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The flow from land to sea: the Costal River System of India

• Introduction:  

The rivers that flow along the coastal plains of India and meet the sea directly or indirectly are called coastal rivers of India. These rivers mainly flow from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to Tamil Nadu. Compared to inland rivers, coastal rivers have rapid flow and shorter and smaller catchment areas. These rivers are fed by the monsoon, so they have seasonal flow. Due to steep gradients, coastal rivers flow rapidly and carry sediment load towards the sea. They play an important role in creating landscapes, deltas, and estuaries and supporting ecosystems. 

• The coastal  River systems of India:

The coastal rivers of India are divided in two parts according to their location. These include East coastal rivers and west coastal rivers. Here we will discuss about some major coastal rivers of India.

• East coastal rivers

The rivers originate from the central highland of India or the Eastern Ghats and meets the Bay of Bengal are classified as East coastal rivers. Some major East coastal rivers are:

1. Godavari:

• Source: It originates from Trimbakeshwar, in Maharashtra.
• End: It outfalls into the Bay of Bengal near Nashik in Maharashtra.
• Length: Estimated length is 1,465 km
• Significance: Godavari is also known as Dakshina Ganga. It supports a rich biodiversity in its delta.

2. Krishna:

• Origin: The source of Krishna is Talakaveri in Karnataka.
• Estuary: Bhalka, in Gujarat.
• Length: Krishna is about 1,400 km long.
• Important facts: It plays a significant role in supporting agriculture and hydropower projects.

3. Kaveri:

• Source: It rises from Talakaveri, in Kodagu of Karnataka.
• End: Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.
• Length: It is approximately 800 km long.
• Significance: Kaveri is called the lifeline of southern India for providing drinking water, agriculture, hydroelectricity and biodiversity.

4. Pennar:

• Origin: The source of Pennar is the Nandidurg Hills, in Chikkaballapura of Karnataka.
• Estuary: 15 km east of Nellore, at Uttukuru, of Andhra Pradesh.
• Length: It is 597 km long.
• Important facts: It supports small- scale irrigation projects and local agriculture in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

5. Mahanadi:

• Source: This River originates from the Sihawa Hills in Dhamtari of Chhattisgarh.
• End: Jagatsinghpur, Odisha.
• Length: It is 900 km long.
• Significance: Mahanadi River supports irrigation, agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, transportation and biodiversity.

6. Subarnarekha:

• Origin: It originates near Nagri village in Ranchi of Jharkhand.
• Estuary: Near Similipal village, in Mayurbhanj of Odisha.
• Length: Approx 395km.
• Important facts: It is an important source of drinking water, agriculture, irrigation and domestic use. It also supports in biodiversity and economic development.

7. Vamsadhara:

• Source: It rises from the border of Thamul Rampur in Kalahandi and Kaiyansinghpur in Rayagada, Odisha.
• End: The estuary of Vamsadhara River is located at Kalingapatnam, of Andhra Pradesh.
• Length: This River is around 254km long.
• Significance: The main river of north eastern Andhra Vamsadhara supports in agriculture, water dispute, irrigation, tourism, and ecosystem.

 

8. Palar:

• Origin: It is sourced in the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura of Karnataka.
• Estuary: Palar River ends in Bay of Bengal at Vayalur, in the south of Chennai.
• Length: This River has 348 km long course.
• Important facts: This River supplies water for drinking, agriculture, irrigation. The Bethamangal tank situated in Palar River is the primary water source for Bharat Earth Movers Limited and Kolar Gold Field. The rhombus-shaped basin is one of the major river basins.

 

9. Nagavali:

• Source: This River rises from a hill near Lakhbahal village in Thuamul Rampur of Kalahandi.
• End: Nagavali empties in Bay of Bengal near Kallepalli village, near Srikakulam of Andhra Pradesh.
• Length: It is around 257 km long.
• Significance: Nagavali River supports in water supply and agriculture of Vizianagaram, Odisha, and Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh.

 

10. Brahmani:

• Origin: This River originates near the Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border, near Netarhat Plateau.
• Estuary: The Brahmani River meets the Bay of Bengal combining with Mahanadi in Darma.
• Length: This River is about 799km long.
• Important facts:  The second widest river in Odisha, Brahmani has hydropower potential and supports in irrigation. It forms a large delta before falling into the Bay of Bengal.

