Himalayan River System

Himalayan River System

• Three major river systems i.e. the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmputra comprise the Himalayan River System.
• The Himalayan Rivers existed before the upliftment of the Himalayan ranges.
• The gorges of Indus, Sutlej, Alaknanda, Gandak, Kosi, and Brahmaputra indicate that these rivers are older than the mountains.
• The Himalayan Rivers are an example of antecedent drainage.
• The Himalayan Rivers have played an active role in shaping the plains by depositing the eroded material.
• The Himalayan Rivers form depositional features like flat valleys, ox-bow lakes, flood plains, braided channels, and deltas near the river mouth upon entering the plains.

Indus River System

• This is one of the world’s largest river systems.
• The Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are the main rivers

1.The Indus-

• The Indus river originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Kailash Mountain range in Tibet and is known as 'Singi Khamban' or Lion's mouth.
• It enters Pakistan near Chilas in the Dardistan region and flows for 709 km in India, through Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Indus receives several Himalayan tributaries such as the Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting, and Dras.
• Important tributaries joining the right bank of the Indus include the Khurram, Tochi, Gomal, Viboa, and Sangar.
• The river emerges out of the hills near Attock where it receives the Kabul river on its right bank and flows southward, receiving 'Panjnad' a little above Mithankot.
• The five eastern tributaries of the Indus are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj.
• The total length of the river is 2880 km.
• The total drainage area in India is 3.2 lakh sq. km.
• It contains huge amount of water. Nearly 60 percent of its water is used by India in a year under the Indus water Treaty

2.The Jhelum-

• The Jhelum is a river in Kashmir that rises from a spring at Verinag, situated at the foot of the Pir Panjal in the southeastern part of the valley.
• The river has played a significant role in making the Kashmir valley prosperous and fertile.
• It passes through Srinagar and the Wular lake before entering Pakistan through a deep narrow gorge.
• The Jhelum finally meets the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan.
• This river is navigable in the state of Kashmir.

3.The Chenab-

• It is the largest of all the Indus tributaries.It is formed by two streams-Chandra and Bhaga.
• The Chandra and the Bhaga, which join at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh
• The united stream called the Chandrabhaga flows in the north-west direction and enters Jammu and Kashmir Near Kistwar it cuts a deep gorge.
• The river flows 1180 km. and its drainage spreads over 26755 sq. km.

4.The Ravi-

It rises west of the Rohtang pass in the Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh and flows through the Chamba valley of the state

• It joins The Chenab near Sarai sindhu
• It enters Punjab plain near Pathankot
• Upper Bari Doab Canal is taken out from this river at Madhopur
• It flows for 725 km. and drains 5957 sq. km. area in India.

5.The Beas

It originats from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass at an elevation of 4,000 m above the mean sea level.

• The river flows through the Kullu valley and forms gorges at Kati and Larji in the Dhaoladhar range.
• It enters the Punjab plains where it meets the Satluj near Harike.
• It is only 470 km. long. Its catchment area is 25900 sq. km

6.The Satluj

• The Satluj river originates in Tibet near Mansarovar at an altitude of 4,555 m and is known as Langchen Khambab.
• Before entering India, the Satluj flows parallel to the Indus for about 400 km and emerges from a gorge at Rupar.
• The river passes through the Himalayan ranges via the Shipki La and enters the Punjab plains.
• The Satluj is an antecedent river.
• The river feeds the canal system of the Bhakra Nangal project.
• It has its 1050 km flow in India. It drains on area of 25900 sq. km

Indo-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty

• The waters of the Indus system are shared by India and Pakistan according to the Indo-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty signed by the two countries in 1960.
• According to this Treaty, India can utilize the water of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi without any restriction, while the water of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab can be used by India with certain restrictions.

The Ganga River System

The Ganga is the most important river of India both from the point of view of its basin and cultural significance It supports 40 percent population of India.

1.The Ganga River-

• It is the view of geologists that the drainage of Ganga is antecedent. It means that it is older than the Himalayas.
• Main source - It rises in the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand  Here, it is known as the Bhagirathi
• It is formed by two head streams, namely the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi.

