomti
• Originates from Gomat Taal (Fulhaar jheel), near Madho Tanda,
Pilibhit, UP
• Extends 900 km through UP, meets Ganga in Ghazipur
• Markandey Mahadeo temple at the Gomti-Ganga confluence
• Major tributary: Sai River (joins near Jaunpur)
• Cities on banks: Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sultanpur, Jaunpur
• Cuts Jaunpur city into equal halves, becomes wider
❖ Ghaghara
• It is located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It will connect Tezpur, in Assam, with Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project
Vartak.
❖ Sharda
• Rises in Milam glacier, Nepal Himalayas (Goriganga)
• Originates from Greater Himalayas at Kalapaani, Pithoragarh District,
Uttarakhand
• Named Mahakali in Nepal after Goddess Kali
• Borders Nepal’s Mahakali Zone and Uttarakhand
• Flows in a gorge, known as Sarda in India, meets Ghaghara
❖ Sarayu
• Flows through UP, originates at ridge south of Nanda Kot mountain,
Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand
• Left-bank tributary of Ghaghara
• Mentioned in Vedas and Ramayana
• Sacred river at Ayodhya, especially during Ram Navami
❖ Rapti
• Rises south of ridgeline between Dhaulagiri Himalaya and Mahabharat
Range, Nepal
• Fed by underground water
• Recurrent floods, nicknamed “Gorakpur’s Sorrow”
• Major tributaries: Lungri Khola, Jhimruk Khola, Ami River, Rohini
River, Arun Khola
❖ Gandak
• Formed by union of Kali and Trisuli rivers, Great Himalayan Range,
Nepal
• Called Narayani in Nepal, joins Ganga at Sonepur near Patna
• Length: 765 km
• Burhi Gandak flows parallel to Gandak
• Upper catchment area in rain shadow of Himalayas, middle and lower
courses have V-shaped valleys, incised meanders, terraces
❖ Burhi Gandak
• Originates from Chautarva Chaur, Bisambharpur, West Champaran
district, Bihar
• Flows through East Champaran, turns south, joined by Dubhara and
Tour rivers
• Flows through Muzaffarpur district, parallel to Gandak in old channel
• Main tributaries: Masan, Balor, Pandai, Sikta, Tilawe, Tiur, Dhanauti,
Kohra, Danda
• Samastipur on its banks, no major/medium projects
❖ Kosi
• Known as Saptakoshi, antecedent transboundary river through Nepal
and India
• Tributaries: Arun, Sun Kosi, Bhote Koshi (originate in Tibet)
• Length: 729 km, joins Ganga at Kursela, Kathiar district
• Catchment includes Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga
• Major tributary: Bagmati
• Shifts course over 120 km, termed “The Sorrow of Bihar” due to heavy
monsoon silt
The Brahmaputra River System
❖ Source:
• Chemayungdung glacier in southwestern Tibet
• Near sources of Indus and Satluj rivers
• Mariam La separates it from Manasarovar Lake
❖ Course:
• In Tibet, flows through the depression formed by the Indus-Tsangpo
Structure Zone
• Known as Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet
• Breaks through Himalayas into Arunachal Pradesh, known as Dihang
• Joined by Lohit and Dibang near Sadiya, becomes Brahmaputra
• Flows through Assam, known as Jamuna in Bangladesh, merges
with Ganga to form Sunderbans delta.
• Flows for about a total length of 2,900 km. In India, it flows for 916
km.
❖ Key Features:
• Majuli: Largest river island in the world
• Umananda: Smallest river island in the world
• Important urban centers: Dibrugarh, Pasighat, Neamati, Tezpur,
Guwahati
• Major Tributaries:Left Bank: Dhansiri, Lohit, Dibang
• Right Bank: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh
❖ Teesta River
• Originates from Tso Lhamo lake in North Sikkim at 5330 m
elevation in the Himalayas.
• Major tributary: Rangeet River, the largest river in Sikkim, joins
Teesta at Tribeni.
• Flows past Rangpo, forming the border between Sikkim and West
Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar.
• Passes through Jalpaiguri, then to Rangpur District of Bangladesh.
• Merges with the Brahmaputra
❖ Dibang River
• Principal tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• Originates from the snow-covered southern flank of the Himalayas
near the Tibet border at over 5000 m altitude.
• Emerges from hills to plains near Nizamghat in Lower Dibang Valley,
Arunachal Pradesh.
• Upper course features Mishmi hills.
❖ Lohit River
• Originates in eastern Tibet.
• Flows through Mishmi hills to meet the Siang at the head of
Brahmaputra valley.
• Valley is thickly forested with alpine and sub-tropical vegetation.
• Abundant in medicinal plants.
❖ Dhansiri River
• Main river of Golaghat District, Assam, and Dimapur District,
Nagaland.
• Originates in Nagaland.
• Features numerous perennially waterlogged swampy regions.
