India is home to a vast network of rivers, most of which flow into the Bay of Bengal, while others discharge into the Arabian Sea. The drainage systems that flow into these two seas are divided by the Western Ghats, Aravalli, and the Yamuna Sutlej divide. Here is a list of major rivers in India to help students and competitive exam aspirants with general knowledge.
Major Rivers of India: Overview
Most Indian rivers play a crucial role in agriculture, drinking water, and electricity generation. Here’s a list of the major rivers, their sources, and where they empty.
| River Name | Source | Falls Into |
| Ganga | Combined Sources | Bay of Bengal |
| Satluj | Lake Rakshastal, Tibet | Chenab |
| Indus | Glacier near Kailash Mountain, Tibet | Arabian Sea |
| Ravi | Chamba, Himachal Pradesh | Chenab |
| Beas | Beas Kund, Himachal Pradesh | Satluj |
| Jhelum | Verinag Spring, Pir Panjal Range | Chenab |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri, Champasar Glacier | Ganga |
| Chambal | Singar Chouri, Madhya Pradesh | Yamuna |
| Ghagra | Mapchachungo Glacier, Tibet | Ganga |
| Kosi | Saptakoshi, Nepal | Ganga |
| Betwa | Vindhya Range, Madhya Pradesh | Yamuna |
| Son | Amarkantak | Ganga |
| Brahmaputra | Mansarovar Lake, Tibet | Bay of Bengal |
| Narmada | Amarkantak | Gulf of Khambat |
| Tapti | Betul, Madhya Pradesh | Gulf of Khambat |
| Mahanadi | Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh | Bay of Bengal |
| Luni | Pushkar Valley, Rajasthan | Rann of Kutch |
| Ghaggar | Himalayas | Near Fatehabad |
| Sabarmati | Aravalli Range, Rajasthan | Gulf of Khambat |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal |
| Godavari | Brahmagiri Mountain, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal |
| Kaveri | Talakaveri, Karnataka | Bay of Bengal |
| Tungabhadra | Koodli, Karnataka | Krishna River |
Ganga River
The Ganga River, originating from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, is the longest and most sacred river in India. It flows through the northern plains, nourishing vast agricultural lands. The Ganga holds deep religious significance and supports millions of livelihoods. It finally empties into the Bay of Bengal, forming the world’s largest delta, the Sundarbans.
Satluj River
The Satluj River originates near Lake Rakshastal in Tibet and flows through the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab regions before entering Pakistan. It is a major tributary of the Indus River. The river is crucial for irrigation and hydroelectric projects in India, and its waters are also shared with Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Indus River
The Indus River originates near the Kailash Mountain in Tibet and flows through India and Pakistan, where it eventually discharges into the Arabian Sea. It is historically significant, having nurtured the Indus Valley Civilization. In India, the river passes through Jammu and Kashmir, providing water for agriculture in the region.
Ravi River
The Ravi River begins in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh and flows into the Chenab River. It is one of the five rivers that give Punjab its name. The Ravi is important for both irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. It flows through India and Pakistan, and its waters are shared under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Beas River
The Beas River starts from the Beas Kund in Himachal Pradesh and merges with the Satluj River. It flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, providing water for irrigation and supporting many towns and cities along its course. The river is also a key part of the Indus Basin and is linked to the history of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India.
Jhelum River
The Jhelum River rises from the Verinag Spring in the Pir Panjal Range in Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through the Kashmir Valley before merging with the Chenab River in Pakistan. The Jhelum is vital for agriculture and supports several hydroelectric power projects. It is also a lifeline for the people of the Kashmir region.
Yamuna River
The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas and is the largest tributary of the Ganga River. It flows through major cities like Delhi and Agra, playing a crucial role in the daily life and economy of North India. The river is heavily relied upon for agriculture, industry, and drinking water, despite facing pollution challenges.
Chambal River
The Chambal River originates from the Singar Chouri Peak in Madhya Pradesh and is a tributary of the Yamuna River. It is famous for its deep ravines and wildlife, particularly the critically endangered Gharial and the Chambal Sanctuary. The river plays a key role in irrigation and supports the agricultural lands of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ghagra River
The Ghagra River, known as the Karnali in Nepal, originates from the Mapchachungo Glacier in Tibet. It is one of the major tributaries of the Ganga River and plays a significant role in the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The river is known for its seasonal floods, which affect large areas of land, especially during the monsoon.
Kosi River
The Kosi River, also called the “Sorrow of Bihar,” originates in the Himalayas and flows through Nepal before joining the Ganga. Known for its changing course and devastating floods, the Kosi provides water for agriculture but also challenges flood control efforts. It forms the fertile plains of northern Bihar, supporting millions of farmers.
