Rivers of India Part 1 by Dr. Gaurav Garg
Difference between Rivers of North India and South India :-
● One difference is that Rivers of North India flow throughout the year (Perennial Rivers). Reason behind this is “these
rivers originate from the Himalayas”.
● There is only one river in South India in which water is constant throughout the year i.e. “Kaveri”.
● Rivers of South India depend on monsoon.
● Rivers of North India such as Indus, Ganga, etc. were present even before Himalayas were formed. These rivers
generally flow forming Gorges (a narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a
stream running through it.)
● Rivers of South India flow with the slope. Major rivers of south india - Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri all fall
in Bay of Bengal. Because India’s Peninsular tilt is along the Bay of Bengal.
● But, Some rivers like Narmada and Tapi fall in Arabian Sea, because these rivers flow in Rift valleys. (it will be
discussed in detail later).
Peninsula - A peninsula is a landform surrounded by water on the majority of its border while being connected to a
mainland.
Indus River
● India got its name from Indus.
● ‘The Indus Valley Civilization’ was born around this river.
● It flows in north-west direction from its source - Glaciers of Kailash Range in Tibet near Lake Manasarovar .
● Source - Glaciers of Kailash Range in Tibet near Lake Manasarovar. ( 3 rivers originate from near lake Mansarovar -
Indus, Sutlej and Bhramaputra ).
● It’s length is about 2,900 km.
● More than half of Its total drainage area lies in Pakistan.
● It is joined by the Dhar River near the Indo-China border.
● After entering J&K it flows between the Ladakh and the Zanskar Ranges.
● It flows through the regions of Ladakh, Baltistan and Gilgit.
● It is joined by the Zanskar River at Leh.
● Near Skardu, it is joined by the Shyok River.
● The Gilgit, Gartang, Dras, Shiger, Hunza are the other Himalayan tributaries of the Indus.
● Five Major tributaries - the Jhelum , the Chenab , the Ravi , the Beas and the Sutlej . The river empties into the
Arabian Sea south of Karachi. Chenab is the largest among these 5 tributaries.
● Maximum part of Indus River lies in Pakistan.
● Indus Water Treaty (Briefly) - According to the treaty, Pakistan will use water of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India will
use water from Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. It was signed in 1960 by Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan.
● Nubra River - It is a river in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh in India. It is a tributary of the Shyok River and originates
from the Siachen Glacier.
● Left Bank Tributaries - Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.
● Right Bank Tributaries - Gilgit.
Jhelum
● Total length of 724 km.
● Sanskrit Name - Vitasta.
● The Neelum River (Kishanganga), the largest tributary of the Jhelum.
● The Jhelum has its source in a spring at Verinag in the Kashmir Valley.
● It flows northwards into Wular Lake ( largest freshwater lake in India ).
● From Wular Lake, it changes its course southwards.
● At Baramulla the river enters a gorge in the hills. The river forms a steep-sided narrow gorge through Pir Panjal Range
below Baramulla.
● At Muzaffarabad ( capital of POK ), the river takes a sharp hairpin bend southward.
● It joins the Chenab at Trimmu .
● Srinagar is situated on the bank of Jhelum River.
Chenab
● Another name – Asikni.
● The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga , near Keylong , in the Lahaul and Spiti
district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, near Bara-lacha la
pass in Himachal Pradesh.
● The Chandra river originates from glaciers east of the same pass (near Chandra Taal).
● Chenab river is known as Chandra Bhaga .
● It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, before flowing into the
Indus River.
● Jhelum and Ravi both join Chenab and then these rivers join the Indus River.
● Hydro power project on Chenab :-
○ Salal Dam - 690 MW hydroelectric power project near Reasi.
○ Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant - 390 MW type power project in Kishtwar District.
○ Pakal Dul Dam - a proposed dam on a tributary Marusadar River in Kishtwar District.
○ Ratle Hydroelectric Plant - an under construction power station in Kishtwar District.
○ Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project (624 MW proposed) located in Kishtwar district.
○ Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project (540 MW proposed) located in Kishtwar district.
Ravi
● Ancient name → Purushni, Iravati.
● Origin → originates from the northern face of Rohtang pass in the Himachal Pradesh and flows through the junction
formed by the BaraBang- Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas.
Beas
● Other names: Vipasa or Argikiya.
● The Beas originates near the Rohtang Pass , at a height of 4,062 m above sea level, on the southern end of the Pir
Panjal Range, close to the source of the Ravi.
● It crosses the DhaulaDhar range and it takes a south-westerly direction and meets the Sutlej river at Harike Lake in
Punjab ( Harike wetland is a Ramsar Site ). It is a comparatively small river which is only 460 km long but lies entirely
within the Indian territory.
● Beas River is home to Indus dolphins (this is only found only in this river).
● Pong Dam is on Beas River, It is also known as Beas Dam.
Sutlej
● The Sutlej rises near the Mansarovar Lakes in western Tibet.
● It takes a north-westerly course upto the Shipki La Pass .
● Dams - Bhakra dam, Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant, and the Nathpa Jhakri Dam.
● Sutlej joined the Beas at Harike.
● From near Ferozepur to Fazilka it forms the boundary between India and Pakistan for nearly 120 km.
■ Jhelum and Ravi join Chenab, Beas joins Sutlej, and then Sutlej and Chenab join. The combined stream runs southwest
for approximately 45 miles and joins the Indus River at Mithankot . The Indus continues and then drains into the
Arabian Sea.
■ Clifton Beach is in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan is located on the Arabian Sea.
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