Indian Rivers: Origin, Course and Tributaries

#

This guide covers India’s major river systems with their origin, important course details, and left-bank and right-bank tributaries. In geography, left bank and right bank are identified while facing downstream, in the direction of river flow.

---

Quick Classification

#

Type	Major Rivers	General Features
Himalayan rivers	Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra	Perennial, snow-fed and rain-fed, long courses, large basins, extensive alluvial plains.
Peninsular east-flowing rivers	Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Subarnarekha, Brahmani, Pennar	Mostly drain into the Bay of Bengal; form deltas; older, more stable courses.
Peninsular west-flowing rivers	Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati, Periyar, Sharavathi	Mostly drain into the Arabian Sea; shorter courses; many form estuaries.
Inland drainage rivers	Luni, Ghaggar-Hakra	Flow into inland basins or disappear in arid regions.

---

I. Indus River System

#

The Indus system drains the western Himalayas and is shared by India and Pakistan. In India, it flows mainly through Ladakh.

Indus

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Near Lake Manasarovar / Bokhar Chu region, Tibetan Plateau
Indian course	Ladakh; enters India near Demchok and flows past Leh
Mouth	Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan
Important Indian areas	Ladakh

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Zaskar, Suru, Soan
Right-bank tributaries	Shyok, Gilgit, Kabul, Kurram, Gomal

Five Major Tributaries of Indus

#

River	Origin	Important Course / Confluence
Jhelum	Verinag Spring, Kashmir	Flows through Wular Lake; joins Chenab in Pakistan.
Chenab	Formed by Chandra and Bhaga near Tandi, Himachal Pradesh	Largest Indus tributary by discharge; flows through J&K and Pakistan.
Ravi	Bara Bhangal region, Himachal Pradesh	Flows near Chamba; later enters Pakistan.
Beas	Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh	Entirely in India; joins Sutlej at Harike.
Sutlej	Rakas Lake region near Manasarovar, Tibet	Enters India at Shipki La; joins Chenab in Pakistan after receiving Beas.

---

II. Ganga River System

#

The Ganga system is India’s largest river basin. It supports the northern plains and receives major Himalayan and peninsular tributaries.

Ganga

#

Feature	Details
Headstream	Bhagirathi from Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
Main river begins at	Devprayag, after Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda
Mouth	Bay of Bengal through the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta
Important states	Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda
Right-bank tributaries	Yamuna, Tamsa, Son, Punpun

Important Headstreams of Ganga

#

River	Origin / Source	Joins At
Bhagirathi	Gangotri Glacier	Meets Alaknanda at Devprayag.
Alaknanda	Satopanth Glacier region	Meets Bhagirathi at Devprayag.
Dhauliganga	Niti Pass region	Joins Alaknanda at Vishnuprayag.
Nandakini	Nanda Devi region	Joins Alaknanda at Nandprayag.
Pindar	Pindari Glacier	Joins Alaknanda at Karnaprayag.
Mandakini	Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath	Joins Alaknanda at Rudraprayag.

Yamuna

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
Confluence	Joins Ganga at Prayagraj
Important cities	Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Prayagraj

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Hindon, Rind, Sengar, Varuna
Right-bank tributaries	Tons, Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken

Major Ganga Tributaries

#

River	Origin	Joins
Ramganga	Kumaon Himalayas, Uttarakhand	Ganga near Kannauj region.
Gomti	Gomat Tal / Fulhar Jheel, Uttar Pradesh	Ganga near Ghazipur.
Ghaghara / Karnali	Tibetan Himalayas near Mapchachungo Glacier	Ganga near Chhapra.
Gandak	Nepal Himalayas near Dhaulagiri region	Ganga near Patna.
Kosi	Nepal Himalayas; formed by several streams	Ganga near Kursela, Bihar.
Son	Amarkantak Plateau	Ganga near Patna region.
Damodar	Chota Nagpur Plateau	Hooghly system in West Bengal.

---

III. Brahmaputra River System

#

The Brahmaputra is called Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Siang / Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, and Jamuna in Bangladesh.

Brahmaputra

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Angsi / Chemayungdung Glacier region near Manasarovar, Tibet
Indian entry	Enters Arunachal Pradesh near Namcha Barwa as Siang / Dihang
Mouth	Bay of Bengal through the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta
Important states	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam

Bank	Major Tributaries in India
Left-bank tributaries	Dibang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri, Kolong
Right-bank tributaries	Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh, Teesta

Important Brahmaputra Tributaries

#

River	Region / Note
Dibang	Arunachal Pradesh; joins near Sadiya region.
Lohit	Eastern Arunachal Pradesh; important Himalayan tributary.
Subansiri	Major right-bank tributary; important for hydropower.
Kameng	Flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Manas	Originates in Bhutan; important transboundary river.
Teesta	Originates in Sikkim; joins Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.