2.The Alaknanda

• It rises near Garhwal-Tibet border at an elevation of 7800 m. The Alaknanda has its source in the Satopanth glacier above Badrinath

Tributaries of Alaknanada

Pindar, Mandakini, Dhauliganga and Bishanganga, the Pindar pour their water into Alaknanda as the main tributaries

- The Pindar River rising from Nanda Devi and East Trisul (6803m) joins Alaknanda near Karan Prayag

- Mandakini or Kali Ganga – joins ganga near Rudraprayag

- Dhauliganga joins Ganga near Vishnuprayag

- The Pindar - joins Ganga at Karna Prayag

- Bishanganga – joins Ganga near Nandprayag.

3.The Bhagirathi

• It originates from Gangotri Glacier in Uttarkashi district. Both of these rivers meet at Dev Prayag and then afterwards is known as Ganga.
• Janhavi River, a river of Great Himalaya, joins Bhagirathi near Gangotri
• River Ganga is joined by Ramganga, Ghaghra, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Baghmati and Kosi on its left bank,
• While Yamuna, son, and Damodar join it on its right bank. Son and Damodar are the only peninsular rivers
• Near Rajmahal Hills it turns to the south-east and south of Farakka, it ceases to be known as Ganga.
• It is bifurcated here, and thus enters, into Bangladesh known there as Padma Meghna.
• In India it is bifurcated into Bhagirathi and Hooghly Rivers.
• Ganga delta is extended between Hooghly and Meghna Rivers. It is considered as the largest delta of the world.
• The total length of the river is 2515 km
• Hooghly is perhaps the most heavily navigated river of India, it acts as a link between Koklata and Haldia ports and the sea.
• Farraka Barrage ensures the flow of water for the navigation in these rivers

4.The Ramganga River-

• This river originates near Nainital of the eastern Garhwal
• It enters the Ganga plain near Kalagarh.
• It joins the Ganga at Kannauj after a flow in south -east direction
• It drains the districts of Bijnor, Almroha, Moradabad and Bareilly.
• The Khoh, the Gangan, the Aril, the Kosi and the Deoha (Gorra) are its important tributaries.

5.The Ghaghra or Karnali River-

• This river is called Karnali in hilly area and Ghaghra in the plains.
• It originates from Mopcha chungo glacier of Tibtean Plateau.
• It joins Ganga near Chhapra in Bihar.
• This river gets divided into many branches of which Koriyab and Garwa are important.
• It finally meets the Ganga at Chhapra.
• Its important tributaries are the Sarda, the Sarju or Saryu(rises in the Milam glacier in the Nepal Himalayas where it is known as the Goriganga) on the bank of which Ayodhya is located.
• Other tributaries – Tila, Seti and Beri, it comes out of the mountain, cutting a deep gorge at Shishapani

6.The Kali River-

• It originates from Milam glacier of north-east Kumaon. Here, it is known as Gauri Ganga.
• It is known as the Sarda after it reaches the plains near Pachmeshwar of Tanak pur.
• After flowing in south-easterly direction, it joins River Ghaghra near Barhampur.

7.The Rapti River-

• It originates in Nepal and then flows first towards south and then westward.
•  It joins river Ghaghra near Barhaj. Gorakhpur is an important urban centre.

8.The Gandak-

• The Gandak is made up of two streams: the Kaligandak and the Trishulganga.
• Its source is in the Nepal Himalayas, between the Dhaulagiri and Mount Everest, and it drains the central part of Nepal.
• The river is well-known for changing its course frequently.
• The Gandak flows into the Ganga plain in the Champaran district of Bihar before joining the Ganga at Sonpur, near Patna.

