Major Rivers in India

Indus River System

 Ancient name → Sindhu
 Origin → Bokharchu Glacier, Near Mansarovar
 In Tibet, Called Singi Khamban / Lion’s mouth
 Enters In India through Ladakh, flows only in J &K
 Enters Pak through hair pin bend of Nanga Parbat
 Finally Discharges in Arabian Sea
 Flows approx. ( 709 / 2880 ) Km in India

Indus  India uses 20 % of its water by Indo Pak water treaty of 1960

 Originates from Rimo Glacier

 Known as river of death
 flows through Ladakh in India

Shyok  A tributary of the Indus River

 Ancient name → Vitasta

 Origin → Verinag Spring (Kashmir)
 Tributary of Chenab, flows only in J &K
 Flows Northward to Wular Lake

Jhelum  Cut through gorge in Pir- Panjal range to reach Muzzafarabad (POK)

 Ancient name → Akshani / Iskmati

 Origin → Bara Lacha Pass (Himachal)
 Known as chandra-bhaga in Himachal
 Chandra River → Water flowing south from the pass
 Bhaga River → Water Flowing north from the pass
 Flows Northward & parallel to Pir –Panjal Range for some distance
Chenab
  Cut through gorge in Pir – Panjal & Turns southward
 Largest tributary of Indus, Flows through Himachal & J & K
 Famous Projects → Duhasti, Baglihar & Salal hydroelectric project

 Ancient name → Purushni

 Origin → Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass (Himachal)
 Tributary of Chenab
 Smallest of 5 rivers
 Flows through Indo – Pak boundary
 Flows northward b/w Pir – Panjal & Dhauladhar Ranges

Ravi  Cut a gorge through Dhauladhar range & flows southward

 Ancient name → Vipasha

 Origin → Beas kund near Rohtang Pass, Himachal
 Tributary of Satluj
 Only river flowing entirely in India
 Runs southward, Cut a deep gorge in Dhauladhar & turns west to meet Satluj near Harike (Punjab)
Beas  Famous Project → Pong Dam

 Ancient name → Shatadru

 Origin → Rakas lake, Tibet, near Mansarovar
 Enter Himachal at Shipki La Pass
 Collects water from Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum & Beas to join Indus near Mithalkot (Pak)
Sutluj  Famous Projects → Naptha Jhakri Project & Bhakra Nagal Dam with Govind Sagar Reservoir

Ganga River System

 Origin → As Bhagirathi from Gangotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)
 Alakananda unites with Bhagirathi at Devprayag, Uttarakhand → Henceforth known as Ganga
 Passing through Rishikesh, it debounches in plains of Haridwar
 From Haridwar, it flows Southward to reach Allahabad where it joins Yamuna
 Near Rajmahal Hills, it turns southeast & bifurcate at Farraka into Hoogly (Kolkata) & Padma (BD)
 At Bangladesh, Ganga merges with Brahmputra (Known as Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Goalundo Ghats
 Mixture is known as Padma River
 Then it merges with Meghna & finally falls in Bay of Bengal
 Meghna → Known as Barack river in India
 Major tributaries → Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Tons & Punpun
  Origin → Bharchachungar Glacier (Rakas lake) near Mansarovar
 Joins Ganga at Chhapra
 Known as Manchu or Karnali in Nepal
 Known as Saryu or Ghaghra in UP
 Perennial river

Ghaghara  Major tributaries → Sarda & Rakti

 Origin → Sino – Nepal Boundary (Dhaulagiri range)

 Known as Kalyani in Nepal
 Major River of Nepal

Gandak  Joins Ganga at Sonpur, Bihar

 Origin → Gosainath peak (Tibet)

 Merges with river Ganga at Bhagalpur (Bihar)
 Consists of 7 streams & known as Saptakoshi in Nepal
 Main stream → Arun, Tamur & Sun Koshi
 Formerly Known as Sorrow of Bihar
Kosi  Major Projects → Kusha Dam