 

• West coastal rivers of India

Rivers that flow through the western coastal region of India are classified as the west coastal rivers of India. These rivers basically flow from Western Ghat to Arabian Sea. This western coastal part of India is separated into three sections including Konkan Coast (the northern stretch), Karavali or Kanara Coast (the central stretch), and Malabar Coast (the southern stretch). Here we will discuss about the water course flows through those areas –

• Konkan Coast Rivers: The stretch that covers the coasts of Goa and Maharashtra is called Konkan coast and rivers flows through this coastal plain are called Konkan coastal rivers. The major rivers of Konkan coast are –

1. Vashishti:

• Origin: West part of Western Ghats, near Sahyadri range.
• Flow Path: It flows through Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra before falling into the Arabian Sea.
• Length: The River is around 80 km (50 mi).

 

2. Shastri:

• Source: It originates near a historical fort named Prachitgad, located in the Sahyadri Reserve Forest, in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• Course: This River flows through Sangameshwar and meets the Arabian Sea near the Jaigad Fort.
• Stretch: The length of this river is around 90 km (56 mi).

 

3. Patalganga:

• Origin: This River is sourced from the Khandala section of the Sahyadri scarp, Maharashtra.  
• Flow Path: After raising Patalganga flows toward west at Matheran to join the Dharamtar Creek.
• Length: Patalganga is about 40 km (25 mi) long.

 

4. Tansa:
   • Source: Tansa River rises from the Western Ghat.
   • Course: It flows along Thane and Palghar near Mumbai, Maharashtra and combined with the Vaitarana River before falling into the Arabian Sea near Datiwara Bay.
   • Stretch: This River stretches around 10 km (6 mi).

 

5. Kundalika:

• Origin: Kundalika is sourced near Bhamburda village in the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghat.
• Flow Path: From Western Ghat it flow south-west towards Patnus village. Then it turns north-west and merges with the Arabian Sea near Korlai village. 
• Length: Its water flows around 74 km (46mi).

 

6. Mandovi:

• Source: This River is sourced from a bunch of springs located at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats of Belgaum, Karnataka.
• Course: It flows through the Jamboti Ghats and Panaji before empting into the Arabian Sea in Goa.
• Stretch: From origin to estuary this rivers length is approx 62 km (39 mi).

 

7. Zuari:
   • Origin: The Zuari originates at Hemad Barshem, Western Ghats.
   • Flow Path: Zuari flows towards south-west through Tiswadi, Ponda, Mormugao, Salcete, Sanguem and Quepem and
   • Length: Its combined flow with Mandori and Cumbarjua is 92 km (57 mi) long.

 

8. Ulhas:
   • Source: It sourced from Ulhas valley near Udhewadi in the Sahyadri ranges.
   • Course: This River flows through Badlapur, Ambivli, Ambernath, Kalyan, Dombivli, and Ulhasnagar before falling into the Arabian Sea.
   • Stretch: Ulhas is around 122 km (76 mi) long.

 

9. Terekhol:

• Origin: Terekhol rises from the Manohargad in the Sahyadri, Western Ghats.
• Flow Path: From Western Ghat it flows in south-west direction and ends in the Arabian Sea.
• Length: The length of this river is about 28 km (17 mi).

 

10. Karli:
    • Source: The Karli is sourced in the Sahyadri mountain range in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
    • Course: It flows westward from Amboli hill and meets the Arabian Sea at Karli village near Malvan in Sindhudurg.
    • Stretch: This River is 50 km (31 mi) long.

 

11. Panchganga:

• Origin: It rises from the Sahyadri scarp’s Khandala Section in Maharashtra.
• Flow Path: From origin it flows northwest through Khopoli city before joining the Arabian Sea at the Dharamtar creek.
• Length: Patalganga is 40 km (25 mi) long.

 

• Kanara or Karavali coast rivers:

The stretch across Karnataka and some parts of Goa are called Kanara coast or Karavali coast. Some important rivers that flows through this coast are:

1. Kali :

• Origin: Near Kushavali, Uttara Kannada in Karnataka.
• End: Joins the Arabian Sea at Karwar.
• Length: 184 km (114 mi).

2. Gangavali or Bedti:

• Source: South of Dharwad in the Western Ghat.
• Stretch: 152 km (mi).

