9 major rivers in India, interesting facts and details
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India is a land of rivers. India has nine important rivers, namely Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti. These nine rivers and their tributaries form the lifeblood of India. In this article, we detail the basic details of these 9 rivers and highlight some interesting facts about them. Check out these rivers here.
List of important rivers in India:
1. Ganges:
As we all know, the Ganges or Ganges is the largest river in India and flows through India and Bangladesh. It is one of the holiest rivers for Hindus and a lifeline for the millions of people living on its route who depend on it for their livelihoods. Although India’s Ganges is worshipped as the goddess of the Ganges in Hinduism, it cannot be ignored that it is a heavily polluted river that has endangered 140 species of fish, 90 species of amphibians, and even humans.
- River name: Ganges
- River Length: 2525 km
- River area: 1.08 million square kilometers
- It originates from: Devprayag of Garhwal Division, Uttarakhand.
- ends with: Murshidabad District, West Bengal
- Major states and cities: The major states and cities covered by the Ganges are
condition:
- Uttarakhand
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Chattisgarh
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- Punjab
- haryana
- Rajasthan
- West Bengal
- United Territory of Delhi
City:
Rishikesh, Faruhabad, Haridwar, Kannaui, Bitol, Kanpur, Jajimao, Praiagraj, Varanasi, Buksa, Patna, Bagalpur, Faraka , Murshidabad, Prasi, Nabad Vip, Kolkata, Rajshahi, Chandpur, Paranagar
bridge:
- Alachapura Bridge
- Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge
- faraka barrage
- Digha-Sonpur Bridge
- Ganges Barrage
- Harding Bridge
- Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur Bridge
- Lakshman Jura
- La Longcha Bridge
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu
- Malvia Bridge
- Munger Ganges Bridge
- Nivetita Seto
- Padma Bridge
- Rajendra Setu
- Ram Jhula, Rishikesh
- vikram shirasetu
- Vivekananda Setu
Consolidated information:
- Allahabad – Prayer of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati
River Highlights:
- the holiest river in india
- India’s most polluted river
- third largest river in the world
- It created the largest delta in the world – Sundarbans delta in West Bengal
- The most important North Indus Valley.
2. Godavari:
It is the second longest river in India after the Ganges. It forms one of the largest watersheds, other larger watersheds are formed by the Ganges and Indus. Mentioned in Hindu scriptures for millennials, the river continues to nourish India’s rich culture.
- River name: Godavari
- River Length: 1465 km
- River area: 312,812 square kilometers
- It originates from: Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra
- ends with: Bay of Bengal, West Bengal
Major states and cities:
- Maharashtra
- Nasik
- Copagan
- ahmed nagar
- aurangabad
- Bede
- Jarna
- Parbani
- Karnataka
- Chhattisgarh
- Telangana
- Neil Mar
- Manchester
- nizamabad
- Jagiar
- pedapali
- Andhra Pradesh
- polavaram
- Rajahmundry
- Pondicherry (Yanam)
bridge:
- godavari bridge
- godavari arch bridge
- Havelock Bridge
Consolidated information:
- Allahabad – Prayer of Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati
River Highlights:
- It is the longest river in South India also known as Dakshina Ganges
- Second largest river in India after Ganges
- The Krishna-Godavari Basin is one of the main nesting grounds for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, one of the endangered species.
3. Krishna:
The Krishna is the fourth largest river in India after the Ganges, Godavari and Brahmaputra. This 1400 km long river is also known as Krishnaveni. The river is one of the main sources of water for irrigation in Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- River name: Krishnavini
- River Length: 1400 km
- River area: 258,948 square kilometers
- It originates from: Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, Maharashtra
- ends with: Bay of Bengal
Major states and cities:
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Telangana
- Andhra Pradesh
bridge:
- Krishna Bridge, Wie, Maharashtra
- Owen Bridge, Thornley
- Jiuli-Uger Railway Bridge
- B. Soundatti Bridge, Raibag
- Tangadagi Bridge, Karnataka
Consolidated information:
- The river joins the Bay of Bengal at Hamasala Devi
River Highlights:
- Fourth largest river in India
- The Tungabadra River has the largest tributary of the Krishna River.
- The Krishna Pushkaram Bazaar, held every 12 years, takes place on the banks of the Krishna River
[See More: Lakes in India]
4. Caviri:
Kaveri is an Indian river that flows through the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Kaveri River is mainly used to provide water for irrigation, domestic use and power generation.
- River name: Caviri
- River Length: 805 km
- River area: 81,155 square kilometers
- It originates from: Tarakaveri, Kodagou, Western Ghats of Karnataka.
- ends with: Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal
Major states and cities:
bridge:
Consolidated information:
- The Kaveri River joins the Bay of Bengal
River Highlights:
- Third largest river in South India
- The largest river in Tamil Nadu, which divides the country into north and south parts
- It is the foundation of the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary
5. Yamuna:
The name of the Yamuna River is derived from the Sanskrit word Yama, which means twin, as it runs parallel to the Ganges. The Yamuna River originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at an altitude of 6387 meters is the second largest tributary of the Ganges and the longest tributary in India. The Yamuna joins the Ganges at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, which is also home to the KumbhMela, every 12 years. The river supplies nearly 70% of Delhi’s water supply.
- River name: yamuna
- River Length: 1376 km
- River area: 366,223 square kilometers
- It originates from: Yamunotri at banderpooch peak in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
- ends with: Trivinisangam
Major states and cities:
- condition: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi
- City: Yamuna Nagar, Delhi, Faridabad, Mathura, Agra, Ettawa, Praiagraj
bridge:
- Nizamuddin Bridge
- Old Naini Bridge
Consolidated information:
- Merge Ganges at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj (Allahabad)
River Highlights:
- It is the longest and second largest tributary of the Ganges
- Due to the high levels of pollutants, it is also called a sewer.