 Origin → Amarkantak Plateau (Near north of origin of Narmada)

Son  Flows through Kaimur Range to meet Ganga at Patna

 Originates from Gomat Taal / Fulhaar jheel – Pilibhit

Gomti  A tributary of Ganga

 Origin → Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarkashi – Uttarakhand)

 Largest Tributary of Ganga
Yamuna
  After cutting deep gorge across Shivalik, it enters into plains near Tajewala
 Flows southward up to Agra & then turns southeast to meet Ganga at Allahabad
 Famous tributaries → Chambal, Sind, Betwa & Ken

 Major Tributaries → Tributary of Yamuna, rises from Vindhya range, MP

Betwa  Major Projects → Matatila dam & Rajghat dam

 Rises from Kaimur hills in Satna (Madhya Pradesh), a tributary of Yamuna

Ken  Famous for its Shajar stone & Raneh waterfalls

 Origin → Vindhya Range (Mhow, MP)

 Passes through Kota & Dhaulpur (Rajasthan)
 Merge with Yamuna at Etawah (UP)
 forms boundary between Rajasthan & MP
 Major tributaries → Kali Sindh, Parvati & Banas
Chambal  Main Power Projects → Gandhisagar, Rana Pratap Sagar & Jawahar Sagar

 Originate from eastern slopes of Aravali

Banas  Tributary of Chambal

 Origin → Eastern part of Chhota Nagpur Plateu

 Meets Hoogli at Falta
Damodar  Power Projects → Talaiya, Maithan, Barakar & Panchet

Brahmaputra River System

 Origin → Chemayungdung Glacier (Kailash Range, Tibet)
 In Tibet, known as TSANG – PO
 In China, known as YARLUNG ZANBO
 Forms grand canyon in Tibet
 Turns southward near Namcha – Barwa
 Enters Arunachal Pradesh as Dihang River at Sadiya, emerging from the mountains
 Joined by Dibang river from the north & Lohit river from the south → Known as Brahamputra
 Turns at Dhubri to enter into Bangladesh
 After joining Teesta, known as Jamuna in BD
 Joins Ganga & Megna → Merges to BOB
 Forms many river island of which Majuli is world 2nd largest one
 Major tributaries → Dihang, Lohit, Subansiri, Teesta, Meghna (Barack in Assam), Manas
  Major tributary of Brahmaputra
 Rises from Sikkim

Teesta  Known as lifeline of Sikkim

 Tributary of Brahmaputra
 Flows through Arunachal Pradesh

Lohit  Along with river Dihang merges into Brahmaputra, at Sadia town (Arunachal Pradesh)

Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing East to West

 Desertic river, also known as the Sagarmati
 Rises from the western slopes of the Aravalli Range near Ajmer
 Ends in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat
 Inspite of high salinity, it is a major river in region
Luni  Serves as a primary source of irrigation

 Rises from Dhebar lake in Aravalli Range of the Udaipur (Rajasthan)

Sabarmati  Flow Route: Udaipur → Gulf of Khambat → Arabian Sea via Estuary

 Rises from Vindhya range (MP)

 flows through MP, Rajasthan & Gujrat & drains in Gulf of Cambay

Mahi  Famous Projects → Banswara Dam & Kadana dam

  Origin → Amarkantak, Shahdol, MP
 Also known as Rewa River
 Flows through rift valley of Vindhya & Satpura
 Flow Route: MP → Bharuch (Gujrat) → Gulf of Khambat (Gujrat) → Arabian Sea via Estuary
 Longest among all east to west flowing rivers
 Known as Life line of MP
 Forms Duandhar falls at Jabalpur
 Only tributary → Hiran River
 Aliabet → Largest Island in Estuary

Narmada  Famous projects →Sardar Sarovar Dam, Maheshwar Dam, Indira Gandhi Sagar Dam

