Rivers of India | General Knowledge Encyclopedia - Class 8 PDF Download

Introduction

India is a land of rivers. There are nine important rivers of India namely Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti. These 9 rivers along with their tributaries make the lifeline of India.

Ganga

The Ganges, also known as the Ganga, is the longest river in India and traverses through both India and Bangladesh. It holds immense religious significance for Hindus and serves as a vital source of sustenance for millions of people residing along its banks. Regarded as a goddess in Hinduism, the Ganga river plays a crucial role in the lives and livelihoods of the people. However, it is essential to acknowledge the alarming pollution levels in the Ganges, which pose a significant threat to various aquatic life forms, including 140 fish species and 90 amphibian species, as well as humans.

• River Name: Ganga
• River Length: 2725km
• It Originates from: Devprayag in the Garhwal division of the Uttarakhand state.
• Ends in: Murshidabad District, West Bengal

States where river Ganges flows:

• Uttarakhand
• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chattisgarh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Punjab
• Haryana
• Rajasthan
• West Bengal
• Union Territory of Delhi

Cities on the banks of the Ganges:
Rishikesh, Farrukhabad, Haridwar, Kannauj, Bithoor, Kanpur, Jajmau, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Buxar, Patna, Bhagalpur, Farakka, Murshidabad, Plassey, Nabadwip, Kolkata, Rajshahi, Chandpur, Baranagar

Bridges:

• Arrah-Chhapra Bridge
• Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge
• Farakka Barrage
• Digha–Sonpur Bridge
• Ganges Barrage
• Hardinge Bridge
• KacchiDargah–Bidupur Bridge
• Lakshman Jhula
• Lalon Shah Bridge
• Mahatma Gandhi Setu
• Malviya Bridge
• Munger Ganga Bridge
• Nivedita Setu
• Padma Bridge
• Rajendra Setu
• Ram Jhula, Rishikesh
• Vikramshila Setu
• Vivekananda Setu

Merges Info:

• Allahabad – Prayag of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati

River Highlights:

• Most sacred river in India
• Highest polluted river in India
• The third largest river in the world
• It creates the world’s largest DELTA in West Bengal – the Sundarbans Delta
• Most important North Indian rivers.
• River Rafting is available in India at the Rishikesh Ganga River.

Godavari

This river is the second longest in India, following the Ganges. It encompasses a significant river basin, along with the Ganges and Indus rivers, which are among the largest in the country. The river holds a prominent place in Hindu scriptures, with references dating back many centuries, and it continues to play a vital role in nurturing India's vibrant culture.

• River Name: Godavari
• River Length: 1465km
• It originates from: Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra
• Ends in: Bay of Bengal, Narsapuram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

Major States and Cities on the banks of the Godavari:

• Maharashtra
• Nashik
• Kopargaon
• Ahmednagar
• Aurangabad
• Beed
• Jalna
• Parbhani
• Karnataka
• Chhattisgarh
• Telangana
• Nirmal
• Mancherial
• Nizamabad
• Jagityal
• Pedapalli
• Andhra Pradesh
• Polavaram
• Rajahmundry
• Yanam (Puducherry State)

Bridges:

• Godavari Bridge
• Godavari Arch Bridge
• The Havelock Bridge

Merges Info:

• Godavari River merges into Bay of Bengal at Narsapuram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh.

River Highlights:

• It is the longest South Indian river and is also known as Dakshina Ganga
• The second largest river of India after Ganga
• The Krishna-Godavari basin is one of the main nesting sites of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle – One of the endangered species.

Krishna

The Krishna River, also known as Krishnaveni, is the fourth largest river in India, following the Ganges, Godavari, and Brahmaputra. Stretching over 1400 kilometers in length, it serves as a crucial water source for irrigation in the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

• River Name: Krishnaveni
• River Length: 1400km
• It originates from: Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar, Satara District, Maharashtra
• Ends in: Bay of Bengal, Hamsaladeevi, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh

Major States and Cities on the banks of Krishna:

• Maharashtra
• Karnataka
• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh

Bridges:

• Krishna Bridge, Wai, Maharashtra
• Irwin Bridge, Sangli
• Kudachi-Ugar Railway Bridge
• B. Soundatti Bridge, Raibag
• Tangadagi Bridge, Karnataka

Merges Info:

• This river merges into the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi

River Highlights:

• The 4th largest river of India
• Tungabhadra river has the largest tributary of the Krishna river
• The Krishna Pushkaram fair which happens once in 12 years happens on the banks of Krishna river

Kaveri

The Kaveri River, flowing through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, serves as a vital water source for irrigation, household consumption, and electricity generation in the region.

• River Name: Kaveri
• River Length: 805km
• River Area: 81155km²
• It Originates from: Western Ghats at talakaveri, Kodagu, Karnataka.
• Ends in: Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu in the Bay of Bengal

Major States and Cities on the banks of  Kaveri:

• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu

Bridges:

• Cauvery river bridge

Merges Info:

• The Kaveri river merges into the Bay of Bengal

River Highlights:

• The 3rd largest river of South India
• The largest river in Tamilnadu that bisects the State into 2 parts North and South
• It is the basis for the Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary

Yamuna

The Yamuna River, named after the Sanskrit word for twins due to its parallel flow with the Ganges, is India's longest tributary and the second largest tributary of the Ganges. Originating from the Yamunotri glacier at an elevation of 6387 meters, it merges with the Ganges at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, which is also the sacred site for the Kumbh Mela held every 12 years. The Yamuna River plays a crucial role in providing approximately 70% of Delhi's water supply.

