Top 10 Rivers of India www.deekpay.com

IndiaKnown as the "Land of Rivers", the country has a large number of rivers. India is a land of rivers and these mighty water bodies play a great role in the economic development of the country. There are two types of rivers in India, the Himalayan (rivers originating in the Himalayas) and the Peninsular (rivers originating in the Peninsula). Himalayan rivers are perennial rivers whereas peninsular rivers are watered by rainfall. In this article, we will cover the 10 longest rivers in India.

Ganges River - 2525 kilometres

The Ganges River, known as the Ganges in India, is the holiest river in the Hindu faith and the longest river, connected to the Indian subcontinent. It originates from the Gangotri glacier in North Arkhand and begins at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers at Devprayag in North Arkhand. The Ganges is polluted not only by humans but also by living organisms, which include over 140 species of fish, 90 terrestrial and aquatic species, reptiles (e.g., Ganges crocodiles) and warm-blooded animals (e.g., rhesus monkeys). For example, the Ganges waterway dolphins, the last two cited, are included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of the fundamentally endangered.

The Ganges is the longest and the largest river in India, followed by the Godavari (1465 kilometres). The states covered by this water body include Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The last section of the Ganges River terminates in Bangladesh and eventually empties into the Bay of Bengal. Some of the major tributaries of the Ganges are the Yamuna, Sang, Gomti, Ghagra, Gandak and Kosi rivers.

Godavari River - 1464 kilometres

Godavari River, Iraq

Within India, the Godavari River, also known as the Dakshin Ganges or South Ganges is the second longest river in India. It starts from Triambakeshwar, Nasik in Maharashtra and passes through Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before finally meeting the Bay of Bengal. The major tributaries of the river can be categorised as left bank tributaries and include the Purna, Pranitha, Indravati and Sabari rivers. The river is sacred to Hindus and there are places on its banks that have been the site of journeys for many years. Its total span is 1,450 kilometres. Some of the major cities along the Godavari include Nasik, Nanded and Rajahmundry.

Krishna River - 1400 kilometres

Krishna River

The Krishna River, the third longest river in India, but the fourth longest river in India (within India) in terms of inflow and watershed area, after the Ganges, Godavari and Yarlung Tsangpo . It is one of the important sources of irrigation for the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It originates in Mahabaleshwar and flows through these states before entering the Bay of Bengal. The major tributaries of the Krishna are Bhima, Panchaganga, Dudhaganga, Ghataparaba, Tungabhadra and the major cities along its banks are Sangli and Vijayawada.

Yamuna River - 1376 kilometres

Yamuna River

The Yamuna River, also known as the Jamuna River, originates from the Yamunotri Glacier on the Banderpunch Peak in Uttarkashi district of North Arkhand. It is the longest tributary of the Ganges and does not flow directly into the sea. Hindon, Sharda, Giri, Rishiganga, Hanuman Ganga, Sasur, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sindh and Tons are tributaries of the Yamuna. The major states through which the river flows are Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Narmada River - 1312 kilometres

Narmada River

The Narmada, also known as the Rewa and formerly known as the Nebda, originates from the Amarkantak River. It is also known as the "Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat" due to its immense contribution to the state. Contrary to all the rivers in the country, which flow in an easterly direction, it flows in a westerly direction. It is also considered to be one of the holiest water bodies. For Hindus, the Narmada is one of the seven heavenly waterways of India. The other six are Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Sindhu and Kaveri. It is frequently mentioned in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Book of the Past.

Indus River - 3180 kilometres

Indus River

The Indus River begins at Lake Mansarovar and then travels through Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan. It then enters Pakistan. The Indus is also known for giving birth to one of the oldest and most prosperous civilisations, the Indus Valley Civilisation. The major tributaries are the Yansk, Thorn, Jhelum, Jenab, Ravi, Satlej and Bias. The main cities along the Indus are Liechtenstein and Skardu. The Indus River is 3180 kilometres long. However, the distance it travels within India is only 1114 kilometres.

Yarlung Tsangpo River - 2900 kilometres

the Brahmaputra River of Assam and Bangladesh

The Yarlung Tsangpo River is the second river that originates from the Mambunyongtse mountain range. It originates from the Angsi Glacier near Lake Mabunyongmo in Tibet, China. It is the only river in India whose gender is considered male and is known as the Yarlung Zangbo River in China, which empties into India via Arunachal Pradesh. Flooding is a very normal event during the heavy rainfall season (June to October). Kaziranga National Park is located along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It then crosses Assam and finally enters Bangladesh. Its total length within India is only 916 kilometres. Majuli or Majoli is a river island on the Brahmaputra River in Assam, and in 2016 it became the first island in India to have a district. In the early 20th century, the area was 880 square kilometres.

Mahanadi River - 890 kilometres

Mahanadi River, Iraq

The Mahanadi River originates in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. In many written histories, the Mahanadi is notorious for its appalling floods. Hence, it is known as the "Tribulation of Orissa". In any case, the development of the Hirakud Dam has changed the situation drastically. Today, a system of waterways, blast dams and barrages keeps the river in good condition. The major tributaries are the Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Ong, Pari, Jonk and Telen rivers.

Kaveri River - 800 kilometres

River Kaveri

The Kaveri River, also spelled Cauvery, is a sacred river in southern India. It originates in the Brahmagiri Hills in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and flows south-east through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before flowing through the Eastern Ghats. Before flowing into the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu, the river splits into a large number of tributaries, forming a vast delta, which is known as the "Garden of Southern India". The Kaveri is known in Tamil literature for its scenic beauty and sanctity, and its entire course is considered sacred. The river is also important for its irrigation canal projects.

Tapti River - 724 kilometres

Tapti River in southeast Myanmar (Burma)

The Tapti River is one of the only three rivers that originate in the Indian Peninsula and flow from east to west. It originates in the Betul region (Satpura Range) and flows into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea). It flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and has six tributaries. The tributaries of the Tapti are the Purna, Jinnah, Gomai, Panzara, Pedi and Alna.