 Rises in the Satpura Range of Betul (MP)

Tawa  Narmada’s longest tributary

 Origin → Mahadev hills, Satpura range, Betul district, MP

 Flow Route: MP → Maharashtra → Gulf of Khambat or Cambay → Arabian Sea via Estuary
Tapi  Famous projects → Kakrapar Dam & Ukai Dam

 Rises from Western Ghats in Kerala

Periyar  Flows towards west & drains in Arabian Sea via an estuary

Peninsular Rivers India – Flowing West to East

 Origin → Dandakaranya Hills, Raipur
 Flow Route: Chhattisgarh → Orissa → EGs → BOB
Mahanadi  Famous Project : Hirakund Dam

 Origin → Triambakeshwar Plateau, Nashik, WGs

 Largest Peninsular River
 Known as Dakshina / Vriddha Ganga
Godavari  Flow Route: Nashik → Andhra Pradesh → BOB
  Famous Tributaries → Penganga, Sabri, Wardha & Indravati
 Famous Projects → Poochampad, Jayakwadi, Polavaram

 Rises from Ajanta hills (Maharashtra)

Penganga  a tributary of River Wardha which finally merges into Godavari

 Origin → Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, WGs

 Flow Route: Maharashtra → Andhra Pradesh → BOB
Krishna  Famous Projects → Koyna, Tugrabhdra, Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

 a major tributary of Krishna

Tungabhadra  Rises from Western Ghats

 Rises from Balaghat range (Maharashtra)

Bhima  Tributary of Krishna

 Origin → Brahamgiri hills, Karnataka, WGs

 Flow Route: Karnataka → Kaveripatnam (TN) →BOB
 Perrenial River
 Forms Shivasundaram Waterfalls
Kaveri  Famous projects → Krishnaraja sagar & Mettur

 Rises from Karnataka

 Flows b/w Krishna & Kaveri

Penner  Drains into BOB

 Rises from Palni hills (TN)

 A seasonal river flows through TN
Vaigai  Drains in Gulf of Mannar
 

Here we are giving a list of Dams and Reservoirs in India which is an important part of Indian
geography.

Zone State Dams and Reservoirs River

Baglihar Dam Chenab River

Chutak Hydroelectric
Suru River
Project
Jammu &
Dumkhar Hydroelectric
Kashmir Indus River
Dam

