Ganga, Indus & Brahmaputra – Himalayan Rivers

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Drainage Systems Based on Origin

Himalayan Rivers

• Those are Perennial rivers
• The Indus river, the Ganga river, the Brahmaputra river and their tributaries.

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Peninsular Rivers

• Those are Non–Perennial rivers
• Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Cauvery, the Narmada and the Tapi and their tributaries.

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Based on Orientation to the Sea

Bay of Bengal Drainage

• Rivers that drain into Bay of Bengal.
• They are East flowing rivers
• 77% of the drainage area of the country is oriented towards Bay of Bengal
• 90% of the water drains into the Bay of Bengal

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Arabian Sea Drainage

• Rivers that drain into Arabian sea
• They are West flowing rivers.
• 23% of the drainage area of the country is oriented towards Arabian sea
• Less than 10% of the water drained into the Arabian Sea

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Himalayan River Systems

• The Indus river, the Ganga river and the Brahmaputra river comprise the Himalayan river systems.
• Himalayan Rivers existed even before the formation of Himalayas (Antecedent Drainage)
• They were flowing into the Tethys Sea.
• Himalayan Rivers had their source in the now Tibetan region.
• The deep gorges of Indus rive, Satluj river, Brahmaputra river etc. indicate that these rivers are older than the Himalayas.
• They continued to flow throughout the building phase of the Himalayas
• Their banks rising steeply while the beds went lower and lower due to vertical erosion
• In upper reaches (Youthful stage) they form Gorges, V-shaped valleys, rapids, waterfalls, truncated spurs etc.
• In plain areas or middle part (Mature stage) they form depositional features like flat valleys, ox-bow lakes, flood plains, braided channels, and deltas near the river mouth.
• Over the plains, Himalayan Rivers display a strong meandering tendency and shift their courses frequently

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Evolution of the Himalayan River System

• A mighty river called Shiwalik or Indo-Brahma traversed the entire longitudinal extent of the Himalaya from Assam to Punjab and onwards to Sind
• It discharged into the Gulf of Sind near lower Punjab
• It was during the Miocene period some 5-24 million years ago.
• Evidences – The remarkable continuity of the Shiwalik and its lacustrine origin and alluvial deposits consisting of sands, silt, clay, boulders and conglomerates support this viewpoint.
• It is opined that in due course of time Indo–Brahma river was dismembered into three main drainage systems
  1. Indus river and its five tributaries in the western part;
  2. Ganga river and its Himalayan tributaries in the central part
  3. Stretch of the Brahmaputra river in Assam and its Himalayan tributaries in the eastern part.
• The dismemberment was probably due to the Pleistocene upheaval in the western Himalayas
• It includes the uplift of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge)
• Potwar Plateau acted as the water divide between the Indus river and Ganga river drainage systems.
• Malda gap is the area between the Rajmahal hills and Meghalaya plateau
• It diverted the Ganga river and the Brahmaputra river systems to flow towards the Bay of Bengal.
• During the mid-pleistocene period it came into excessed

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Indus River

• India got her name from the Indus river.
• Source – Lake Manasarovar (5180 m) of Kailas Range, Tibet
• Length is about 2,880 km
• Right Tributaries – Shyok, Hunza, Gilgit, Kabul, Kurram, Gomal
• Left Tributaries – Zanskar, Suru, Soan, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Panjnad
• Indus river is joined by the Dhar River near the Indo-China border.
• Indus is an antecedent river system.

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Right Bank Tributaries of Indus River

Shyok River

• It mean The River of Death
• Source –  Rimo Glacier
• Length – 550 km
• Shyok River joins Indus river at Keris, to the east of the town of Skardu
• Statue of Maitreya Buddha facing down the Shyok River
• Tributaries – Chang Chen Mo, Galwan, Nubra, Saltoro

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Hunza River

• Principal river of Gilgit–Baltistan region.

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Gilgit River

• Source –  Shandur Lake
• Gilgit river joins the Indus River at junction point of three mountains ranges near town of Juglot

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Kabul River

• Source – Hindu Kush,  Afghanistan
• Joins Indus river near Attock

Gomal River

• Source – Katawaz Region, Afghanistan

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Left Bank Tributaries of Indus River

Zanskar River

• Zanskar river joins the Indus river near “Nimmu” in Ladakh

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Suru River

• Source – Panzella glacier, Pensi La Kargil
• Join with the Indus River at Nurla
• Kargil town is situated on the banks of it
• A branch of the ancient Silk Road ran alongside the Suru River

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Jhelum River (Vitasta / Hydaspes)

• Source – Verinag Spring in the south-eastern part of the Kashmir Valley
• Jhelum river flows northwards into Wular Lake
• It forms steep-sided narrow gorge through Pir Panjal Range below Baramula.
• Jhelum river forms the India–Pakistan boundary for 170 km
• It joins the Chenab at Trimmu.
• Kishanganga, is a tributary of Jhelum river.

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Chenab River (Chandrabhaga River)

• Source – Bara Lacha Pass, Himachal Pradesh
• Chenab river formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga.

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Ravi River (Iravati )

• Source – Kullu hills near Rohtang Pass, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Ravi river debouches into the Chenab a little above Rangpur
• Ujh is a tributary of Ravi river

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Beas River (Vipasa)

• Source – Beas Kund, near Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh
• Beas river meets the Satluj river at Harike in Punjab.
• It lies entirely within the Indian territory
• Beas river marks the eastern-most border of Alexander the Great’s conquests

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Sutlej River (Shatadrum)

• Source – Manasarovar-Rakas Lakes in Tibet at a height of 4,570 m within 80 km of the source of the Indus river.
• Tibetan name Langqên Zangbo mean Elephant River
• Sutluj river forms the boundary between India and Pakistan for nearly 120 km.

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Panjnad River

• Jhelum and Ravi join Chenab, Beas joins Sutlej, and then Sutlej and Chenab join to form Panjnad 10 miles north of Uch Sharif in Muzaffar Garh district
• Length – 71 km
• Sources – Chenab River, Sutlej, Ravi River, Jhelum River, Beas River
• Panjnad river joins the Indus river a few kilometres above Mithankot.

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Indus Water Treaty

• Water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank.
• Signed in Karachi on Sept 19, 1960 by Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
• Eastern rivers of India – the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej given to India.
• Western rivers of India – the Indus river, the Chenab and the Jhelumgiven to Pakistan.
• India can use nearly 20% of the total water carried by the Indus river system.

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Ganga River

• Source – Gangotri glacier (7,010 m), Uttar Kashi District, Uttarakhand.
• Lenth is 2,525 km in India.
• Alaknanda River joins Bhagirathi river at Devaprayag.
• From Devapryag the river called as Ganga river.
• Ganga river enters the plains at Haridwar.
• Ganga river is one of the most polluted river of the world.
• Pollution threatens many fish species and amphibian species and the endangered Ganga river dolphin (Blind Dolphin).
• Near Rajmahal Hills it turns to the south-east.
• At Farraka, Ganga river bifurcates into Bhagirathi-Hugli in West Bengal and Padma-Meghna in Bangladesh
• Brahmaputra river joins Padma-Meghna in Bangladesh.
• Gangetic dolphin is the National Water Animal of India
• Left Tributaries – Alaknanda, Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda
• Right Tributaries – Yamuna river, Tamsa river, Son, Punpun

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Alaknanda River

• Source – Satopanth Glacier
• Several rivers in the Garhwal region merge with the Alaknanda river at places called Prayag or ‘holy confluence of rivers
  • Vishnuprayag – met by the Dhauliganga River
  • Nandaprayag – met by the Nandakini River
  • Karnaprayag – met by the Pindar River
  • Rudraprayag – met by the Mandakini or Kali ganga
  • Devprayag – meets the Bhagirathi River

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Yamuna River

• Largest and the most important tributary
• Source – Yamnotri glacier (6330 m) Bandarpunch Peak in the Garhwal region, Uttarakhand
• Length – 1,376 km
• Yamuna river unites with Ganga river near Triveni Sangam, Allahabad.
• Its main affluent in the upper reaches is the Tons which also rises from the Bandarpunch glacier.
• Tons river joins Yamuna river below Kalsi before the latter leaves the hills.
• Left bank tributaries – Hindon, Sharda, Giri, Rishiganga, Hanuman Ganga, Sasur Khaderi
• Right bank tributaries – Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sindh, Tons

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Important Tributaries of Yamuna River

Chambal River

• Source – Janapav Hills (700 m), Vindhyan Range, MP
• Chambal river flows through the Malwa Plateau.
• It joins Yamuna river in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Chambal river flows much below its banks due to severe gully erosion.
• Chambal Valley, giving rise to badland topography.
• Keoladeo National Park is supplied with water from Chambal river irrigation project.
• Left tributary – Banas, Mej
• Right tributary – Parbati, Kali Sindh, Shipra

Important Tributary of the Chambal River

Banas River

• Source – Aravalli Range
• Banas river joins the Chambal river on Rajasthan – Madhya Pradesh border near Sawai Madhopur.

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Shipra River

• Source – Kakri Bardi Hills
• Kumbh Mela takes place on Ujjain river-side ghats

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Tons River

• Source – Bandarpunch, Uttarakhand
• It joins Yamuna river at Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Length – 150 km

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Betwa River

• Source – Vindhyan Range, Bhopal, MP
• Betwa river joins Yamuna river in Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh
• Runs over the Malwa Plateau

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Ken River

• Source – Kaimur Range, Vindhya Range, MP
• Ken river joins in Yamuna river near Chila, UP

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Other Right Bank Tributaries of Ganga River

Son River

• Source –  Amarkantak Plateau.
• Son river joins Ganga river near Danapur in Patna, Bihar.
• Tributaries – Ghaghar, Johilla, Gopad, Rihand, Kanhar and North Koel.