- Yamunotri Temple is the shrine of Goddess Yamuna, one of the most devout shrines in Hinduism and part of Char Dham Yatra.
6. Brahmaputra:
The Brahmaputra is a transboundary river that runs through China, India and Bangladesh and is one of the largest rivers in Asia. While most rivers have a female name, this one has a rare male name and is derived from Sanskrit meaning “son of Brahma”.
- River name: Brahmaputra
- River Length: 2900 km
- River area: 712,035 square kilometers
- It originates from: Bajarat Glacier in the Himalayas of Tibet.
- ends with: Bay of Bengal, Ganges Delta, Bangladesh
Major states and cities:
- Assam
- Guwahati
- Dibrugar
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Tezpur
bridge:
- Bogie Bell Bridge
- naranarayan setu
- Bhuben Hazari Casetu
- Kolia Bhomora Setu
- Saragat
Consolidated information:
In the Ganges Delta, it joins with the Padma River in Bangladesh (the name of the Ganges in Bangladesh) and finally joins the Meghna River before emptying in the Bay of Bengal
River Highlights:
- One of the major rivers in Asia
- transboundary river
- Important irrigation and traffic rivers
- This river is prone to catastrophic flooding as Himalayan snow melts
- In Arunachal Pradesh, the river is called Siang
7. Mahanadi:
This is a major river in east central India that flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The river originates in the highlands of Chhattisgarh and flows through Odisha to the Bay of Bengal.
- River name: Mahanadi
- River Length: 858 km
- River area: 141,600 square kilometers
- It originates from: Si Hawa, Damtari, Chhattisgarh, India.
- ends with: fake point.Jagsingpur, Odisha
Major states and cities:
- Chattisgarh – Rajim, Odisha – Sambalpur, Cuttack, Sonepur, Bermaharajpur, Subalaya, Cantilo, Bude, Cuttack , Bangui.
bridge: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Setu.
Consolidated information:
- Bay of Bengal forms a delta
River Highlights:
- Famous for the Hirakud Dam, the highest dam in the world.
- Mahanadi greatly contributes to the fertilization of Odisha’s main crops – oilseeds, sugarcane and rice.
8. Narmada:
Narmada, also known as Rewa, is the third largest river in central India after Godavari and Krishna. In fact, Narmada fulfills the lifeline of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh as their main need for water. Narmada is a Sanskrit word meaning “River of Joy”.
- River name: Narmada
- River Length: 1312 km
- River area: 98796km²
- It originates from: Narmada Kund, Amarkantak Plateau, Annupur District, Madhya Pradesh
- ends with: Gambat Bay, Baruch, Gujarat
Major states and cities:
- Dindori, Harda, Mandhata, Barwani, Omkareshwar, Barwaha, Maheshwar, Mandla, Bharuch, Rajpipla, Dharmapuri, Vadodara, Rajkot.
bridge:
- Golden Bridge
- Sardar Bridge
- Third Narmada Bridge
Consolidated information:
- The Narmada River joins the Arabian Sea at Khambhat Bay, Bharuch District, Gujarat
River Highlights:
- One of only 3 rivers that flow from east to west (the other 2 are Tapti and Mahi), empty in the Arabian Sea
- Narmada Kund is the birthplace of the Narmada River.
- According to Hindu mythology, it is one of the seven holy rivers that wash away sins.
9. Tati:
The Tapti or Tapi River is a river in central India between the Narmada and Godavari rivers. It is also a river that flows westward through the Gulf of Cambat and into the Arabian Sea. The river is named after the goddess Tati, daughter of the sun god and Jaya.
- River name: Tapie or Tapie
- River Length: 724 km
- It originates from: Multai
- ends with: Khambhat Bay, Arabian Sea in Surat Dumas, Gujarat
Major states and cities:
- Madhya Pradesh
- Nepanagar
- Multai
- Maharashtra
- Burhanpur
- Bussaval
- Gujarat
- Surat
bridge:
- Capodra Bridge Center
- Margara Bridge
- Bridge of Hope
River Highlights:
- In front of the Ukai Dam Bridge, the Tabi River flooded due to heavy rain, and more than 1,000 people drowned in the flood.
- Surat city submerged under 10 feet underwater for days
- Even after the water level receded, more than 1,000 people died from the spread of cholera caused by water pollution.
Above are the details of all the major rivers in India. India’s rivers are its lifeblood and the main source of hydropower serving all of India’s major states. However, the same fact is that the pollution of these rivers has exceeded acceptable limits, and if the situation does not change, the water in India will no longer be drinkable.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
Question 1: Name the longest river in India?
Answer 1: The name of the longest river in India is the Indus. This is where the name India comes from.
Question 2: Which is the second largest river in India?
Answer 2: Godavari is the second largest river in India.
Question 3: How many rivers are there in India?
Answer 3: India has 9 important rivers and is also the most famous river in India. they are:
- Ganges
- Yamuna
- Brahmaputra
- Mahanadi
- Narmada
- Godavari
- Tapie
- Krishna
- Caviri
Question 4: List the various rivers and dams in India?
Answer 4: Below is a list of the major dams in India and the list of Indian rivers in which they are located.
- Dam name & river name
- Tehri Dam, Bhagirathi River, Uttarakhand
- Bhakra Nangal Dam, Sutlej River, Himachal Pradesh
- Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada River, Gujarat
- Hirakud Dam, Mahanadi, Odisha
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Telangana Krishna River
Question 5: Which is the smallest river in India?
Answer 5: The Alwari is the smallest river in India and flows through the state of Rajasthan. Its length is only 90 kilometers.