Salal Project Chenab River

Uri Hydroelectric Dam Jhelum River

Uttarakhand Tehri Dam Bhagirathi River

North India
Bhakra Nangal Dam Sutlej River

Chamera Dam Ravi River

Gobind Sagar, Reservoir Sutlej River

Himachal
Pradesh Maharana Pratap Sagar
Beas River
Reservoir

Nathpa Dam Sutlej River

Pandoh Dam Beas River

Uttarakhand Tehri Dam Bhagirathi River

Dantiwada Dam Sabarmati River

Dharoi Dam Banas River

West India Gujarat
Kadana dam Mahi River

Ukai Dam Tapti River

Bansagar Dam Son River

Bargi Dam Narmada River

Madhya
Central India
Pradesh
Barna Dam Barna River

Gandhi Sagar Dam Chambal River

 Indira Sagar Project Narmada River

Narmada Dam Project Narmada River

Rajghat Dam Betwa River

Tawa Reservoir Tawa River

Chandil Dam Subarnarekha River

Jharkhand Maithon Dam Barakar River

Panchet Dam Damodar River

East India Balimela Reservoir Sileru River

Hirakud Dam Mahanadi River

Odisha
Indravati Dam Indravati River

Jalaput Dam Machkund River

Bhandardara Dam Arthur Lake

Bhatsa Dam Bhatsa and Chorna rivers

Gangapur Dam Godavari river

Girna Dam Girna and Godavari River

Jaikwadi Dam Godavari River

Khadakwasla Dam Mutha River

Kolkewadi Dam Koyna River

Koyna Dam Koyna River

West-central
Maharashtra
India
Manair Dam Manair River

Mula Dam Mula River

Mulshi Dam Mula River

Panshet Dam Mutha River

Pawna Dam Pawna River

Radhanagari Dam Bhogawati River

Tansa Dam Tansa River

Ujani Dam Bhima River

 Vaitarna Dam Vaitarna River

Wilson Dam Pravara River

Yeldari Dam Purna River

Dindi Reservoir Krishna River

Dummaguden Dam Godavari

Gandipalem Reservoir Manneru River

Himayat Sagar Reservoir River Musi

Lower Manair Reservoir Manair River

Nagarjunasagar Krishna River

Nizam Sagar Dam Manjira River

Andhra Pradesh
Prakasam Barrage Krishna River

Ramagundam Dam Godavari

Shriram Sagar Reservoir Godavari River

Singur dam Manjira River

Somasila Dam Pennar River

South India
Srisailam Dam Krishna River

Tatipudi Reservoir Project Gosthani River

Alamatti Dam Krishna River

Basava Sagara Dam Krishna River

Ghataprabha Reservoir Ghataprabha River

Harangi Dam Cauvery River

Hemavathi Reservoir Hemavathi River

Karnataka
Kadra Dam Kalinadi River

Kodasalli Dam Kali River

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam Cauvery River

Linganamakki dam Sharavathi River

Manchanabele Dam Arkavathy

 Narayanpur Dam Krishna River

Supa Dam Kali River

Tungabhadra River and

Tunga Bhadra Dam
Krishna River

Aliyar Reservoir River Aliyar

Amaravathi Reservoir Amaravathi River

Bhavanisagar Reservoir Bhavani River

Chittar Reservoir Chittar River

Gundar Reservoir Berijam Lake

Kodaganar Reservoir Kodagananar River

Krishnagiri Dam Thenpennai River

Kullursandai Reservoir Arjuna Nadi

Manimukthanadhi
—
Reservoir

Manjalar Reservoir —

Mettur Dam Kaveri River

Tamil Nadu Pambar Reservoir Pambar River

Parambikulam Reservoir Parambikulam River

Pechiparai Reservoir River Kodayar

Periyar Reservoir Periyar River

Perunchani Dam Paralayar River

Sholayar Reservoir —

Shoolagiri Chinnar
Chinnar River
Reservoir

Stanley Reservoir Kaveri River

Thirumurthi Reservoir Parambikulam Aliyar River

Thunakadavu Reservoir Chalakudy River

Uppar Reservoir —

Vaigai Dam Vaigai River

 Varadamanadhi Reservoir —

Vattamalaikarai Odai
Odai River
Reservoir

Vembakottai Reservoir Vaippar River

Vidur Reservoir —

Willingdon Reservoir Periya Odai River

Banasura Sagar Dam Chalakudy River

Idukki Dam Periyar River

Kundala Dam Parambikulam River

Malampuzha Dam Malampuzha River

Kerala Mullaperiyar Dam Pennar River

Neyyar Dam Pennar River

Parambikulam Dam Parambikulam River

Peechi Dam Manali River

Walayar Dam Walayar River

National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Name Place Famous for

Great Himalayan National Park Himachal Pradesh Blue sheep, Snow leopard, Musk Deer

Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand Elephants, Tigers

Valley of flowers National Park Uttarakhand Snow Leopard, Flora

Corbett National Park Uttarakhand Tigers

Dudhwa tiger Reserve Uttar Pradesh Tigers

Sariska National Park Rajashthan Tigers

Keoladeo National Park or

(Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) Rajasthan Birds & Deers

Name Place Famous for

Ranthambore National Park Rajashthan Tigers

Manas National Park Assam Tigers, Elephants

Kaziranga National Park Assam One-Horned Rhinoceroses

Only floating park in the world, Famous for Sangai or

Keibul Lamjao National Park Manipur Dancing Deers
Sundarbans National Park West Bengal Tigers

