Blog Details

• Introduction:

The rivers that originate from the hills and peninsular plateaus are called Peninsular Rivers of India. These rivers, mostly rise within the Western Ghats and end in the Bay of Bengal. These rivers play crucial roles for the human habitat and biodiversity of South and Central India. Peninsular rivers receive their water only from rainfall; that’s why these rivers water only flow is seasonal. The major basins of Peninsular India include Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, and Tapi.

• Peninsular Rivers of India:

1. Mahanadi River:

The Mahanadi is a major river in East Central India with a drainage area of approx. 132,100 sq km.

• Origin: The Mahanadi River originates in the hills near Farsiya village in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
• End: Combining with multiple rivers, Mahanadi enters the Bay of Bengal at Flash Point of Jagatsinghapur’s.
• Length: The Mahanadi River is around 851 km long.
• Tributaries: Mahanadi’s left bank tributaries are: Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, IB, and right bank tributaries are: Jonk, Ong, and Tel.
• Course: After originating from Dhamtari District, Mahanadi flows northward and flows through Chatties, then combined with the Jonk and Hasdeo before entering Odisha and finally meeting the Bay of Bengal.
• Important Facts: Mahanadi is the largest river in Odisha. The first major multipurpose river valley project after independence of India and the longest earthen dam of the world, the Hirakud Dam, is constructed across this river.

2. Godavari River:

India’s second longest river, Godavari, has the third largest basin in India.

• Origin: The Godavari river rises in the Trimbakeshwar of Nasik, Maharashtra.
• Estuary:  In Antarvedi, of Andhra Pradesh, the Godavari meets the Bay of Bengal.
• Length: The approximate length of Godavari is 1,465 km.
• Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wainganga, Wandra, Pranhita, Indravati, Sabri, and Maner are the major tributaries of Godavari.
• Flow Path: Originating from Nasik, Maharashtra, this river flows from western to eastern Ghat, then flows through the states of south-central India and finally falls into the Bay of Bengal.
• Important facts: The 3rd largest mangrove formation in India, The Coringa mangrove forests, are situated in the delta of Godavari. Except for this, the Krishna Godavari Basin (the main shelter of the olive Ridley sea turtle), the Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary, and the Nandurmadmeshwar Bird Sanctuary are located in the delta of Godavari.

3. Krishna River:

After Ganga and Godavari, Krishna is the third-longest, and in terms of water flow, it is the fourth largest river in India.

• Source: The Krishna River rises near Mahabaleshwar, in the Western Ghats. 
• Estuary: The estuary of the Krishna River is located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
• Length: The river is around 1,400 km long.
• Flow path:  After rising in the Western Ghats, the river turns east into Andhra Pradesh and flows southeast to south until it joins the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: The major tributaries of the Krishna River are Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra, and the Musi.
• Important facts: Krishna is third-largest in terms of discharge and fourth-largest drainage system of India regarding water reservoir capacity. Krishna is the lifeline of four major states of India, namely Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. It is also a holy river to Hindus.

4. Kaveri River:

The Kaveri River is one of the major rivers of India and flows through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

• Origin: The Kaveri River originates in the Western Ghats, at Talakaveri in the Coorg District of Karnataka in the Brahmagiri Range.
• Ends: The River joins the Bay of Bengal near Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu.
• Length: The Kaveri River’s length is around 805 km.
• Course: Originating in the hills of Western Ghats, it flows for approx. 805 km, covering Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry before joining the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: The major distributers of the Kaveri River include Arkavathy, Shimsha, Hemavati, Kapila, Lakshmana, Noyyal, Bhavani, Amaravati, Honnuhole, Kabini, Lokapavani, and Tirtha.
• Important Facts: Kaveri is known as Daksina Ganga. This river creates a large delta by breaking into a large number of subsidiaries, which is called the “garden of southern India.”

5. Narmada River:

The Narmada River, also known as the “Lifeline Gujarat of and Madhya Pradesh,” is one of the two predominant rivers of India that flow towards east from west. It’s also the fifth-longest river in India.

• Origin: The Amarkantak Plateau is the source of the Narmada River located in Anuppur district in Madhya Pradesh.

• End: Around 10 km north of Bharuch in Gujarat, the Gulf of Combay in the Arabian Sea is the estuary of Narmada.
• Length: The river is about 1,312 km. long.
• Tributaries: Halon, Dudhi, Barna, Kolar, Tawa, Banjar, Shakkar, Ganjal, Beda, Goi, and Orsang are the main tributaries.
• Flow path: It flows across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before falling into the Bay of Bengal.
• Important Facts: The Narmada River falls into a gorge after 8 km from its origin and creates the Kapildhara waterfall. Narmada Sagar Dam, Indira Sagar Dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam, Omkareshwar Dam, and Bargi Dam are constructed on this river. 

6. Tapi River:

A flow towards the south of the Narmada River, the Tapi River is one of the significant rivers of Central India.

• Source: The Tapi River rises near the Multai reserve forest in Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
• Estuary: Tapi joins the Arabian Sea into the Gulf of Combay in Gujarat.
• Length: This river’s course is around 724 km long.
• Tributaries: Its major rivers are including Gomti, Arunavati, Vaki, and Aner.
• Course: Raising near Multai of Madhya Pradesh, it flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before joining the Arabian Sea.
• Important Facts: The Tapi River plays an important role in transportation, navigation, and producing hydroelectricity. It is the second-largest interstate westward river system.

• Conclusion:

The peninsular rivers of India, such as Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, Cauvery, Mahanadi, and Tapi, are affected by rainfall, and their annual flow varies greatly. These rivers originate mainly from different parts of the Western Ghats and flow through parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu before joining the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Considered to be ancient rivers, these rivers flow over relatively flat land and form many waterfalls in the peninsular rivers due to the rugged terrain. These rivers support the social, cultural, economic, and environmental growth of the communities living in those riparian zones, so they are known as the lifelines of Central and South India.

• FAQs:

 

• What are the main sources of peninsular rivers?
• The Central Highlands and the Peninsular Plateau are the main sources of Peninsular Rivers.
• Which is the longest Peninsular River in India?
• The Godavari is considered the longest Peninsular River in India.
• Which is the second largest Peninsular River in India?
• The Krishna is the second largest Peninsular River in India.
• Which Peninsular River has the longest coastline?
• Gujarat has the longest coastline.
• Which is the oldest river in India?
• Narmada is known as the oldest river system in India.