12 Major and Longest Rivers of India

12 Major and Longest Rivers of India

The importance of rivers in India is more than just a source of water. Hundreds of natural, wild rivers flow across the country. Some are considered a miracle of nature, worshiped and declared as deities. On the basis of origin rivers in India are divided into two parts.  Himalayan rivers and peninsular rivers. Below in this article find the 12 Major and Longest Rivers of India information.

Let’s take a look at the Major rivers of India.

Ganges River 

  • Length: 2,525km
  • Mouth: Ganges Delta
  • Source(s): Gangothri Glacier
  • Cities: Varanasi, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Patna, Kanpur, Ghazipur

Ganges or Ganga also known as one of the longest rivers in India is the third-largest river in the world. It is one of the most sacred and is worshiped as ‘Gangadevi’. The river has a special place in Hindu mythology.

It is worshiped by many and they refer to the river as a sacred one and address it as the ‘Divine Purification Goddess’ because it gives life to the millions of people who depend on it for their daily needs.

The river flows through the country and flows into the Bay of Bengal.

Brahmaputra River

  • Length : 2,900 km
  • Mouth: Ganges, Bay of Bengal
  • Source(s) : Himalayas
  • Cities: Tibet, India, Bangladesh

The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers of India. It is the ninth-largest in the world due to emissions. It originates from the Angsi glacier in the Himalayas in Tibet. The river in this region is named as Tsangpo River. It reaches Arunachal Pradesh in India, where the river is called the Dihang River.

Unlike other Indian rivers, the Brahmaputra has a male name. According to Hindu mythology, this river is considered to be the son of Brahma, hence the name. Of all the rivers in India, this river has the highest amount of water.

Indus River

  • Length : 3,810km
  • Mouth: Arabian Sea, Rann of Kutch, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
  • Source(s) : Gar River, Sênggê Zangbo, Tibetan Plateau,
  • Cities: ‎Leh‎, ‎Skardu‎, ‎Dasu‎, ‎Besham‎, ‎Thakot

The Indus River, also known as the ‘Indus River’ or the ‘Puranic River’, is one of the longest rivers in the world, measuring about 2000 miles. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in India. It originates from Lake Mansarovar in Tibet and flows into the Arabian Sea in Karachi, Pakistan.

It is the most important river in Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent. It is the longest river in Pakistan.

The word ‘India’ means the word ‘Indus’. The river played an important role in the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the largest ancient civilizations and has historical value.

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Yamuna River

  • Length :1,376 km
  • Mouth:  Triveni Sangam
  • Source(s) :Yamunotri, Champasar Glacier
  • Cities: Delhi, Agra, Prayagraj, Mathura, Yamuna Nagar, Noida, Etawah, Baghpat, Firozabad, Kalpi, Hamirpur

The Yamuna is a major river in northern India. This river is also known as Jamuna in some places. It is the second-largest tributary of the Ganges and the largest tributary of India.

It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. The river crosses three states, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

According to Hindu mythology, Yamuna is considered to be the sister of Yama, the god of death, and the daughter of the Sun God.

Narmada River

  • Length-1,312 km
  • Mouth: Arabian Sea, Gulf of Khambhat
  • Source(s) : Amarkantak
  • Cities : Jabalpur, Vadodara

Narmada is the largest west-flowing river on the peninsula. It is the largest in Gujarat and the fifth largest in the country. It is the central river of India after Krishna and Godavari formed a traditional boundary between North and South India.

Narmada is called the “Lifeline of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh” because these states enjoy in many ways from the river.

It forms the border between North and South India and flows towards the west.

Krishna River

  • Length : 1,400 km
  • Mouth: Hamsaladeevi, Bay of Bengal
  • Source(s): Mahabaleshwar
  • Cities: Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka

The Krishna River, also known as the Krishnaveni River, is the third-longest river in India. And the second-largest east-flowing river in the peninsular region. Its length is about 1400 km.

The river originates from the Western Ghats in the southeastern part of the country. It flows through Karnataka, Andhra, and Telangana. Its ultimate destination is the Bay of Bengal. The Tungabhadra River and the Bhima River are the major tributaries of the river.

This river is famous for its deep depth and rapid flow. It can be easily reached up to a depth of 23 m. During the rainy season, the area around the river becomes eroded.

Sutlej River

  • Length : 1,450 km
  • Mouth: Arabian Sea, Panjnad River
  • Source(s): Mount Kailash
  • Cities:  Amritsar

The Sutlej River, also known as the Satlej, is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus and its most eastern river.

It goes through the famous crossroads of the state of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. Most of the river flows through parts of Pakistan.

It is an important source of hydroelectric power because it flows rapidly. Several dams have been built on the river.

Sutlej is also famous for running at very high altitudes. This river is part of the Indus River System.

Godavari River

  • Length :1,465 km
  • Mouth: Bay of Bengal
  • Source(s) : Trimbak
  • Cities: Rajahmundry

Godavari is the second-longest course in India after Godavari. It develops in the state of Maharashtra. Its length is about 1465 km.

The Godavari is also known as ‘Dakshin Ganga’ or ‘South Ganga’ due to its long course.

The deltas of Krishna and Godavari are collectively known as the “Rice Grains of India”.

The river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. The river finally reaches the Bay of Bengal.

The river is of paramount importance in Hindu mythology and continues to nurture a rich cultural heritage.

Cauvery River

  • Length -805 km.
  • Mouth- Bay of Bengal
  • Source (s) -Tala Kaveri
  • Cities – Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Thala Kaveri, Srirangapatna

River Cauvery south of the Indian subcontinent. It originates from the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Kaveri is also known as the South Indian Ganges. According to Hindu mythology, it is considered sacred and sacred in South India and is the fourth largest after the Mahanadi and Godavari.

The delta of the Kaveri is considered one of the most prosperous. The Kaveri is not seasonal as it rains in both summer and winter compared to other rivers in the Deccan Plateau.

 Mahanadi River

  • Length -858 km.
  • Mouth-wrong point
  • Source (s) -Sihawa
  • Cities – Rajim, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Sonepur

The Mahanadi is one of the most famous rivers in East-Central India. It is a combination of several mountain streams. The river flows through the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. It flows through the cities of Cuttack, Bangui, and Sambalpur. The river is named after the Hiragut dam.

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Compared to any other river in the Indian subcontinent, the Mahanadi accumulates more soil. It forms a delta in Odisha before entering the Bay of Bengal. It also divides into several distributors. The main stream of the river enters the Fallspoint Sea of ​​Paradip in several small channels.

 Thapti River

  • Length -724 km.
  • Mouth- Gulf of Kombat, Arabian Sea
  • Source (s) -Sadupura range
  • Cities – Surat, Burhanpur, Pusawal, Betul, Nashik, Jalgaon

The Tapti River is located between the Narmada and Godavari rivers. It flows into the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Gambot and stretches for 724 km. It rises in the range of Satpura in Multai, a holy place. The river basin is mainly in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

The main tributary of the Thapti is the river Purna. It flows from the eastern Satpura range of southern Madhya Pradesh. This river has an important level of cultural and religious significance in the life of the Indian people.

 Sambal River

  • Length -965 km.
  • Mouth-Yamuna
  • Source (s) -Janapav
  • Cities- Kota

One of the major tributaries of the Yamuna. The river flows northeast through Madhya Pradesh and reaches the Yamuna in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is part of the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border. It rises in the old Vindhya range and flows in a northeasterly direction.

The famous river finds its place in the ancient scriptures. Nowadays the river is known as a wildlife sanctuary and is home to rare creatures and beautiful water bodies.

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