Gorumara West Bengal

Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary Orissa -

Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh Tigers

Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh Tigers

Pench National Park Madhya Pradesh Tigers

Name Place Famous for

Dachigam National Park J&K Hangul/Kashmiri Stag

Nanda Devi National Park Uttarakhand -

Kanchenjunga National Park Sikkim Musk Deer, Snow Leopard

Mouling National Park Arunachal Pradesh Red Panda

Namdapha National Park Arunachal Pradesh Red Giant Flying Squirrel

Nameri National Park Assam Elephants

Balpakhram National Park Meghalaya Elephants, Golden cat

Desert National Park Rajasthan -

Marine National Park Gulf of Kutch -

Madhav National Park Madhya Pradesh -

Chandra Prabha National Park Uttar Pradesh -

Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary Rann of Kutchh Wild Ass

Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh Tiger

Betla National Park Jharkhand bison, elephant, tiger, leopard, axis-axis

Palamu National Park Jharkhand Tiger

Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary Jharkhand Elephants

Simlipal National Park Odisha Tiger

Melghat Tiger Reserve Maharashtra Tiger

Indravati National Park Chhattisgarh Tiger & wild Buffalo

NagarJuna National Park Andhra Pradesh Tiger

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Goa -

Banerghatta National Park Karnataka Tiger

Silent Valley National Park Kerala -

Name Place Famous for

Gir National Park Gujrat Asiatic Lions

Bandipur National Park Karnataka Tiger

Nagarhole National Park Karnataka Tigers & Elephants

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve Kerala Tiger

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala Tiger

Periyar National Park Kerala Tigers & Elephants

Mountain Passes in India

J&K

Aghil Pass Ladakh – China Karakoram

Burzil Pass Kashmir –Giligit Karakoram

Karakoram Pass Ladakh – China Karakoram

Jojila Pass Srinagar- Leh (J&K) Zaskar

Pensi La Ladhak Kashmir Gateway to Zaskar

Banihal Pass J&K Famous for Jawahar Tunnel

 Himachal Pradesh

Baralacha Pass Ladakh – Himachal Pradesh

Rohtang Pass Himachal Pradesh

Shipki La India-Tibet border

Uttarakhand

Mana Pass India-Tibet border (Also known as Dungri La)

Niti Pass India-Tibet border

Lipulekh Pass India-Tibet border

Sikkim
Nathu La Pass India – Tibet

Jelep La Pass India – Tibet

Arunachal Pradesh

Bomdila Pass India – Tibet

Bum La Pass India – Tibet

Tunga Pass India – Tibet

Dihang Pass India – Tibet

Assam

Diphu Pass Tri-point of the borders of India, China, and Burma

 Ghats in India

Goram Ghat Aravali range, Rajasthan

Asirgarh Pass Madhya Pradesh, connects Narmada & Tapi valleys, also known as Key to Deccan

Thal Ghat Maharashtra – Connects Mumbai to Kolkata via rail route

Bhor Ghat Maharashtra – Connects Mumbai to Chennai via rail route

Pal Ghat Kerala – Connects Chennai to Cochin via rail route

Mountain Ranges in India

 A sub range of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Range

 K2, the second highest peak in the world is located here
 Famous Glaciers : Siachen Glacier, Biafo Glacier
 Karakoram range span the borders between Pakistan, India and China

Karakoram  Located in the regions of Gilgit –Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and Xinjiang region
Range (China)
  Southeastern extension of the Karakoram Range
 From the mouth of the Shyok River in Ladakh to the border with Tibet
 Extension of the Ladakh Range into China is known as Kailash Range
Ladakh Range  Lies here India’s cold desert named as ‘ LEH

 Boundary line between Ladakh region of Kashmir & remaining two regions of the state
i.e. Jammu region and Vale of Kashmir
 Highest peak Kamet (UK)
 Lies here Coldest place in India, Dras (The Gateway to Ladakh)

