The Ganga System

Alaknanda
Arises Satopanth Glacier above Badrinath.
Consists of Dhauli and Vishnu Ganga which meet at Joshimath (Vishnu Prayag).
Tributaries Pindar, joins at Karna Prayag. Mandakini or Kali Ganga at
Rudraprayag.
Meets Bhagirathi at Devprayag thereafter known as Ganga.

Ganga
Arises Gangotri Glacier near Gaumukh in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand
Here known as Bhagirathi.
Flow - Cuts through Central and Lesser Himalayas in narrow gorges.
Meets Alaknanda at Devprayag.
Hereafter, known as Ganga.
Enters Haridwarflows south, then south east and then east before splitting into
two distributaries Bhagirathi & Hugli.
Passes Through Uttrakhand, UP, Bihar & West Bengal
Right Bank Tributaries Son, Yamuna
Left Bank Tributaries- Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi & Mahananda.
Discharge Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island.

Yamuna
Tributary of Ganga (Right bank), Joins at Prayag (Allahabad)
Arises Yamunotri Glacier on western slopes of Banderpunch Range.
Right Bank Tributaries Chambal, Sind, betwa & Ken which originates on
Peninsular Plateau.
Left Bank Tributaries Hindan, Rind, Sengar, Varuna
Canals - Feeds Agra Canal
Hills Cuts across Nag Tibba & Mussoorie Ranges

Chambal
Right Bank tributary of Yamuna
Arises Near Mhow in Janapao Hills of Vindhyan Ranges, malwa Plateau of MP
Flow Northwards through a gorge upwards of Kota in Rajasthan. From Kota,
traverse down to Bundi, Sawai Madhopur & Dholpur and finally joins Yamuna.
Dam/Canal Gandhisagar Dam in Kota
Special Feature badland topography called Chambal Ravines.
Gandak
Left bank tributary of Ganga
Arises Near Nepal-Tibet border, in Nepal Himalayas b/w Dhaulagiri & Mt.
Everest
Flow - Drains Central part of Nepal, enters Ganga Plain in Champaran District of
Bihar & joins Ganga at Sonpur near Patna.
Ghaghara
Left bank tributary of Ganga
Arises Glacier of Mapchachungo.
Tributaries Tila, Seti, Beri, Sarda
Flow Receives water from Tila, Seti & Beri and cuts a deep gorge at Shishapani.
Sarda (kali or Kali Ganga) joins it in plain before it finally meets Ganga at
Chhapra.
Kosi
Left bank tributary of Ganga
Arises- North of Mt. Everest in Tibet
Tributaries Joined by Son Kosi from West & Tamur Kosi from East
Special Feature Forms Sapt Kosi after uniting with river Arun. Called Sapt Kosi
because sven headstreams which unite in Mahabharat ranges in Nepal.
Antecedent River
An antecedent stream is a stream that maintains its original course and pattern despite the
changes in underlying rock topography.
Flow Joins Ganga near Kursela, Bhagalpur.

Ramganga
Arises garhwal Hills near Gairsain.
Flow Crosses Shiwalik, then changes its course to southwest direction, enters
into UP near najbabad. Joins Ganga near Kannauj
Damodar
Flows Eastern margins of Chotanagpur Plateau where it flows througha rift
valley and finally joins Hugli.
Tributary Barakar
Special Feature Once known as Sorrow of Bengal, now tamed by Damodar
Valley Corporation, a multipurpose project.
Sarda or Saryu
Arises Milam Glacier in Nepal Himalayas, where known as Goriganga. Along
Indo-nepal Border called kali or Chauk, where it joins Ghaghara.
Mahananda
Arises Darjiling hills. Joins Ganga as left bank tributary in West Bengal.
Son
South bank tributary of Ganga.
Arises Amarkantak Plateau. Forms seies of waterfalls at the edge of plateau,
reaches Arrah, west of Patna to join Ganga.
Son
Large south bank tributary of Ganga
Arises Amarkantak plateau. Forms series of waterfalls on the edge of plateau,
reaches Arrah, west of Patna to join Ganga

Rivers of The Brahmaputra System

Brahmaputra
Arises Chemayungdung Glacier of Kailash range near Mansarovar Lake.
Flow Traverse eastward longitudinally for about 12oo km. In southern Tibet.
Here it is known as Tsangpo. Cuts a deep Gorge in Central Himalayas near
Namcha Barwa. Then emerges under foothills of Siang or Dihang. Enters India
west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh. Enters Bangladesh near Dhubri and
flows southward. In Bangladesh, joined by Tista on right bank from where it is

known as Yamuna. Finally merges with river Padma, which falls in the Bay of
Bengal.
Right Bank Tributary - Rango Tsangpo is major right bank tribuatary in Tibet.
Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh, North Dhansari.
Left Bank Tributary Dibang or Sikang and Lohit, after recieveing these
tribuataries known as Brahmaputra. Burhi Dihing and Dhansari.
Special Feature- Well known for floods, channel shifting and bank erosion. This is
due to the fact most of its tributaries are large and bring large quantity of
sediments owng to heavy rainfall in its catchment area.
Subansiri
Arises Tibet, antecedent river.