9.The Kosi River-

• It originates in East Nepal, and is an important tributary of River Ganga.
• Its main stream is Arun which rises to the north of Gosainthan.
• In plains, it forms a large alluvial fan and is braided in a number of streams.
• The Kosi joins the Ganga near Kursela.
• This river becomes sluggish in the plains where it deposits eroded material on a large scale.
• It has always been shifting of its course frequently and thus results in frequent devastating floods. Thus, the river is often termed as the ‘sorrow of Bihar’
• It forms Sapt Kosi after uniting with the river Arun

10.The Mahananda-

• It is another important tributary of the Ganga rising in the Darjiling hills.
• It joins the Ganga as its last left bank tributary in West Bengal

11.The Yamuna River

• The Yamuna River is a significant river in India and is the longest and the westernmost tributary of the Ganga. The source of the Yamuna River is located in the Yamunotri glacier, which is situated on the western slopes of the Banderpunch range.
• It joins the Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad)
• Right bank tributaries - It is joined by the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken on its right bank which originates from the Peninsular plateau
• Left bank tributaries - the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, the Varuna, etc.
• Yamuna receives the water of Rishiga nga, the Uma and Hanuman Ganga in the hilly region.
• Here, Tons is its main affluent. It rises from the Bandarpunch glacier. It joins Yamuna below Kalsi in Uttarakhand

12.Chambal River-

• The Chambal rises from Mhow from the hills of the Vindhyan Range.
• It takes a north-westerly course through Malwa Plateau.
• It takes turn to the east and runs nearly parallel to the Yamuna before joining it in Etawah district.
• It has given birth to numerous deep ravines in Chambal valley, which has given rise to badland topography.
• The total length of the river is 1050 km.
• Main tributaries - Kali Sindh, Parvati and Banas are its main tributaries.

13.Banas River-

• It is the main tributary of Chambal.
• It originates in the southern part of the Aravali Range
• It join the Chambal near Sawai Madhopur

14.Kali Sindh River-

• It originates from Nainvas of Tonk district in Rajasthan and joins Yamuna in the north of Jagmanpur.

15.Betwa River-

• It is also known as Vetravati River. It rises at an elevation of 470 m in the south west of Bhopal.
•  It joins Yamuna near Hamirpur after its flow through Bhopal, Gwalior, Jhansi, Auiraya and Jalaun districts.
• It has a number of falls in its upper course.
• The Dhasan is its an important tributary.

16.Ken River-

• It rises from Kaimur Mountain and then flows through Bundelkhand, and joins Yamuna near Chila.
• Sonar and Berma Rivers are main tributaries.

17.South Tons or Tamsa River-

• It has its origin from Tamshakund reservoir situated in Kaimur
• Belan is its tributary.It fall its water in River Ganga at a distance of Allahabad.

18.Son River-

• Son River springs from the Amarkantak plateau
• It joins Ganga about 16 km. upstream of Danapur in Patna district of Bihar.
• The important tributaries are Johila, Rihand, Kanhar, Gopet and the North koel.
• Almost all the tributaries join it on its right bank.
• A hydro-electric power project is developed on the Rihand in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

The Brahmaputra System

• The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world,
• origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar lake in southern Tibet it is known as the Tsangpo, which means ‘the purifier.’
• The Rango Tsangpo is the major right bank tributary of this river in Tibet.
• It enters India through Siang sub -division of Arunahal Pradesh, where it is called Dihang.
• It enters India west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It takes an acute turn near Namcha Barwa Mountain (7756 m) to enter in India.
• Here, it is joined by Dihang (or Sikang) in the north and Lohit from the south
• It carries a lot of sediments and there is excessive meandering. The deposition of loads in its river channel form many islands, and thus, river is known as braided river.
• In rainy season, it brings disastrous floods and thus, becomes a River of Sorrow. However, it is navigable for a distance of 1280 km. from the north to Dibrugarh, and serves as an excellent island water transport route.

In Assam

• It receives the water of a number of tributaries both from north and from the south.

Tributaries-

• Right bank - Tista Subansiri, Barali, Manas, North Dhansiri
• Left bank - is The Buri, Dibang and South Dhansiri.

The Subansiri which has its origin in Tibet, is an antecedent river

In Bangladesh

• The Brahmaputra river enters Bangladesh through Dhubri and continues to flow southward.
• Jamuna-Once the Tista river joins it on its right bank, it is then referred to as the Jamuna.
• Meghna - The Meghna is formed when the Padma and Meghna rivers merge, creating a wide estuary that eventually empties into the Bay of Bengal.