Journey of a River Chapter Notes | Our Wondrous World Class 5 - New NCERT PDF Download

Imagine a river telling its own story, flowing from high mountains to the sparkling sea! In this chapter, we follow the Godavari River’s adventure, learning where it starts, the life it holds, and how it helps people every day. It’s like a tale of a watery hero who travels far and brings life to everyone it meets!

Where I Begin, Where I Flow

I am the Godavari river. My source is in the Brahmagiri Hills of the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra.

• At first, I am just a small stream, but as I travel, rainwater and other streams join me. 
• I am the second-longest river in India, after the Ganga, which travels about 1,465 kilometres.
• I pass through the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
• During my journey, I pass through many important places, including Pench National Park, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP), Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, and Polavaram Dam.
• Some important rivers like Manjira, Indravati, and Sabari join me in my journey. These small rivers are called tributaries. 
  
• There are fascinating stories about me from ancient texts like the Ramayana and the Puranas. I am called "Dakshina Ganga" as I am sacred and flow through southern India.
• In Nashik (near my source), people come from all over to bathe in my waters during special festivals like the Godavari Pushkaram.

Do you know?
India has its longest bridge, the Bhupen Hazarika Setu (over 9 km), built on the Brahmaputra river.

The Life I Hold

As a river, I’m a home full of life, from animals to plants. I flow all year, making me a special place for nature’s friends!

• I flow all year, so I am called a perennial river. 
• Some rivers flow only during the rainy season after getting some water
• As I travel, I pass through forests home to tigers, barking deer, the golden gecko, and red sandalwood trees.
• My freshwater supports many plants and animals living in and around me.
• When I reach the sea and form a delta, I meet the unique Coringa mangrove forests, home to lots of birds, fish, and other animals.

Do you know?
The Majuli island in Assam, formed by the Brahmaputra, is the world's largest river island.

The Many Ways I Support Lives

I’m like a helper for everyone living near me. From drinking water to growing food, I make life possible in so many ways!

• From ancient times, people built their homes next to me and other rivers, because I provide fresh water.
• I provide water for houses, schools and fields.
• People and animals in many towns and villages use my water for drinking, baths, cooking, and cleaning.
• My water is carried for use through pipes and canals.
• Farmers depend on my water to grow rice, sugarcane, and bananas near my banks.
• Factories and industries use water from me.
• Many livelihoods depend on me: fishing, farming, and collecting goods from the forest.
  

Do you know?
The Chenab rail bridge in Jammu & Kashmir is the highest railway arch bridge in the world.

Ecotourism is visiting forests, rivers, or mountains to enjoy nature, watch animals, and learn about the environment without harming it.

1. People are dependent on river Godavari's water for drinking, baths, cooking, and cleaning
2. People near Godavari are engaged in agriculture, farming and tourism.(There are many more occupations like induatrial work, fishing, transportation by boating, irrigation and water mangement, wildlife conservation, etc. )
3. Crops near Godavari: Rice, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and flowers thrive in the fertile Godavari basin.

4. Irrigation Sources in Punjab Region: Canals (27% of cultivated area) and tube wells (73%) provide nearly 99% irrigation, supplemented by monsoon rainfall from July to September. 
(Answers can vary according to region of students)

Dams—Storing My Water, Changing My Flow

I’m a giving river, but sometimes people build big walls called dams to store my water. These help people, but they also change my journey and affect those around me.

• More than 900 dams have been built on me and other rivers to store water for the dry season.
• The stored water is used for drinking, farming (irrigation), and making electricity (hydropower).
• A dam is a giant wall that blocks me and stores water in a reservoir.
• Building a dam floods forests and villages, forcing people and animals to move from their homes and habitats.
• It's important to use water wisely and not waste it, because so much work goes into bringing it to our taps.

Do you know?
Hirakud dam in Odisha is one of the longest earthen dams in the world, stretching over 25 kilometres.

What Pollutes Me and Why It Matters

I love being clean, but sometimes people and factories make me dirty. Keeping me fresh is important for everyone who depends on me!

• With more people and factories near my banks, waste, plastics, and dirty water often pollute me.
• Sometimes I look and smell dirty. If people still use my water, they may fall sick.
• To keep me clean, people should use less plastic and more eco-friendly products, and not throw waste into my water.
• Chemicals, soaps, and fertilisers from homes and farms wash into me and can harm fish, turtles, birds, and the people who live nearby.
• Fertilisers can make plants and algae grow fast, making a “green blanket” that takes away the oxygen from the water, slowly choking the fish and other animals inside.
• In some places, people are now working to keep the river clean by not throwing waste into the water and cleaning it.

Do you know? 
Many people are trying to clean rivers. For example, the Namami Gange programme is helping to keep the Ganga healthy for people, fish, and birds. 

Do you know? 
The Ganges river dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, is blind and uses sound to find its way in the water.

When a River Floods

Most days, I flow gently, helping everyone around me. But when heavy rains come, I can grow wild and powerful, flooding the land!

• When there is too much rain, I overflow and floods fields, roads, villages, and cities, causing damage and forcing people and animals to leave their homes.
• Floods spread dirty water, break roads, destroy crops, stop electricity, spread diseases, damage homes, and shut schools.
• Trees slow down rainwater and allow the soil to soak up water, preventing floods. If trees are cut down, water runs off the land quickly, causing more floods.

Flood Safety Tips

• Before floods, people should stay informed and keep an emergency kit, know evacuation plans, and leave early if told.
• During floods, stay away from floodwater and electricity (disconnect electricity and gas if possible), get to higher ground, follow evacuation orders, and help animals and other people.
• After floods, avoid contact with flood water and power lines, clean homes and do not return until it is safe.

Do you know? 
Some fish like the hilsa (ilish) travel from the sea into rivers to lay eggs — a natural wonder called fish migration.

When a River Runs Dry

I’m a perennial river, flowing all year, but some rivers run dry, causing big problems. Imagine a day without my water—it’s not easy!

A dry river

• Just as floods can cause problems, so can droughts when I am low or dry for a long time.
• Without enough water, people cannot drink, cook, bathe, or clean easily. Crops dry up and animals suffer.

1. No Water for a Day: I’d conserve stored water for drinking, use wipes for hygiene, eat dry food, and check community sources like gurdwaras in Punjab.

2. No Water for a Week: I’d buy bottled water, use wipes for bathing, eat pre-cooked food, pause cleaning, and source water from Punjab’s municipal tankers or canals.

• Sometimes, entire families have to leave their homes to search for water.
• Animals also suffer because of dry rivers.

Do you know?
In 2019, the city of Chennai had to use special "water trains" to bring water from other districts because its reservoirs dried up.

• Both too much water (floods) and too little water (droughts) can make life difficult.
• In some places, people use water ATMs—machines that give clean water when you put in a card or coin. These steps help everyone use water wisely and protect it for the future.

Do you know? 
The National Water Mission helps manage water well across India.

Water Saving Habits

• Use water wisely and don’t let it go to waste.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth to save drops.
• Don’t throw away drinking water—keep it safe!
• Fix leaky taps with help from grown-ups to stop water loss.
• Reuse water from washing fruits to water plants, like a smart trick!
• Remind everyone to save water.