Rivers of Peninsular Drainage System

Mahanadi
Arises Near Sihawa in Raipur district of Chattisgarh
Flow Runs through Orisaa to discharge water into Bay of Bengal.
Drainage Basin Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa.
Godavari
Arises Nasik district, Maharashtra, discharges into Bay of Bengal
Flow Tributaries run through Maharashtra, MP, Chattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra
Pradesh.
Triubutaries Penganga, indravati, Pranhita and Manjra. After Rajamundri splits
into several branches forming a large delta.
Special Feautre Largest peninsular river system. Also called Dakshin Ganga.
Subjected to heavy floods in the lower stretches to the south of Polavaram,
where it forms picturesque gorge. Navigable only in delatic stretch.
Krishna
Arises Bear Mahabaleshwar in Sahyadri.
Tributaries Koyna, Tungbhadra and Bhima.
Catchment Area Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Special Feature Second largest east flowing peninsular river.
Kaveri

Arises Brahmagiri Hills of Kogadu District in Karnataka.

Tributaries Bhavani (longest), Kabini and Amravati.
Passes Through Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Special Feature Upper catchment area receievs rainfall during the southwest
monsoon and lower recieves during north east monsoon carries water
throughout the year with lesser fluctuation than other peninsular rivers.
Narmada
Arises Western flank of Amarkantak Plateua.
Flow In rift valley between Satpura in south and Vindhyan range in north. Forms
picturesque gorge in marble rocks and Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur. Meets
Arabian Sea south of Bharuch forming a broad estuary.
Canals/Dams/Project Sardar Sarovar Project has been constructed on this river.
Tapi
Arises Multai in Betul district of MP in Satpura hills.
Passes through Maharashtra, MP & Gujarat.
Westward flowing.
Luni
Arises Originates near Pushkar in two branches Saraswati and Sabarmati,
which join each other at Govindgarh. From here, river comes out of Aravali and
known as Luni.
Flows Flows towards west till Telwara and then takes southwest direction to join
Rann of Kuchchh.
Entire river system is ephemeral. Also known as Salt river.

Mrunal

Indus - After partition Indus Water Treaty 1960 Indus Jhelum Chenab to Pak,
Rav beas and Satluj to India
We can use Indus Jhelum and Chenab for drinking water, irrigation, hydel
electricity but cant divert them
Doabs, i.e., area of confluence of waters of two rivers, of Indus Chej doab
betwenn Chenab and Jhelum, Rechna doab Ravi and Chenab, Bari doab Beas
& Ravi, Bist doab beas and Satluj
Cities on Indus leh
Shyok from Siachin Glacier,
Suru (obsequent tributary i.e. flows from west to east while Indus river is flowing
from east to west) originates from Deosal mt., Burzil La Pass, Kargil on it,
Chutak dam
Gilgit its last ributary in India
Jhelum
Rises at verinag
Srinagar located on it

Kishanganga joins on right

Kishanganga river disptute with Pak, in 2015 or 2014 because we constructed
dam on it and Pak sued us in International Court of Arbitration. Since Jhelum is
with pak, we constructed a canal for hydroelectiricity and therefore supplying
water of Kishanganga through this canal to Jhelum therefore when Jhelum will
enter Pak there will be no difference in volume from earlier position
Court ruled in favor of India under Indus Treaty, we just need to tinker with
technique
(International Court of Arbitration handles cases related to multilateral or
Bilateral treaties)
Jhelum enters Pak near Baramulla
Chenab
Two headward tributaries Chandra and Bhaga- together form Chenab
Chandra originate near Zozi La pass and Bhaga at Baralacha La pass
Dulhasti, Baglihar and Salal dams (Locate in Map)
Ravi
Source ner Rohtang pass in HP between Pirpanjal range in north and Dhauladhar
range in south
Chamba is located on Ravi
Beas
Source near Rohatang pass at southern end of Pir Panjal (HP)
Meets Satluj at Harike
Entire Beas is in India
Kullu on Beass tributary Parbati
Satluj
Originate near Mansarovar lake in Kailash range
Enters India through Shiki La pass
Imp tributary Spiti
Neptha-jhakhari Dam located on Satluj

