Rivers of Himachal Pradesh
Chenab
 Ancient Name: Askini, Iskamati, Askesines
(Greek)
 Local Name: Chandrabhaga
 Power generation capacity: 3,500 MW
 Source: Chandra River from Bad-Shigri glacier
and Bhaga river from Ganstang glacier.
 It originates from the confluence of two rivers –
Chandra and Bhaga – at Tandi, Lahaul. The
Chandra River travels 115 km (71 mi) and the
Bhaga river transverses 60 km (30 mi) before
their junction at Tandi. It enters Pangi valley near
Bhujing and leave Chamba district at Sansari Nala
to enter Podder valley of Jammu. It joins Indus at
Mithankot in Pakistan and eventually flows into
the Arabian Sea. It has the highest water density
among rivers of Himachal Pradesh. Chenab, Ravi
and Beas can be seen from Dain Kund, Chamba.
It contains gold. It flows 122 km in Himachal
Pradesh.
 Tributaries of Chenab:
o Miyar Nala: It joins Chenab at Udaipur in Lahaul
& Spiti.
o Saichar Nala: It joins Chenab at Pangi in
Chamba.
o Tavi River: It joins Chenab at Jammu.
o Ravi River: It joins Chenab at Pakistan.
Beas
 Ancient Name: Arjikya/Vipasha
 Greek Name: Hyphasis
 Power Generation Capacity: 5,400 MW
 Origin: Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass (3,978 m)
 It enters Mandi at Bajaura. It enters Kangra near
Sandhol and leave it at Mirthal. It flows 265 km in
Himachal Pradesh. At Pandoh (Mandi) a tunnel
has been built to channel Beas’ water into Sutlej.
Beas flows Sutlej at Hari-ki-Pattan in Punjab. Sainj
and Tirthan rivers join Beas at Largi. It leaves
Kullu at Nagwain.
 Tributaries of Beas:
o Parvati: It rises from Mantalai lake and joins
Beas at Shamshi in Kullu.
o Sainj: It rises from the water divides of Beas and
Sutlej rivers in the Lower Himalayan Range. This
river joins Beas at Largi in Mandi district.
o Tirthan: It originates from southern slopes of
District Kullu. It joins Beas at Largi in Mandi
district.
o Uhl: It joins Beas near Mandi city.
o Tributaries of Beas in Kullu: Parvati, Spin,
Malana, Solang, Manalsu, Sujoin, Fozal, Sarvari,
Tosh and Patlikuhal.
o Tributaries of Beas in Mandi: Hansa, Tirthan,
Baikhali, Jiuni, Suketi, Pandi, Soan, Bathair,
Hansa and Sainj.
Ravi
 Vedic Name: Purushani/Iravaiti
 Greek Name: Hydraster
 Power generation capacity: 2,952 MW
 Total Length: 605 mi (974 km)
 Origin: Bara-Banghal, Kangra
 It flows nearly 130 km in Chamba before leaving
H.P. at Kheri. It’s a tributary of Chenab.
 Tributaries of Ravi:
o Bhadal: Bara-Banghal.
o Siul: It joins Ravi below Bharmour.
o Baira: Chamba.
o Taint Gari: Bharmour.
o Nai/Dhona: It rises from the Kali Devi Pass at
Triloknath.
o Siawa: It joins Ravi at Bissoli.
Sutlej
 Ancient Name: Shatudri
 Greek Name: Zaradros
 Tibetan Name: Lingquen Zangbo
 Power Generation Capacity: 10,565 MW
 Source: Rakshas Tal, China
 It enters Kinnaur from China through Shipki La
and after leaving it enters Shimla at Chauhar. It
enters Mandi through Firnu village and Bilaspur
through Dehar. It’s also known as ‘the brother of
Baspa river’. It touches Kullu at Nirmand.
 Tributaries of Sutlej:
o Spiti: It originates from the Kunzam range in
Lahaul-Spiti. It joins Sutlej at Namgia in Kinnaur
District. This river flows in Lahaul-Spiti as well as
Kinnaur. It covers 150 km before reaching
Namgia. Shongtong, Tegpo, Kabzian and Tsarab
rivers are its mains tributaries in the Spiti Valley.
o Ropa River: It rises from the range between
Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. It flows into Sutlej
near Shiashu in Kinnaur district.
o Baspa River: It rises from Baspa hills and forms
the Sangla (Baspa) valley. This river joins Sutlej
near Karcham (Kalpa).
o Nogli: This stream flows into Sutlej below
Rampur-Bushahr.
o Tributaries of Sutlej in Kinnaur: Pejur, Taiti,
Kaisang, Yula, Soldang, Tirung, Gyangthung,
 o Tributaries of Beas in Kangra: Binwa, Neogal,
Banganga, Dehar, Chhaki, Maan, kunah, Baner,
Majhi Luni, Gaaj, Awa and Khairan.
Yamuna
 Ancient Name: Kalindi or Triyama in Sanskrit and
Iomanes in Ancient Greek.
 Source: Yamunotri glacier, Uttarakhand
 Power Generation Capacity: 1,900 MW
 Yamuna enters H.P. at Khadar Majri in Sirmour. It
is the largest tributary of Ganges. It’s the eastern
most river of Himachal Pradesh. It leaves H.P. at
Tazewala and enters the state of Harayana. It
flows nearly 22 km in H.P. It merges with Ganges
at Allahabad, now called Prayag.
 Tributaries:
 Tons: It rises from Hark-ki-Doon. It flows into
Yamuna at Kalsi in Dehradoon valley.
 Giri: It rises from the Kupar peak in Shimla and
divides Sirmour into two parts. It flows into
Yamuna at Mokkampur.
 Pubber: It rises from Chandranahan Lake near
Chansal Peak in Rohru. It joins Tons River at the
base of Chakrata Massif near Himachal-
Uttarakhand border.
 Jalal: It rises from Dharthi range near Pachhad
and joins Yamuna at Dadahu in Sirmour.
 Markanda: It’s a small river of Nahan (Sirmour)
and rises from western slopes of Kiaradoon
(Paonta) valley.
 Bata: It originates belows the Nahan ridge as
Jalmusa-ka-Khala. It divides Kiaradoon valley into
two parts and joins Yamuna at a place called
Bata-Mandi.
Dooling, Khab, Bhaba, Rukti, Saichi, Muhali,
Nesang, Bura and Kairang.
o Tributaries in Mandi: Suin Bahlu, Behna,
Suman, Kotlu, Bantrehr, Khandel and Bhagmati.
Swan
 The ancient name of Swan River was Sombhadra.
Swan river flows in the Una district. Local people
call it the river of sorrows. It divides Una into two
parts. It has 73 tributaries.
 Tributaries: Malahat, Takewali, Hoom, Barera,
Garni, Goobri, Panoja, Sunkali and Ambwali.
Rig Vedic Rivers
 Sindhu – Indus
 Vitasta – Jhelum
 Askini – Chenab
 Ravi – Purushni
 Sutlej – Shutudri
 Gomal – Gomati (Pakistan)
 Ghaggar – Drishdvati
 Swat – Swastu (Pakistan)
 Helmand – Saraswati (Afghanistan)
 Swan - Sombhadra