Uttar Pradesh: Rivers - 1 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Rivers of Uttar Pradesh

• Ganga: Ganga is formed by 6 headstreams and 5 of their confluences. Bhagirathi is considered as source of river ganga which rises at the foot of gangotri glacier at gamukh at an elevation of 3892 mts, though there are many small streams that feed bhagirathi . The six headstreams are the Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini, and Bhagirathi rivers. The five confluences, known as the Panch Prayag, are all along the Alaknanda. They are, in downstream order, Vishnuprayag, where the Dhauliganga joins the Alaknanda;Nandprayag, where the Nandakini joins; Karnaprayag, where the Pindar joins, Rudraprayag, where the Mandakini joins; and finally, Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi joins the Alaknanda to form the Ganges River proper. It is the longest river of India and largest and most fertile basin the country.
• Bhagirathi: It is considered as source of river Ganga, rises at the foot of Gangotri glacier. The upper catchment of the river is glaciated and thus continuously feeds the river throughout the year. The river cuts spectacular gorges as it cuts through the granites and crystalline rocks of the middle Himalayas. Its main tributary is Bhilganga which joins it at Tehri, where the tehri dam has been constructed.
• Alaknanda: The headwaters of the Alaknanda are formed by snowmelt from such peaks as Badrinath, Kamet, Satopant glaciers in Uttarakhand. Its meets the Bhagirathi river at Devprayag. Its main tributaries are Mandakini, Nandakini, and Pindar Rivers. The Alaknanda river drains part of chamoli, Tehri and Pauri districts. Pilgrimage centre Badrinath and natural spring Tapt Kund lie along the bank of the Alaknanda river .
• Ramganga: tributary of ganga draining through the shivalik ranges and is fed by springs emanating from the reservoirs of underground water. Ramganga flows by the Corbett National Park near Ramnagar of Nainital district from where it descends upon the plains. Meets ganges near Kannauj Bareilly city of Uttar Pradesh is situated on its banks
• Gomti: The Gomti originates from Gomat Taal which formally known as Fulhaar jheel, near Madho Tanda, Pilibhit, India. It extends 900 km (560 mi) through Uttar Pradesh and meets the Ganges River near Saidpur, Kaithi in Ghazipur. Another major tributary is the Sai River, which joins near Jaunpur. It meets Ganges near Ghazipur.
• Sai: Tributary of Gomati which joins it in Jaunpur. Towns of Raiebareily and Pratapgarh are situated on it.
• Sharda: Originates from the greater Himalayas at Kalapani at an altitude of 3600 mts. River is known as Kali river in Nepal where temple of goddess kali is situated in kalapani, near Lipulekh pass at the border of India and Tibet .and after descending into india it is called as sarda.
• Ghaghra: It is a perennial river originating near Mansarovar lake, joins sharda river near brahmaghat UP. Ghaghra river joins Ganges at dariganj bhiar.It is largest tributary of ganges in terms of volume. The river flows through katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary, part of Dudhwa National Park. The upper course of river is famous for gangetic dolphins
• Saryu: it is left bank tributary of Ghaghra, meets Ghaghra in bahraich district, Ayodhya is situated on the banks of river Saryu.
• Rapti: Rises south of prominent E-W ridge midway between Dhaulagiri and mahabharat ranges in Nepal. Fed by springs. City of Gorakhpur lies on its banks and cause frequent floods in the rainy season.
• Varuna: The Varuna River is a minor tributary of the Ganges River. It is named after the god Varuna. The name Varanasi itself is interpreted to be derived from the name of the river Varuna
• Yamuna: originates from yamunotri glacier in the lower Himalayas, uttarkashi distict of Uttarakhand. Flows for 1370 kms before it meets ganges at Allahabad. River is fed by Tons(in Uttarakhand) and Giri(HP) it forms boundary of Haryana ,passes through delhi along the border of UP passing through major cities like baghpat, noida , mathura , agra ,Firozabad, etawah , hamirpur. The industrial development all along the course of river is now the major cause of Yamuna being polluted so much.
• Sirsa: Travels parallel to Yamuna river in S-E direction. Passes along the Etawah district.
• Sengar: Tributary of sirsa, moves along the bad land and ravines of Chambal valley.
