Details about the important rivers of India, which are often asked in general knowledge and competitive exams:
1. Major River Systems in India
India has seven major river systems categorized into Himalayan and Peninsular rivers:
A. Himalayan Rivers (Perennial)
These rivers originate from the Himalayas and are snow-fed, ensuring year-round water flow.
- Ganga River
- Origin: Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand)
- Length: 2,525 km (Longest river in India)
- Tributaries: Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son
- Flows through: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal
- Empties into: Bay of Bengal
- Yamuna River
- Origin: Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand)
- Length: 1,376 km
- Tributaries: Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Hindon
- Important Cities: Delhi, Agra, Mathura
- Empties into: Ganga River (Prayagraj, UP)
- Brahmaputra River
- Origin: Tibet (as Yarlung Tsangpo)
- Length: 2,900 km (916 km in India)
- Flows through: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
- Empties into: Bay of Bengal
B. Peninsular Rivers (Seasonal)
These rivers originate from Western Ghats or Central Highlands and depend on rainfall.
- Godavari River (Dakshina Ganga)
- Origin: Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
- Length: 1,465 km (Longest Peninsular River)
- Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Indravati, Manjira, Sabari
- Flows through: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
- Empties into: Bay of Bengal
- Krishna River
- Origin: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
- Length: 1,400 km
- Tributaries: Bhima, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha
- Flows through: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
- Empties into: Bay of Bengal
- Narmada River
- Origin: Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
- Length: 1,312 km
- Flows through: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat
- Empties into: Arabian Sea (West-flowing)
- Kaveri River
- Origin: Tala Kaveri, Karnataka
- Length: 800 km
- Tributaries: Bhavani, Hemavati, Arkavathy
- Flows through: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- Empties into: Bay of Bengal
2. West-Flowing Rivers
Most Indian rivers flow eastward, but some flow into the Arabian Sea, including:
- Narmada River (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat)
- Tapi River (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat)
- Mahi River (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat)
- Sabarmati River (Rajasthan, Gujarat)
- Sharavati River (Karnataka, famous for Jog Falls)
3. Longest Rivers in India (by Length in India)
| River | Length (km) | Origin | Empties Into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | 2,525 | Gangotri Glacier | Bay of Bengal |
| Godavari | 1,465 | Trimbakeshwar, MH | Bay of Bengal |
| Krishna | 1,400 | Mahabaleshwar, MH | Bay of Bengal |
| Yamuna | 1,376 | Yamunotri Glacier | Ganga |
| Narmada | 1,312 | Amarkantak Plateau | Arabian Sea |
4. Important Dams on Indian Rivers
| Dam | River | State |
|---|---|---|
| Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha |
| Bhakra Nangal | Sutlej | Himachal Pradesh |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Krishna | Telangana |
5. Rivers and Their Cities
| City | River |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Yamuna |
| Varanasi | Ganga |
| Kolkata | Hooghly |
| Ahmedabad | Sabarmati |
| Patna | Ganga |
| Hyderabad | Musi |
| Chennai | Cooum, Adyar |
6. Important River Confluences (Sangams)
- Prayagraj (Allahabad, UP) – Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati (Triveni Sangam)
- Devprayag (Uttarakhand) – Bhagirathi and Alaknanda (Forms Ganga)
- Panchavati (Maharashtra) – Godavari and Pravara
7. Rivers with Religious and Cultural Significance
- Ganga River – Considered the holiest river in Hinduism.
- Yamuna River – Associated with Krishna in Mathura-Vrindavan.
- Saraswati River – Mythological river, believed to be underground.
- Kaveri River – Sacred in South India; called “Ganga of the South.”
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in Exams
- Which is the longest river in India? → Ganga (2,525 km)
- Which is the largest peninsular river? → Godavari (1,465 km)
- Which river is known as Dakshina Ganga? → Godavari
- Which river flows westward into the Arabian Sea? → Narmada, Tapi
- Where is the Triveni Sangam located? → Prayagraj (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati)
- Which river is called the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat? → Narmada
- Which is the longest west-flowing river? → Narmada (1,312 km)
Here’s a quiz on Important Rivers of India for practice.
Try to answer these multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and test your knowledge!
📝 Quiz: Important Rivers of India
1. Which is the longest river in India?
a) Brahmaputra
b) Ganga
c) Godavari
d) Krishna
2. The Yamuna River originates from which glacier?
a) Gangotri Glacier
b) Siachen Glacier
c) Yamunotri Glacier
d) Zemu Glacier
3. Which of the following rivers flows westward into the Arabian Sea?
a) Godavari
b) Krishna
c) Kaveri
d) Narmada
4. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers meet at which place?
a) Haridwar
b) Rishikesh
c) Prayagraj
d) Varanasi
5. The “Dakshina Ganga” is another name for which river?
a) Krishna
b) Godavari
c) Kaveri
d) Mahanadi
6. Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” due to frequent flooding?
a) Kosi
b) Gandak
c) Son
d) Brahmaputra
7. Which dam is built on the Sutlej River?
a) Tehri Dam
b) Bhakra Nangal Dam
c) Hirakud Dam
d) Sardar Sarovar Dam
8. The Krishna River flows through which of these states?
a) Maharashtra
b) Karnataka
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) All of the above
9. Which river originates from the Amarkantak Plateau?
a) Narmada
b) Tapi
c) Mahi
d) Chambal
10. The Brahmaputra River is known as _____ in Tibet.
a) Tsangpo
b) Meghna
c) Lohit
d) Manas
Answer Key:
- b) Ganga
- c) Yamunotri Glacier
- d) Narmada
- c) Prayagraj
- b) Godavari
- a) Kosi
- b) Bhakra Nangal Dam
- d) All of the above
- a) Narmada
- a) Tsangpo
- Important Rivers of India: A Complete Guide for Competitive Exams
- List of Major Rivers in India: Origin, Length, and Tributaries
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- Top 10 Most Important Rivers in India: Everything You Need to Know
- Indian Rivers and Their Significance: Geography, Dams & Cultural Importance
- Himalayan vs. Peninsular Rivers: Differences, Features, and Exam Notes
- West-Flowing and East-Flowing Rivers of India: A Detailed Comparison
- Rivers of India: Map, Facts, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Indian Rivers and Their Tributaries: Complete List for UPSC & SSC
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