Zaskar Range  Famous Passes : Shipki, Lipu Lekh (Lipulieke), and Mana Pass

 Separates Jammu Hills to the south from the Vale of Kashmir(Kashmir Valley), beyond which lie
the Great Himalayas
 Highest Point : Indrasan, 2nd Highest : Deo Tibba
 Has India’s longest rail tunnel known as Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, Banihal road tunnel
Pirpanjal Range  Famous Passes : Pir Panjal Pass, Banihal Pass, Rohtang pass

Dhauladhar
 Spread in J & K and Himachal, with home to major hill stations like Kullu, Manali & Shimla
Range (White
Range)  Highest peak : Hanuman ji Ka Tiba, or ‘White Mountain‘

 Southernmost & outer Himalayas also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times, literally means
‘tresses of Shiva’
 About 2,400 km long from Indus till Brahmaputra, with a gap of about 90 kilometres between
Shivalik Range the Teesta and Raidak rivers in Assam known as sub Himalayas.
  Means ‘line of peaks’, runs across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana & Delhi, known as Mewar hills
 Highest Peak : Gurushikhar, Mt abu
 Famous passes : Pipli Ghat, Haldi Ghat

Aravali Range  Locally known as Mewar hills

Maikal Range Eastern part of the Satpuras range (MP)

Kaimur Range Eastern portion of the Vindhya Range in MP, UP & Bihar, Parallel to river son

 forms the central part of the Satpura Range, located in MP

Mahadeo Range  Highest peak : Dhoopgarh

Ajanta Range Maharashtra, south of river Tapi, sheltering caves of world famous paintings of Gupta period

 In Jharkhand made up of lava basaltic rocks

Rajmahal Hills  Point of Ganges bifurcation

Garo Khasi Jaintia

Hills Continuous mountain range in Meghalaya

 a group of hills located to the south of the Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
Mikir Hills  a part of the Karbi Anglong Plateau
  Hills of Arunachal Pradesh , near the border with China, bordered by Mishmi and Miri Hills
Abor Hills  drained by Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra

 in Arunachal pradesh with its northern & eastern parts touching China
Mishmi Hills  Situated at the junction of Northeastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma ranges

 Also known as Purvanchal Range, consist of three major hills The Patkai-Bum, the Garo-
Khasi-Jaintia and Lushai Hills
Patkai Range  situated on India’s north-eastern border with Burma

Mizo Hills (Lushai

Hills) part of the Patkai range in Mizoram and partially in Tripura

 a complex, discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill ranges, highlands & plateaus running
through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Vindhya Range  Highest peak – Sadbhawna Shikhar

 a range of hills in central India

 Passes through Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
Satpura Range  Highest peak : Dhupgarh

 Located in Jamshedpur
Dalma Hills  famous for Dalma national park & minerals like iron ore & manganese

Girnar Hills Gujrat

Baba Budan Giri Karnataka

  At Pune, acts as a water divide bw Godavari & Krishna
Harishchandra  Hills made up of lava

Balaghat range Bw MP & Maharashtra, famous for manganese deposits

Chilpi series MP

Talcher series Odisha, rich in bituminous coal

Champion
series Karnataka, Dharawar period, rich in gold (contains kolar mines)

 Referred as Blue mountains, a range of mountains in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu at the
junction of Karnataka and Kerala
 Hills are separated from the Karnataka plateau to the north by the Moyar River and from
Nilgiri Hills the Anaimalai Hills & Palni Hills to the south by the Palghat Gap

 Eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges

Palani Hills  adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu

 Also known as Elephant Hill

Anamalai Hills  a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala with highest peak Anamudi

Cardmom Hills Part of the southern Western Ghats located in southeast Kerala and southwest Tamil Nadu

 also known as the Pachais

Pachamalai
Hills  Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu