AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NOIDA

HERITAGE - RIVER KRISHNA

CLASS VI ,VII-VII HANDOUT

The Krishna River is one of the most important peninsular Rivers in India . On certain

occasions, the Krishna River is denoted as Krishnaveni. The river functions as a source of
irrigation water for Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.The river is named on the
name of the Lord Krishna

ORIGIN: Birthplace of Krishna River: Krishna Bai Temple Krishna River originates at
Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. It is believed that Krishna Bai Temple in the Old
Mahabaleshwar is the birth place of river Krishna.

 PHYSICAL FEATURES- Krishna and a few of his tributaries begin their journey in the
Western Ghats. The Panchaganga Temple is a 4,500 years-old temple where Krishna
river along with Venna, Koyna , Gayatri and Savitri rivers flow out of the mouth of cow
(goumukh). The Krishna river originates in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar at an
elevation of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft), in the state of Maharashtra in central India. The
Krishna river is around 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) in length (282 kilometres (175 mi) in
Maharashtra). It is the fourth largest river in terms of river inflow and river basin area in
India.The river flows through the state of Karnataka before entering Telangana state. The
delta of this river is one of the most fertile regions in India and was home to the
ancient Satavahana and Ikshvaku Sun Dynasty kings.Its Left Bank
Bhima ,Dindi ,Peddavagu, Musi,Paleru , Munneru ,The - Right Bank Venna ,Koyna ,
Panchganga , Dudhaganga , Ghataprabha , Malaprabha ,Ungabhadra
 FLORA & FAUNA-The widespread area near to the Krishna river holds the rich flora and fauna.
The last surviving Mangrove forests in the Krishna estuary have been declared as the Krishna
Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is the home to the large number of resident and migratory
birds. Fishing cat, otter, Estuarine crocodile, spotted deer, sambar, black buck, snake, lizards and
jackal can also be spotted in the sanctuary. The sanctuary also supports rich vegetation with
plants like Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Aegiceros. 
  WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES AND NATIONALWide spread area near to the Krishna river holds the
rich flora and fauna. The last surviving Mangrove forests in the Krishna estuary have been
declared as the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is the home to the large number
of resident and migratory birds. Fishing cats, otters, Estuarine crocodiles, spotted deer,
sambar deer, blackbucks, snakes, lizards and jackals can also be spotted in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary also supports rich vegetation with plants like Rhizophora, Avicennia, and
Aegiceros-Some of the wild sanctuaries are Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve,Rollapadu
Wildlife Sanctuary.Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary,Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary,Gudavi Bird
Sanctuary,Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
 TEMPLES: This river is revered by Hindus as sacred. The river is also believed to remove all
sins of people by taking a bath in this river.There are many pilgrimage centers on the banks
of the River Krishna including Mallikarjuna temple (Srisailam), Amareshwara Swamy temple
(Amaravati), Dattadeva temple, Sangameshwara Shiva temple, Ramling temple and Durga
Malleshwara temple (Vijyawada).
 MANGALAGIRI is one of the eight important Mahakshetrams (sacred places) in India.
It is also oldest Vaishnavite Temples in the entire South India, whose presiding deity is Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. This temple was built by the Zamindar Sri Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri
Naidu during the period 1807-1809.
 A-Rare Jyotir Linga & Shakti peetha in the same temple complex on Krishna's bank

B-Krishna Bai Temple C -Mangalgiri

A B C

 Krishna Bai Temple is an ancient Shiva shrine where a stream comes out of the mouth of a cow .
This stream further cascades to become the Krishna River. Krishna Bai Temple is near to
Panchaganga Temple in Mahabaleshwar. The rustic look of this age-old shrine looks more
beautiful during the monsoon.

 FAIRS & FESTIVALS- KRISHNA PUSHKARALU- In Hindu festivals worshiping rivers once in
twelve years along each river is called Pushkaram . We have 12 sacred rivers in India and all
these twelve rivers are associated with a zodiac sign. The river for each year’s festival is based
on which sign Jupiter is in at the time. For krishna river, this occassion lasts as long as Bruhaspati
remains in the Kanya zodiac sign.Pushkaram has been an age old practice in southern states
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

 KRISHNABAI UTSAV- The Krishna Mai/ Bai (meaning mother Krishna) river festival is celebrated
in Wai every year as the river has a long history intertwined with the development of the town
as well as the everyday lives of the people.Wai taluka has seven ghats on the Krishna's banks--
Gangapuri, Madhi Aali, Ganpati Aali, Dharmapuri, Brahmanshahi, Ramdoh Aali and Bhimkund
Aali.When warlord Afzal Khan set out from Wai to attempt to defeat  the great Maratha warrior
King Chattrapati Shivaji, Shendye Shastri of Wai prayed to the Krishna River for Shivaji Maharaj's
victory, sparking the Krishnabai festival. It is celebrated on each ghat for four to eight days.

 During the festival, an idol of the River goddess Krishna is carried around in a palanquin in a
procession complete with drums, lezim (a traditional group dance performed during
processions) and gulal (a red coloured powder thrown on the procession) through all the lanes
of each of the ghats where people, all dressed up and ready for the festivities, offer their prayers
to the river goddess.

 RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES-Kayaking,Jetski.Boating ,River CruiseSpecial rides like Zorbing are

some of the activities introduced in the Krishna river.

 MINERALS- Krishna river basin is endowed with rich mineral deposits such as oil & gas, coal,
iron, lime stone, dolomite gold, granite, laterite, uranium, diamonds, etc.

 CULTIVATION-Sugarcane has been one of the biggest consumers of water of Krishna Basin in
Maharashtra. All the three districts falling in Krishna basin of Maharashtra viz. Satara, Sangli and
Kolhapur are on the forefront of producing sugarcane. Kolhapur is the second highest sugarcane
producer district in the State accounting for 14.98% of the States production.