Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Kaveri and more: Major Indian rivers; their origins and tributaries

India is abundantly blessed with natural resources. Supporting the fertile soils, vast expanses of forest and mineral deposits are the country’s many river systems and perennial streams. With more than 400 rivers flowing through the nation, India’s large waterways are mainly classified into four categories - Himalayan, Deccan, Coastal and Inland Drainage. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization groups Indian rivers into 20 units, comprising 14 major river systems and 99 smaller river basins.

The Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus are snow-fed Himalayan rivers. Meanwhile, the Deccan (peninsular) rivers include the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti. Then comes the Coastal rivers that are relatively shorter in length and mostly flow through the western parts of the country. Mostly found in regions like Ladakh and the Thar Desert, the Inland Drainage rivers don’t reach the sea.

Indian rivers are of great economical and ecological significance to the nation, contributing an estimated ₹3.5 lakh crores to the economy every year. These rivers provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry; generate hydropower; support agriculture through deposition of silt in deltas; as well as enable the water transport system. Formed millions of years ago, these rivers form the very foundation of India’s rich history and cultural heritage. Integral to human civilization, the riverbanks are also home to a number of ancient cities and settlements. 

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Here’s a look at some of India’s major rivers - their length, place of origin and tributaries:

Indus

Length: 2,900 kilometres 

Place of origin: a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region of the Kailash Mountain Range.

Tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Zanskar and Suru.

Brahmaputra

Length: 2,900 kilometres

Place of origin: the Chemayungdung Glacier near the Kailash Range in southwestern Tibet.

Tributaries: Dihing, Dangori, Disang, Dikhow, Jhanji, Dhansiri, Kolong, Kopili, Bharalu, Kulsi, Krishnai, Jia Bharali, Manas, Beki, Raidak, Subansiri, Jiadhal, Simen, Pagladia, Sankosh and Gadadhar. 

Ganga

Length: 2,510 kilometres

Place of origin: the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand. 

Tributaries: Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda, Yamuna, Son, Chambal and Damodar.

Godavari

Length: 1,450 kilometres

Place of origin: the Brahmagiri Hills near Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra’s Nashik district.

Tributaries: Purna, Pranahita, Indravati, Sabari, Pravara, Manjira, Maner, Kadam, Kinnerasani and Taliperu.  

Narmada

Length: 1,290 kilometres

Place of origin: the Narmada Kund reservoir at Amarkantak on the Maikala plateau in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district.

Tributaries: Burhner, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Chhota Tawa, Kaveri, Kundi, Goi, Karjan, Hiran, Tendoni, Barna, Kolar, Man, Uri, Hatni and Orsang.

Krishna

Length: 1,290 kilometres

Place of origin: a spring near Jor village in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

Tributaries: Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra, Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru and Munneru. 

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Barak

Length: 900 kilometres

Place of origin: the Manipur Hills, south of Mao in Manipur’s Senapati district.  

Tributaries: Jiri, Chiri, Modhura, Jatinga, Harang, Kalain, Gumra, Dhaleswari, Singla, Longai, Sonai, Katakhal, Irang, Tuivai, Rukni and Maduva. 

Mahanadi

Length: 890 kilometres

Place of origin: a pool near Farsiya village in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district. 

Tributaries: Seonath, Hasdeo, Mand, Ib, Ong and Jonk.

Kaveri

Length: 760 kilometres

Place of origin: Talakaveri, a spring on the Brahmagiri Hills in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. 

Tributaries: Amaravati, Arkavati, Bhavani, Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Lakshmana Tirtha, Shimsha and Noyyal.