• River Name: Yamuna River
• River Length: 1376km
• River Area: 366223km²
• It Originates from: Yamunotri in the banderpooch peaks of the Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.
• Ends in: Triveni Sangam

Major States and Cities on the banks of Yamuna:

• States:  Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi
• Cities: Yamuna Nagar, Delhi, Faridabad, Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Prayagraj

Bridges:

• Nizamuddin Bridge
• Old Naini bridge

Merges Info:

• Merges the Ganga river in the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj (Allahabad)

River Highlights:

• It is the longest and the second largest tributary of the Ganges
• Due to the high amount of pollutants, it is also called as the sewage drain.
• The Yamunotri temple, the shrine of goddess Yamuna is one of the most religious shrines of Hinduism and is a part of the Char Dham Yatra.

Brahmaputra

The Brahmaputra River, one of the largest rivers in Asia, is a transboundary river that passes through China, India, and Bangladesh. Unlike most rivers that are given female names, the Brahmaputra has a rare male name derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "Son of Brahma."

• River Name: Brahmaputra
• River Length: 2900km
• River Area: 712035km²
• It Originates From: Bhagirath Glacier located in the Himalayas in the Tibet.
• Ends in: the Bay of Bengal in the Ganges Delta in Bangladesh

Major States and Cities on the banks of Brahmaputra:

• Assam
• Guwahati
• Dibrugarh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Tezpur
• Bridges:
• Bogibeel Bridge
• Naranarayan Setu
• Bhupen Hazarika Setu
• Kolia Bhomora Setu
• Saraighat

Merges Info:

• In the Ganges Delta it merges with River Padma (The name of Ganga in Bangladesh) in Bangladesh and finally the Meghna before emptying in the Bay of Bengal

River Highlights:

• One of the major rivers of Asia
• Trans-Boundary river
• An important river for irrigation and transportation
• When the Himalayan snow melts, this river is prone to catastrophic floods
• In Arunachal Pradesh, this river is known as Siang
• Assam’s largest metropolitan city, Guwahati is a popular tourist attraction on the banks of the Brahmaputra River.

Mahanadi

• This significant river in East Central India traverses through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Originating from the highlands of Chhattisgarh, the river meanders through Odisha until it finally reaches the Bay of Bengal.
  
• River Name: Mahanadi
• River Length: 858km
• River Area: 141600km²
• It Originates from: Sihawa, Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, India.
• Ends in: False Point. Jagatsinghpur, Odisha

Major States and Cities on the banks of Mahanadi:

• Chattisgarh – Rajim, Odisha – Sambalpur, Cuttack, Sonepur, Birmaharajpur, Subalaya, Kantilo, Boudh, Cuttack, Banki.
• Bridges: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Setu.

Merges Info:

• Bay of Bengal by forming a Delta

River Highlights:

• Famous for its Hirakud Dam which is the highest dam in the world.
• Mahanadi contributes greatly to fertilizing the chief crops – oil seeds, sugarcane and rice in Orissa.

Narmada

The Narmada, alternatively called Rewa, is the third largest river in central India, following the Godavari and Krishna rivers. It serves as a crucial lifeline for the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, meeting their substantial water needs. The name "Narmada" originates from Sanskrit, meaning "The River of Pleasure."

• River Name: Narmada
• River Length: 1312km
• River Area: 98796km ²
• It Originates from: Narmada Kund, Amarkantak Plateau, Annupur District, Madhya Pradesh
• Ends in: Gulf of Khambhat, Bharuch, Gujarat

Major States and Cities on the banks of Narmada:

• Dindori, Harda, Mandhata, Barwani, Omkareshwar, Barwaha, Maheshwar, Mandla, Bharuch, Rajpipla, Dharmapuri, Vadodara, Rajkot.

Bridges:

• Golden Bridge
• Sardar Bridge
• 3rd Narmada Bridge

Merges Info:

• The Narmada river merges into the Arabian Sea in the Gulf of Khambhat in Bharuch district of Gujarat

River Highlights:

• One of the only 3 rivers that run from east to west (the other 2 being Tapti and Mahi) and empty in the Arabian Sea
• Narmada Kund is the point of origin of the Narmada river.
• According to Hindu mythology, it is one of the seven holy rivers for the washing of sins.
• Dhuandhar waterfalls on Narmada River is a wonderful honeymoon destination in Madhya Pradesh.

Tapti

The Tapti River, also known as Tapi, is a river located in central India, flowing between the Narmada and Godavari rivers. It runs in a westerly direction and eventually drains into the Arabian Sea, passing through the Gulf of Khambhat. The river derives its name from Goddess Tapti, who is believed to be the daughter of the Sun God and Chhaya.

• River Name: Tapi or Tapti
• River Length: 724km
• It Originates from: Multai
• Ends in: Gulf of Khambhat, the Arabian Sea at Dumas in Surat, Gujarat

Major States and Cities on the banks of Tapti:

• Madhya Pradesh
• Nepanagar
• Multai
• Maharashtra
• Burhanpur
• Bhusawal
• Gujarat
• Surat

Bridges:

• Centre of Kapodra bridge
• Madgalla Bridge
• Hope Bridge

River Highlights:

• Before the bridge of Ukai Dam, the tapi river had overflowed due to heavy rainfall, and more than 1000 people had drowned in the floods.
• The Surat city was submerged 10 feet under the water for several days
• Even after the water subsided more than 1000 people died due to cholera epidemic spread due to the contamination of water.