---

IV. East-Flowing Peninsular Rivers

#

East-flowing peninsular rivers generally drain into the Bay of Bengal and often form deltas.

Subarnarekha

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Nagri / Piska region, Ranchi Plateau, Jharkhand
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Odisha-West Bengal coast
Important states	Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Kanchi, Karkari
Right-bank tributaries	Kharkai, Raru

Mahanadi

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Sihawa hills, Chhattisgarh
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Cuttack-Paradip region
Important states	Chhattisgarh, Odisha

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib
Right-bank tributaries	Jonk, Ong, Tel

Brahmani and Baitarani

#

River	Origin / Formation	Mouth
Brahmani	Formed by Sankh and South Koel near Rourkela	Bay of Bengal, Odisha deltaic region.
Baitarani	Gonasika / Guptaganga hills, Odisha	Bay of Bengal, Odisha deltaic region.

River	Major Tributaries
Brahmani	Sankh, South Koel, Karo
Baitarani	Salandi and smaller Odisha streams

Godavari

#

The Godavari is called the Dakshin Ganga because of its large basin and cultural importance.

Feature	Details
Origin	Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district, Maharashtra
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Antarvedi, Andhra Pradesh
Important states	Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Purna, Pranhita, Indravati, Sabari
Right-bank tributaries	Pravara, Manjira, Manair

Krishna

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Mahabaleshwar, Western Ghats, Maharashtra
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Hamsaladeevi, Andhra Pradesh
Important states	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Bhima, Musi, Munneru
Right-bank tributaries	Koyna, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra

Pennar

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Nandi Hills / Chennakesava hills region, Karnataka
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Important states	Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Jayamangali, Kunderu
Right-bank tributaries	Chitravathi, Papagni, Cheyyeru

Cauvery

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Talakaveri, Brahmagiri Hills, Karnataka
Mouth	Bay of Bengal near Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu
Important states	Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathi
Right-bank tributaries	Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati

---

V. West-Flowing Peninsular Rivers

#

West-flowing peninsular rivers generally drain into the Arabian Sea. Narmada and Tapi flow through rift valleys.

Narmada

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
Mouth	Arabian Sea through Gulf of Khambhat
Important states	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Burhner, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Tawa
Right-bank tributaries	Hiran, Orsang, Barna, Kolar

Tapi / Tapti

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Multai region, Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh
Mouth	Arabian Sea through Gulf of Khambhat near Surat
Important states	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Purna, Girna, Panjhra, Waghur, Bori
Right-bank tributaries	Aner, Gomai

Mahi

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Vindhyan region near Minda, Madhya Pradesh
Mouth	Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea
Important states	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Som, Anas
Right-bank tributaries	Panam

Sabarmati

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan
Mouth	Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea
Important states	Rajasthan, Gujarat

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Wakal, Hathmati, Vatrak
Right-bank tributaries	Sei

Important Short West-Flowing Rivers

#

River	Origin / Region	Mouth / Note
Periyar	Sivagiri Hills, Western Ghats	Arabian Sea; longest river of Kerala.
Bharathapuzha	Anaimalai Hills region	Arabian Sea; important Kerala river.
Sharavathi	Western Ghats, Karnataka	Arabian Sea; associated with Jog Falls.
Mandovi	Western Ghats	Arabian Sea in Goa.
Zuari	Western Ghats	Arabian Sea in Goa.

---

VI. Inland Drainage and Desert Rivers

#

Luni

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Naga Hills near Ajmer, Rajasthan
Course	Flows through Rajasthan into the Rann of Kachchh region
Nature	Saline in lower course; important inland drainage river

Bank	Major Tributaries
Left-bank tributaries	Sukri, Mithri, Bandi, Jawai
Right-bank tributaries	Jojari

Ghaggar-Hakra

#

Feature	Details
Origin	Shivalik Hills, Himachal Pradesh
Course	Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan; disappears in dry region
Nature	Seasonal inland drainage system

---

Must-Remember River Facts

#

Fact	River
Largest river basin in India	Ganga
Largest peninsular river basin	Godavari
Longest peninsular river	Godavari
Longest west-flowing peninsular river	Narmada
River flowing through a rift valley	Narmada and Tapi
River called Dakshin Ganga	Godavari
River associated with Jog Falls	Sharavathi
River forming the Sundarbans delta with Brahmaputra and Meghna	Ganga
River known as Sorrow of Bihar	Kosi
River known as Sorrow of Bengal	Damodar