3. Sharavati:

• Origin: Ambutheertha in Thirthahalli Taluk, Shimoga of Karnataka.
• End: Meets Laccadive Sea at Honnavar, in Uttara Kannada of Karnataka.
• Length: 128 km (80 mi).

4. Aghanashini:

• Source: The Sirsi city at Shankara Honda of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka.
• Estuary: Aghanashini village, near Kumta, Karnataka.
• Stretch: 117 km (73 mi).

5. Netravati:

• Origin: At Bangrabalige in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru of Karnataka.
• End: Joins the Kumaradhara River at Upppinangadi.
• Length: 106 km (66 mi).

6. Chandragiri:

•  Source: The Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Western Ghats of Kodagu, Karnataka.
• Estuary: It empties in the Arabian Sea near Thalangara, of Kasaragod, Karnataka.
• Stretch: 105 km (65 mi).

7. Varahi:

• Origin: At Hebbagilu near Agumbe in Thirthahalli in the Western Ghats of Shivamogga, Karnataka.
• End: Before meeting the Arabian Sea near Kundapura in Udupi, Karnataka this river forms Panchagangavalli River by combining with Souparnika river, Kedaka river, Kubja river, and Chakra river.
• Length: 70 km (44 mi).

8. Seetha:

• Source: Near Narasimha Parvatha peak in the Western Ghats, Karnataka.
• Estuary: It falls into the Arabian Sea at Barakur.
• Malabar coast rivers:

The Malabar Coast is a long, narrow stretch along the Arabian Sea coastline in the southwestern part of India, mainly covering Kerala and parts of Karnataka. The rivers that flow through these coastal areas are:

1. Periyar:
   • Source: Near the border of Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats.
   • Estuary: In the North of Kochi it joins the Arabian Sea.
   • Stretch: 225 km (140 mi).

 

2. Bharathapzha (Nila):

• Origin: In Thirumoorthy dam, Karnataka.
• End: Ponnani in Kerala.
• Length: 209 km (130 mi).

 

3. Pamba:

• Source: In the Peerumedu plateau, Western Ghats.
• Estuary: Thottappally Spillway and Vembanad.
• Stretch: 176km (109 mi).

 

4. Achankovil:

• Origin: In the Devar Mala peak of the Western Ghats.
• End: Veeyapuram, Pathanamthitta.
• Length: 128 km (80 mi).

 

5. Meenachil:

• Source: The Western Ghats.
• Estuary: The Vembanad Lake.
• Stretch: 78km (48 mi)

6. Valapattanam:

• Origin: The Brahmagiri hills in the Western Ghats, Karnataka.
• End: It empties in the Arabian Sea at Azhikkal Port.
• Length: 110 km (68 mi)

7. Kadalundi:

• Source: The Silent Valley, in the Western Ghats, Kerala.
• Estuary: Kadalundi Nagaram in Vallikkunnu, Kerala.
• Stretch: 130 km (81 mi).

8. Chaliyar:

• Origin: The IIambaleri hills in the Nilgiri Mountains, Ooty.
• Length: 169 km (105 mi).

 

9. Kuppam:

• Source: The Padinalkad Ghat reserve forest in Coorgu, Karnataka.
• Estuary: It flows into the Lakshadweep Sea near Azhikkal after joining the Valapattanam River.
• Stretch: 82 km (51 mi).

 

10. Kabini:

• Origin: In the Wayanad of Kerala.
• End: At Triumakudalu Narasipura in Karnataka state of India Kabini meets the Kaveri River.
• Length: 240 km (149 mi).

 

• Conclusion:

Coastal plains are connected areas of land and water that are home to a variety of ecosystems. Coastal rivers that flow through these regions play an important role in the mangroves, estuaries, and marine biodiversity. These short and seasonal rivers fed primarily by rainwater also support agriculture and fisheries. The sediments carried by the coastal rivers help to form the coastal landscape, which is vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to climate change and changes in sea level.

 

• FAQs:

1. Why coastal rivers are short in Land?
Ans. Coastal rivers are short due to the presence of salt in them.

2. What is the largest coastal river of India?
Ans. The Krishna is the largest coastal river in India.

3. What is the smallest coastal river of India?
Ans. The Arvari River is considered as the smallest coastal river in India.

4. Which is the largest river basin in India?
Ans. The Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India.