Ganga System

Originate as Bhagirathi from Gangotri

Alaknanda originates from badrinath
Alaknanda meets Dhauliganga at Vishnu Prayag now together known as
Alaknanda
Pindar River (from Nanda Devi) meets Alaknanda at Karan Prayag combinely
known as Alaknanda
Alaknanda meets Mandakini (originating at Kedarnath) at Rudra Prayag
combinely Alaknanda
Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge at Dev Prayag known as Ganga enters into
plains in Haridwar.
Left Bank tributaries of ganga Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara (Saryu), Gandak,
Kosi
Right Bank Tributaries Yamuna, Son, Hugli

Ramganga entirely in India

Originates near Garhwal in Uttarakhand
Gomti Originates in Northern UP, Lucknow on Gomti
Both of the above originate in India
Ghaghara From Nepal Tibetan Border, one branch at Indo-Nepal border as Kali.
Kali and Karnali together form Ghaghra in India. Karnali originate in Gurala
Mandhata peak at south of Mansarovar in Tibet. Kali is also known as Sarda.

Ayodhya, Faizabad located on Ghaghara. Ayodhya on Sarda or Saryu

Gandak Originates from Tibet, crosses Nepal enters India
Kali Gandak, Trishulli Tributaries in Nepal, Merge in Ganga near Patna
Kosi Origintes nepal Tibetan Border as Saptakushi i.e. consists of seven streams
which then become three streams at Triveni (Mahabharat Range) in nepal and
then merge as Kosi and enters India. None of the streams locate in India.
Located in snow covered area- heavy rainfall-huge volume of water brings huge
volume of sedimentsriver basin becomes shallow fastriver course keeps
changing and therefore knowna for floods .
Yamuna originates from Yamunotri Glacier in banderounch Peak in Garhwal,
Uttarakhand
Imp. Right Tribuatry of yamuna Tons, which rises near banderpunch glacier
Delhi, Agra and mathura on Yamuna
Imp. Right trubutaries from Vindhyan Range Chambal, Sind, Betwa and ken.
Chambals tributary banas originates from Aravalis
Chambal is known for its badlands because of soil erosion.
Right Bank Tributary of Ganga
Son - From Amarkantak Plateau. (From Amarkantak Plateau two rivers emerge
Northern Side Sona dn Southern Side narmada)
Imp. Tributary Rihand , source Ramgarh Hills Govind vallabh pant sagar dam
on Rihand
North Koel source chotanagpur plateau
(South Koel is Brhmanis tributary)
Hugli Distributary of Ganga (Tributary contributes its water into main river,
distributary takes water from main stream and makes its own course)
Tributary of Hugli Ajay
Kolkata on Hugli river
Learn which rivers pass through which state
Brahmaputra System
Brahmaputra Chimayungdung Glacier of kailash as Yang lang Tsangpo. Enters
in India as Dibang when enters in Sadiya Brahmputra, when enters Bangladesh
Yamuna. Ganga and Yamuna combinely called Padma. Meghna river joins
Padma in bangladesh combinely known as Meghana merge in Bay of bengal.
Delta formed is called Sunderban Delta, one of the largest deltas in the world

Tributaries Manas (Manas National Park known for Rhinos), Subansiri, Dihang &
Lohit (HP), kapili
Peninsualr Rivers
West Flowing Narmada Tapi
East Flowing Damodar, Subanarekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, kaveri
When western Ghats developed then Indian plate tilted from west to east
(confirm??) this lead to the tilting of southern plateua towards south east rivers
follow southeast course and merges into bay of bengal. Only small rivers that
originate in Western Ghats meet in Arabian Sea.
Narmada originates in Amarkantak plateau, passes through rift valley between
vindhya and satpura enters Gujarat,merges near Bhuruj. MP, MH and Guj.
Dhuandhar falls in MP
Many dams on narmada (to find)
West flowing
Tapi originates from Betul Plateau, imp. Right bank tributary Purna (from
gavilgarh Range. Whole course of Tapi is to the south of Satpura. Merged into sea
near Surat. MP, MH, GJ
Sabarmati originates from Aravali range,
Mahi from vindhyans
Mandovi and Zuari rivers in Goa- originate from western ghat, meet in arabian
sea
Karnataka Kalinadi, Sharavati- Jog Fall (highest fall), Netravati river
Kerala Periyar (imp for Hydel electricity and irrigation) and Pamba river ( from
cardamom hills)
East flowing Rivers
Damodar source chotanagpur plateau, Barakar its tribuatayr also originate from
here, region known for Iron & Steel ind. Because high end coal reserve
Subarnarekha, Baitrani and Brahmani between west bengal and orissa region,
originate from Chotanagpur plateau, Chot. Plat. Radial Drainage. Chota. Plat.
Has two regions , northern Hazaribagh Plateau, Southern Ranchi Plateau,
Subarnerekha from Ranchi Plateau, Baitrani from Garhjat Hills in Chotanagpur
plateau, Brahmanis tributaries- South Koel (North Koel is Sons Tributary) and
Sankh also from chota.
Mahanadi M.imp. river of Orissa,