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Damodar river

• Sourcr – Chotanagpur plateau
• Flows through a rift valley.
• Tributaries –  Barakar, Konar, Bokaro, Haharo etc.
• Barakar is the most important tributary of the Damodar.
• Damodar valley is called “the Ruhr of India”.
• It called ‘Sorrow of Bengal’
• It joins the Hugli River 48 km below Kolkata.

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Left Bank Tributaries of The Ganga River

• These rivers originate in the Himalayas.

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Ramganga River

• Source – Namik Glacier, Garhwal, Uttarakhand
• It enters the Ganga Plain near Kalagarh.
• It joins the Ganga river at
• Ganga Dassahra is organised on its banks near Bareilly.

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Ghaghra River

• Source – Mapchachungo Glacier, Manasarovar, Tibet
• Ghaghra river is a trans-Himalayan river.
• It known as the Karnaili river in Western Nepal.
• Tributaries – Kai or Sarda, Sarju (Ayodhya is located on its bank), Rapti
• Ghaghra river joins the Ganga river a few km downstream of Chhapra in Bihar.
• It has a high flood frequency and has shifted its course several times.

Important Tributary of Ghaghara River

Kali River

• It rises in the high glaciers of trans-Himalaya.
• Kali river forms the boundary between Nepal and India.
• It known as the Sarda river after it reaches the plains near Tanakpur.
• Kali river joins Ghaghra River in Uttar Pradesh

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Gandak River

• Source – Nhubine Himal Glacier, Tibet (7,620 m)
• Tributaries – Kali Gandak, Mayangadi, Bari and Trishuli.
• Gandak river joins Ganga river at Hajipur in Bihar.

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Burhi Gandak River

• Source – Chautarwa Chaur, Bihar
• It joins the Ganga river near Khararia town.

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Kosi River

• The Kosi river consists of seven streams namely Sut Kosi, Tamba Kosi, Talkha, Doodh Kosi, Botia Kosi, Arun and Tamber and is popularly known as Saptakoshi
• Seven streams mingle with each other to form three streams named the Tumar, Arun and Sun Kosi.
• They unite at Triveni north of the Mahabharata Range to form the Kosi river.
• Kosi river joins the Ganga river near Kursela, Bihar
• It is often termed as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ for frequent flood.
• Embankments for flood control have been constructed as a joint venture of India and Nepal.

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Ganga River Water Treaty

• A temporary water-sharing agreement was signed in 1977 for 5 years.
• The agreement expired in 1982 without being renewed.
• Ganga water sharing had remained a subject of conflict for almost 35 years between India and Bangladesh.
• A comprehensive treaty was signed for a 30-years on 12 Dec 1996.

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Brahmaputra River

• Source – Chemayungdung glacier, Kailas Range (5,150 m)
• length – 2,900 km
• Left Tributaries – Dibang River, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River
• Right tributaries – Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River (antecedent river)
• Source of Brahmaputra river is very close to the sources of Indus river and Satluj river.
• Mariam La separates the source of the Brahmaputra river from the Manasarovar Lake.
• Name of Brahmaputra river is Tsangpo in Tibet
• Brahmaputra river takes a south ward turn around Namcha Barwa and enter in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Here it first flows under the name of Siong and then as the Dihang.
• Brahmaputra river is joined by two tributaries Dibang from the north and Lohit river from the south.
• From Sadiya (Assam Valley) onwards, it is known as Brahmaputra river.
• The Brahmaputra river is nearly 16 km wide at Dibrugarh and forms many islands, the most important of which is Majuli
• Brahmaputra river bends southwards and enters Bangladesh near Dhubri.
• Its called Jamuna river in Bangladesh.
• The united stream of the Jamuna river and Ganga river flows further in the name of Padma river.
• Padma river is joined on the left bank by the Meghna river.
• Confluence of Padma river and Meghna river, the combined river is known as the Meghna river.
• Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Namcha Barwa is regarded by some as the deepest canyon in the world at (5,500 m).
• Other people consider the Kali-Gandaki Gorge in Nepal to be the deepest canyon, with a 6400 m

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Important Tributaries of Brahmaputra River

Lohit River ( Zayü River)

• Source –  Kangri Garpo range, Tibet
• Lohit river joins the Siang (Brahmaputra river) at the head of the Brahmaputra valley
• Longest bridge of India Dhola–Sadiya Bridge (Bhupen Hazarika Setu) 9.15 km constructed on Lohit river.

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Subansiri River

• Source – Himalayas, in China
• Largest tributary of the Brahmaputra river.
• Subansiri river joins the Brahmaputra river in Lakhimpur district and Majuli island created on the mouth of it

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Manas River

• Manas river joins Brahmaputra river at Jogighopa, Assam.
• It is the largest river system of Bhutan.

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Teesta River

• Source –  Zemu Glacier, Kangchenjunga, Sikkim
• Tista river was a tributary of the Ganga river befor 1787.
• After a flood it diverted its course eastwards to join the Brahmaputra river.

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