Betwa River
The Betwa River rises from the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh and flows into the Yamuna. It is a non-perennial river, heavily dependent on rainfall for its flow. The Betwa is essential for the Bundelkhand region, supporting irrigation projects like the Rajghat Dam and the Matatila Dam, vital for agriculture in a drought-prone area.
Son River
The Son River originates from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and is a major right-bank tributary of the Ganga. It flows through the central part of India, providing irrigation to the region. Known for its wide riverbed, the Son River plays a crucial role in farming and supports several dams and reservoirs, ensuring water supply to nearby states.
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra River originates near the Mansarovar Lake in Tibet and flows through China, India, and Bangladesh. It is one of the longest rivers in the world and plays a vital role in the northeastern states of India, especially Assam. The river is known for its powerful floods during the monsoon and its rich biodiversity, including the Kaziranga National Park.
Narmada River
The Narmada River rises from Amarkantak and flows westwards, unlike most Indian rivers, emptying into the Gulf of Khambat. It is considered sacred and supports hydroelectric projects like the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The Narmada is crucial for agriculture, providing water to the arid regions of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Tapti River
The Tapti River originates from the Betul district in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward, parallel to the Narmada, into the Gulf of Khambat. It is one of the few rivers in India flowing westwards and supports agriculture in the central parts of the country. The river is essential for the cities it passes, providing drinking water and irrigation.
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi River begins in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh and flows eastwards, finally discharging into the Bay of Bengal. Known for the Hirakud Dam, one of the longest dams in the world, the river is crucial for irrigation and power generation in eastern India. The Mahanadi forms a fertile delta, supporting rice cultivation.
Luni River
The Luni River originates from the Pushkar Valley in Rajasthan and flows into the Rann of Kutch. It is one of the few rivers in the Thar Desert region and provides water for irrigation in the arid areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Despite being a seasonal river, the Luni plays an essential role in the local agriculture and culture.
Ghaggar River
The Ghaggar River rises in the Himalayas and flows through the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, ending near Fatehabad. The Ghaggar is believed to follow the course of the ancient Saraswati River. It is primarily a seasonal river, fed by the monsoon rains, and supports agriculture in the areas it passes through.
Sabarmati River
The Sabarmati River originates in the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan and flows through Gujarat, eventually emptying into the Gulf of Khambat. It is historically significant as it flows past the Sabarmati Ashram, home to Mahatma Gandhi. The river is an important water source for Ahmedabad and is used for irrigation and drinking purposes.
Krishna River
The Krishna River originates from the Mahabaleshwar region of Maharashtra and is one of the longest rivers in peninsular India. It flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal and supports extensive agriculture in the Deccan Plateau. The river is the lifeline for the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
Godavari River
The Godavari River begins in the Brahmagiri Mountains in Maharashtra and is the second longest river in India after the Ganga. It flows eastward and discharges into the Bay of Bengal. Known as the “Dakshin Ganga,” the Godavari supports vast agricultural regions and is crucial for irrigation, power generation, and domestic use.
Kaveri River
The Kaveri River originates from Talakaveri in the Western Ghats, Karnataka, and flows into the Bay of Bengal. It is considered sacred in South India and supports extensive irrigation in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The river plays a key role in the cultivation of crops like rice, sugarcane, and cotton.Tungabhadra River
The Tungabhadra River forms at the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers in Karnataka. It is a tributary of the Krishna River and is important for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The river also holds historical significance, as the Vijayanagara Empire flourished along its banks.
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The Ganga is the longest river in India.
The Narmada River is often referred to as the ‘Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh.’
The Indus River originates from the Tibetan region near the Kailash Mountain.
The Indus and Narmada rivers flow into the Arabian Sea.
The Ganga River flows into the Bay of Bengal.
The Luni River originates from the Pushkar Valley.
The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga.
The Luni River flows into the Rann of Kutch.
The Brahmaputra originates near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet.
Both the Narmada and Son rivers originate from Amarkantak.
The Krishna River originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.
The Godavari River is the second longest in India.
Both the Narmada and Tapti rivers flow into the Gulf of Khambat.
The Brahmaputra is known for its annual flooding.
The main river of Rajasthan is the Luni River.
The Kaveri River is considered sacred in South India.
The Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier.
The Godavari River is also called the Dakshin Ganga.
The Sabarmati River flows through Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The Mahanadi originates from Sihawa, Chhattisgarh.
