Comparison of major rivers in India

River Basin

Rise

End Point

States

Type

Main Tributaries

Length
(km)

Other Major Points

Indus River
System

Tibet, near
Manasarovar
Lake.

Arabian Sea
(east of
Karachi)

Jammu &
Kashmir,
Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab

Himala
yan

Zaskar, Nubra, Shyok, Hunza

2900

Indus Water Treaty (1960) - 20% of water is given to India

Enters India in Ladakh district of J&K
Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum join together to
enter the Indus near Mithankot (Pakistan)
Indus plain has gentle slope.

Ganga River
System

The headwaters
of Ganga Bhagirathi is fed
by Gangotri
Glacier

Bay of Bengal

Uttarakhand,
Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar,Jharkhand,
West Bengal

Himala
yan

Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak,

Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Son
Yamuna is a major river,
rises from Yamunotri Glacier in
Himalayas, flows parallel to
Ganga as a right bank
tributary-meets Ganga in
Allahabad.
Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi rise in Nepal Himalaya.
Chambal, Betwa & Son are
peninsular uplands - rise from
semi-arid areas - have shorter
courses - donot carry much
water with them.

>2500

River develops large meanders.

Formation of Sundarban Delta
Sundarban delta derived its name from the Sundari Tree
which grows well in marshland.
It is the worlds largest and fastest growing delta
Home of Royal Bengal Tiger

Brahmaputra
River System

Tibet, east of
Manasarovar lake
(very close to the
sources of Indus
and Satluj)

Bay of Bengal

Assam,
Arunachal
Pradesh

Himala
yan

Dibang, Lohit

2900

Most of its course lies outside India

Flows eastwards parallel to Himalayas. On reaching
Namcha Barwa (7757m), takes a U turn and enters India in
Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge. Here, this is called
Dihang.
Has braided channel in its entire length in Assam
Forms many Riverine Islands
Worlds largest riverine island is formed by Brahmaputra
- Majuli
In tibet, it carries a smaller volumen of water and less silt
- why? It is cold and dry area
In India, the river carries a large volume of water and
considerable amount of silt - since it passes through a
region of high rainfall.
Shifts its channel frequently - Why? Brahmaputra is marked
b y huge deposits of silt on its b ed causing river b ed to rise.

Narmada
Basin

Amarkantak Hills,
Madhya Pradesh

Arabian Sea

Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat

Penins
ular

1312

Fifth longest river

flow towards the west in a rift valley formed due to faulting
Short Tributaries, joins main stream at right angles.

Tapi Basin

Satpura Ranges,
in Betul district of
Madhya Pradesh

Arabian Sea

Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat,
Maharashtra

Penins
ular

Flows in a rift valley parallel to Narmada

Godavari Basin

Slopes of Western
Ghats - Nasik
District of
Maharashtra

Bay of Bengal

Maharashtra
(about 50% of
basin area),
Madhya Pradesh,
Odisha, Andhra
Pradesh

Penins
ular

Purna, Wardha, Pranhita,

Manjra, Wainganga, Penganga

1500

Mahanadi
Basin

Highlands of
Chhattisgarh

Bay of Bengal

Odisha,
Maharashtra,
Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand

Penins
ular

Krishna Basin

a spring near
Mahabaleshwar

Bay of Bengal

Maharashtra,
Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh

Penins
ular

Tungabhadra, Koyana,
Ghatprabha, Musi, Bhima

1400

Kaveri Basin

Brahmagiri range
of western ghats

Bay of Bengal
( south of
Cuddalore,
TN)

Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil
Nadu

Penins
ular

Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati,

Kabini

760

Largest Peninsular River

Largest drainage basin among Peninsular Rivers
Because of its length and the vast area it covers - known
as Dakshin Ganga

860

2nd biggest waterfall in India - Sivanasamudram.

Hydroelectric power generated from the falls is supplied to
Mysore, Bangalore and Kolar Gold Field.