Left bank of mahanadi Shenath, hasdo and mand

Right Bank tel, jonk and ong
Hirakund dam on mahanadi, here its a Thalachel Thermal Power station, region
known for coal reserves
Rushikulya River source Nayagarh Hills, its mouth known for Hatching site of
olive ridley turtles
Olive Ridley Turtles (Tortoise live on land, turtles in water) These are smallest
and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the worls. Found in tropical waterswarm waters Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. IUCN status Endangered.
Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada = thousands of females
come together on the same beach to lay eggs. Orissa coast (Gajjam coast of
Orissa) is the largest mass hatching site of Olive ridley turtles in the world.
Godavari Source Trimbak plateau near Nasik
Left bank trib of Godavari Penganga, wardha, wainganga (three combined =
pranhita), Indravati (fall), Sabri and Sileru (both in orissa)
Right bank trib Manjara
Krishna Source Mahabaleshwar,
left trib. musl, Hyderabad located on Musl; Bhima, its trib. Keona (Koena dam
lead to human induced seismicity earthquake), Sina,
right trib ghat prabha, manpraba, tungabhadra, Hagari
Penner/ Penneru Nandi durg peak in KN,
Tri Kunder, Charavati, Papagni and Punchu
Kaveri from Tal Kaveri at brahmagiri hills
Tri Shimsa, Hemvati, Kabani, Bhavani, Amravati, Noyll, Coimbatore on Noyll
Vaigai from varushand hills, madurai located in Vaigai, dry channel, disappear
and again re appear
Three stages of River
Youthful V shaped valleys
Saline (old age) deposits sediments

River Linking Project

First time recommended by Sir Arthur Cotton in 19 th Century.

Aims to transfer surplus water of some rivers to water deficit river basins
KL Rao, MoWR recommended: ganga kaveri link
Dishaw Dastur recommended pilot transferring of water using garland canal.
Finalized
Transfer of water of Ganga and Brahmaputra towards west and east in south
using 14 canals
In Peninsula Plateau linking of rivers using 16 canals
If executed, largest inter-basin transfer of water in the world.
Project will take 50-100 years
May produce 35GW of power
Advantages
Management of flood and drought
Expansion fo irrigation network
Drinking water supply
Challenges
Indian Monsoon Climate - rainy months and dry months occur together in the
entire country. Timing issues will arise
Dams and canals not proper solution to floods,bad for ecology, riverine ecology
and its biodiversity gets damaged because of dams and canals, sediments gets
collected at barrage leading to sending off of sediments together when the
barrages are opened leading to the worsening of floods.
Cost Dams and canals cost a huge amount besides their highly expensive
maintenanace cost
Plateau higher than northern plains difficult to pump water from plains to
peninsula.
Require large amount of energy and canals
Submergence of forests and villages, farmers and tribal communities, relocation
and rehabilitation. (Tropical desisious forest in MP)
Blocking of rivers damage to riverine ecosystem
Internationals and inter-state water disputes

S. No.

NAME OF RIVERS

TOUCHING STATES

LENGTH

1.

GANGA

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,

Jharkhand, West Bengal

AROUND 2,525
K.M.

2.

YAMUNA

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana 1,376 K.M.

3.

BRAHMAPUTRA

Assam, Arunachal,Tibet

2,900 K.M.

4.

MAHANADI

Chhattisgarh, Odisha

858 K.M.

5.

GODAVARI

Maharashtra, Telangana,
Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh,
Puducherry

1,465 K.M.

6.

KRISHNA

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana,

Andhra Pradesh

1,400 K.M.

7.

NARMADA

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,

Gujarat

1,315 K.M.

8.

TAPTI

Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,

Gujarat

724 K.M.

9.

GOMTI

Lucknow

900 K.M.

10.

GANDAK

Bihar

320 K.M.

11.

KOSI

Bihar

720 K.M.

12.

SON

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,

Jharkhand, Bihar

784 K.M.

13.

BETWA

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh

590 K.M.

14.

CHAMBAL

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,

Rajasthan

960 K.M.

15.

SUTLEJ

Panjab

1,500 K.M.

16.

RAVI

Himachal, Panjab

720 K.M.

17.

BEAS

Himachal, Panjab

470 K.M.

18.

CHENAB

Himachal, Panjab

960 K.M.

19.

JEHLAM

Panjab

725 K.M.

20.

KAVERI

Tamil Nadu

765 K.M.

21.

MAHANADI

Odisha

858 K.M.