❖ Kopili River
• Interstate river in Northeast India, flowing through Meghalaya and
Assam.
• Largest south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra in Assam.
• Home to Carissa Kopilii, a threatened plant species due to
hydroelectric projects and acidic water from coal mining in Meghalaya.
❖ Siyom River:
• Right tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• Rises on the south of the main ridge of the Assam Himalaya, near the
Tibet border.
• Mouling National Park is on its east bank.
• Flows southerly, then easterly and southerly through West Siang District.
• Saje River is a prominent tributary.
❖ Siyom Bridge:100-meter long, Class 70 Steel Arch Superstructure over
Siyom River in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Strategically significant for access to sensitive areas near the LAC with
China.
•
The Peninsular River System
The Peninsular drainage system, older than the Himalayan one, shapes
the landscapes of India with its broad valleys and fixed courses. With the
Western Ghats acting as a divide, rivers flow either into the Bay of Bengal
or the Arabian Sea, showcasing the region’s geological history.
❖ Small East Flowing Rivers:
• Subarnarekha: Rises from Ranchi Plateau.
• Rushikulya: Originates from Nayagarh hills.
• Baitarani: Rises from Garhjat hills.
• Brahmani: Formed by the confluence of Sankh and South Koel rivers
(both originating from Chota Nagpur plateau).
• Vamsadhara: Originates from the Eastern Ghats in Odisha.
• Nagavali: Originates from the Eastern Ghats in Odisha.
• Penner
• Palar
• Vagai
❖ Mahanadi River
• Origin: Raipur district of Chhattisgarh.
• Drainage Basin: 53% in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; 47% in
Odisha.
• Tributaries: Left Bank: Sheonath, Hasdo, Mand.
• Right Bank: Tel, Jonk, Ong.
❖ Godavari River:
• Origin: Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• Significance: Largest river system in the Peninsular drainage; also
called Dakshin Ganga.
• Drainage Basin: 49% in Maharashtra, 20% in Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh, and the rest in Andhra Pradesh.
• Tributaries: Left Bank: Penganga, Indravati, Pranhita (formed by
confluence of Wainganga and Wardha).
• Right Bank: Manjra, Maner.
❖ Krishna River
• Origin: Mahabaleshwar in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats).
• Tributaries: Right Bank: Koyna, Panchganga, Ghatprabha,
Malaprabha, Tungabhadra (Hampi is located near the river).
• Left Bank: Bhima, Dindi, Musi, Munneru.
• Catchment Area: 27% in Maharashtra, 44% in Karnataka, and 29% in
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Kolleru Lake: Lies between the deltas of Godavari and Krishna; not
directly fed by the Krishna River.
❖ Kaveri River
• Origin: Brahmagiri Hills (Karnataka).
• Drainage Basin: 3% in Kerala, 41% in Karnataka, and 56% in Tamil
Nadu.
• Tributaries: Left Bank: Hemavati, Shimsha.
• Right Bank: Kabni, Bawani, Noyyal, Amaravati.
• Notable Features: Forms the second biggest waterfall in India,
Shivasamudram Falls (Karnataka);
• Tiruchirapalli is located along the river.
❖ West Flowing Rivers
❖ Narmada River
• Origin: Amarkantak plateau.
• Course: Flows through a rift valley between Satpura (South) and
Vindhyan Range (North); meets the Arabian Sea south of Bharuch.
• Notable Features: Dhuandhar Falls near Jabalpur (MP); Sardar
Sarovar Dam.
• Tributaries:Left Bank: Tawa River.
• Right Bank: Barna River, Kolar River.
❖ Tapi River
• Origin: Betul (Madhya Pradesh), Satpura Range.
• Drainage Basin: 79% in Maharashtra, 15% in Madhya Pradesh, and
6% in Gujarat.
❖ Luni River
• Origin: Near Pushkar in Rajasthan in two branches, the Saraswati and
the Sabarmati, that join together.
• Drainage: Drains into the Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat).
• Characteristics: The entire river system is ephemeral (seasonal flow).
❖ Sabarmati River:
• Origin: Aravalli Range.
• Drainage: Drains into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea).
❖ Mahi River:
• Origin: Vindhyas in Dhar (Madhya Pradesh).
• Course: Flows through Rajasthan, enters Gujarat, and falls into the
Arabian Sea.
❖ Rivers of Kerala: Periyar: Second largest river in Kerala.
• Pamba: Falls into Vembanad Lake.
• Bharathapuzha: Longest river in Kerala.
❖ Other West Flowing Rivers: Gujarat: Shetruniji, Bhadra, Dhadhar.
• Maharashtra: Vaitarna River (originates in Trimbak hills, Nasik).
• Goa: Mandovi, Zuari.
• Karnataka:Kalinadi: Falls into Karwar Bay.
• Bedti, Shravasti: Gersoppa (Jog) Falls is on the Shravasti River.