• Chambal: The river rises in the malwa on the northern slopes of vindhyan near Mhow. The river is part of the confluence of 5 rivers near etawah district called “Pachnada”(in hindi). The river is famous for the ravines that have been created due to flooding and break of channel by the Chambal river. Most rice and oil seed are grown along the banks. Chambal is liable to heavy floods due to step gradient of its bed before it debouches on the alluvial plains. The volume discharge is greater than Yamuna. Clear waters and alligators are common in the river. Hydropower and irrigation projects Gandhi Sagar (MP) and Ranapratap Sagar (Rajasthan) and Kota barrage build on Chambal river.
• Kuwari River: A tributary of Chambal, rises from northern border of MP ,northern slopes of Vindhyas, moves in a semicircular tract before meeting Chambal in Auraiya District, though subject to sudden and freshets during rains yet remains an insignificant stream in the hot season.
• The Ahneya and Puraha: These take rise in a series of lakes, the former near Kakan and the latter near Sauj in the Mainpuri district and little more than the drainage channels for carrying off superfluous rain water. In the hot or cold season they are normally dry but in rains, the Puraha, owing to its sinuous course, injures a considerable amount of land on either bank.
• Pandu: It is the only stream of the Etawah district which flows into the Ganga. It rises in the extreme north-east of Bidhuna tahsil in a large clay depression forming a lake lying between Sabhad and Nurpur. It flows eastwards into the Farrukhabad district.
• Betwa: the Betwa rises in the Vindhya Range just north of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh and flows north-east through Madhya Pradesh and flow through Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. Matatila Dam, an undertaking between the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Paricha Dam, Rajghat Dam situated on Betwa river. . The ambitious project Betwa–Ken link , estimated to cost over Rs.9000 crore, is expected to be included in the 12th Five-Year Plan was in recent news as of Min of Env. and Forest declined the required environmental clearance.
• Dhasan: The Dhasan River is a right bank tributary of the Betwa River.
• Jawai river: Flows through Bundelkhand region, acts as lifeline of this region due to variability in Monsoon over this region
• Ken river: is one the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India, and flows through two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Rises from Vindhyas. It is a tributary of the Yamuna, The Raneh Falls on the Ken river and Ken Ghariyal Sanctuary are tourist attractions. Gangau Dam has been constructed at the confluence of the Ken and Simri rivers. The Ken River passes through Panna National Park. Banda city is located on banks of river Ken.
• Baghain River: Also rises from Northern slope of Vindhyas and meets Ken river perpendicular making rectangular drainage.
• Tons River / Tamsa: The Tamsa River (also known as the Tons River) is a tributary of the Ganges flowing through the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Tamsa rises in a tank at Tamakund in the Kaimur Range at an elevation of 610 meters. It flows through the fertile districts of Satna and Rewa. The river receives the Belan in UP and joins the Ganges at Sirsa, 300 km from Sangam. The Tamsa River while descending through the Rewa Plateau and draining northwards makes a vertical falls of 70m known as Purwa Falls, Chachai Falls (127m) on the Bihad River, a tributary of the Tamsa, the Keoti Falls (98m) on the Mahana River, a tributary of the Tamsa, and Odda Falls (145m) on the Odda River, a tributary of the Belah River, which is itself a tributary of the Tamsa.
• Belan River: Tributary of Tons , rising from Kaimur Hills, meets Tons at the boundary of Up and MP.
• Son River: The Son originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh,just east of the headwater of the Narmada River. The Son parallels the Kaimur hills, flowing east-northeast through Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar states to join the Ganges just above Patna. Its chief tributaries are the Rihand and the North Koel. The Bansagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh is made on this river.
• Rihand River: The Rihand headwaters originate in the Bagelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh state, and flow towards the north into Sonbhadra District of Uttar Pradesh. Here it joins the Son River. The Rihand Dam was built across the river in 1962 for hydropower generation; the reservoir made behind the dam is called Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.
• Kanhar River: The Kanhar River is a tributary of the Son River and flows through the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Rises from ChotaNagpur Plateau, flowing through Sonbhadra district in Mirzapur division of Uttar Pradesh. It confluences with the Son River to the north-east of the village of Kota. It has a rocky bed almost throughout its course. A rapid mountain torrent, flowing through forested areas. Sukhdari Falls is 100 feet high. It located near the meeting point of the borders of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
• Gopad river: Gopad River, one of the main tributaries of the Son River, emerges from the hills on the north of radial drainage Baghelkhand plateau.
• Karmanasa River: is a tributary of the Ganges. Flows through the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Along the boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the northern face of Kaimur Range. Its tributaries are the Durgavati, the Chandraprabha. Devdari falls, at an edge of the Rohtas Plateau.