Longest And Major Rivers of India – Rivers hold a great significance in India rather than just being a source of water. India is a land of rivers and numerous rivers flow to and fro throughout the country. There are hundreds of wild, scenic rivers flowing throughout the country. Depending upon the source of their origin Rivers in India are classified as Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers.
Some Rivers are considered sacred by Hindus and some of them are even worshipped as Gods and Goddesses.
Let’s dive into the article to know about the longest and major rivers in India.
- Ganges River
- Indus River
- Brahmaputra River
- Yamuna River
- Narmada River
- Krishna River
- Sutlej River
- Godavari River
- Kaveri River
- Mahanadi River
- Tapti River
- Chambal River
Longest And Major Rivers of India
We tried mentioning the major rivers of India and their Origin. Have a glance at the list of Indian rivers and their Tributaries, Length, Cities in which they flow, etc. Get to know the significance of the Major and Important Rivers in India. Go through the Top 12 List of Indian Rivers by Length in Kilometers by going deep into the further sections.
Ganges River | Longest And Major Rivers of India
- Length: 2,525km
- Mouth: Ganges Delta
- Source(s): Gangothri Glacier
- Cities: Varanasi, Haridwar, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Patna, Kanpur, Ghazipur
The Ganges is known as Ganga is one of the longest rivers in the country and third-largest river on the globe. People consider it Sacred one and worship it as Goddess Ganga. It holds a great significance as per the Hindu Mythology. Many consider it as Goddess of Divine Purification and millions of people rely on it for their day to day needs. The river originates in Western Himalayas and flows through Gangetic Plain and then enters into the Bay of Bengal.
Indus River | Longest And Major Rivers of India
- Length – 3,810km
- Mouth – The Arabian Sea, Rann of Kutch, Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
- Source(s)- Gar River, Sênggê Zangbo, Tibetan Plateau,
- Cities- Leh, Skardu, Dasu, Besham, Thakot
Indus holds great significance both mythical and historically. It is the birthplace for Indus Valley Civilization and India got its name after it. Indus river is also known as Sindu or Puranik River. It is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world and has a length of 2000 miles around the world.
Indus Originates from the Tibetan Plateau of the Kailash Mountain and flows through Ladakh enters Pakistan. It is an important river both in Pakisthan and Indian Sub Continent.
Brahmaputra River
- Length – 2,900 km
- Mouth – The Ganges, Bay of Bengal
- Source(s)-Himalayas
- Cities – Tibet, India, Bangladesh
The Brahmaputra is the lifeline of Assam and one of the Major Rivers in India. It Originates from the Angsi Glacier and is the major transportation source in the state. The River Water is used for Irrigation and even has the greatest volume of water of all the rivers. Unlike other rivers, this has a male name and got the name of Son of Lord Brahma.
The river enters from Arunachal Pradesh and traverses multiple cities and states and leaves through Bangladesh and China.
Yamuna River
- Length – 1,376 km
- Mouth – Triveni Sangam
- Source(s) – Yamunotri, Champasar Glacier
- Cities- Delhi, Agra, Prayagraj, Mathura, Yamuna Nagar, Noida, Etawah, Baghpat, Firozabad, Kalpi, Hamirpur
The Yamuna is also known as Jamuna originates from the highest part of Lower Himalayas present in Uttarakhand. This is a major river in Northern India and also the longest tributary of River Ganges. It doesn’t fall directly into the sea.
As per Hindu Mythology, this River is the Sister of Lord Yama, God of Death and also the Daughter of the Sun God. It crosses three different states like Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
Narmada River
- Length- 1312 Km
- Mouth- The Arabian Sea, Gulf of Khambhat
- Source(s)-Amarkantak
- Cities- Jabalpur, Vadodara
The Narmada River is the largest west flowing river of Peninsular India. It is the lifeline of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and these states enjoy the benefits of the river in numerous ways. The Narmada is a central river in India after Krishna and Godavari and forms a boundary between North and South India.
It is one of the most Holy Rivers by Hindus and supports rich wildlife. The River eventually merges into the Arabian Sea and also the origin of several waterfalls.
Krishna River | Longest And Major Rivers of India
- Length – 1,400 km
- Mouth – Hamsaladeevi, Bay of Bengal
- Source(s) – Mahabaleshwar
- Cities – Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka
Krishna River also known as Krishnaveni River is the third-longest river in India. It is the second-largest east-flowing river of the Peninsular region. It is the major source of irrigation and for other water utilities in the Southern States of the Country. Krishna is known for its quick flow and intense depth.
River Originates from the Western Ghats lying in the Southern East Parts of the Country. It flows through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and finally enters the Bay of Bengal. Tungabhadra and Bhima River are the major tributaries of this River. Several Dams are Built across this river to provide drinking water, support irrigation, and also generate electricity.
Sutlej River
- Length – 1,450 km
- Mouth – Arabian Sea, Panjnad River
- Source(s) – Mount Kailash
- Cities – Amritsar
Sutlej River is also known as Satluj or Satadree. It is the longest river among the five tributaries of the Indus River. It travels through the crossroads area of Punjab in Pakistan and North India. The Majority of the River flows through the Pakisthan and also the source of Hydroelectric power and flows quickly. It enters Pakistan, joins Chenab and finally merges with Indus. Sutlej is famous for running at a higher altitude.
Godavari River
- Length – 1,465 km
- Mouth – Bay of Bengal
- Source(s) – Trimbak
- Cities – Rajahmundry
The Godavari is the second-longest river in India and forms the largest river basins in the world. It is considered sacred by Hindus, the second-largest mangrove formation in India. The Godavari is popularly known as Dakshin Ganga or Ganges of South, due to its long course. It Originates in the Western Ghats near Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra.
The River flows through Maharashtra, Andra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chattisgarh and finally joins the Bay of Bengal. River Godavari holds a great significance as per Hindu Mythology and nourishes the rich cultural heritage.
Kaveri River
- Length – 805km
- Mouth – Bay of Bengal
- Source(s) – Tala Kaveri
- Cities – Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tala Kaveri, Srirangapatna
Kaveri is the Southernmost Part in the Peninsular Region of India. It flows through the states Karnataka and Tamilnadu and drains off in the Bay of Bengal. Kaveri is considered sacred and holy in Southern India as per Hindu Mythology. Kaveri Delta is fertile compared to other rivers in Deccan Plateau. It isn’t seasonal and rains both in winter and summer.
It is the lifeline of Karnataka and Tamilnadu and provides water for drinking, irrigation, and other purposes.
Mahanadi River
- Length – 858km
- Mouth – False point
- Source(s) – Sihawa
- Cities – Rajim, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Sonepur
It is the famous rivers in East Central India and a combination of many mountain streams. The River flows through Odisha, Chattisgarh and the cities of Cuttack, Banki, and Sambalpur. Mahanadi deposits more silt compared to any other rivers in the Indian Subcontinent. World’s Largest Earthern Dam Hirakhud Dam is built across this river.
Mahanadi River flows through Chattisgarh, and then into Odisha, finally merges into the Bay of Bengal. The river’s mainstream enters the sea at Falsepoint, Paradeep as multiple small channels.
Tapti River
- Length – 724km
- Mouth – Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea
- Source(s) – Satpura Range
- Cities – Surat, Burhanpur, Bhusawal, Betul, Nashik, Jalgaon
Tapti River lies in between Godavari and Narmada Rivers. It is one amongst those three rivers that originate in Peninsular India from east to west. The River’s basin mainly ranges in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Tapti River drains off into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.
It supports rich wildlife especially in the Melghat Forest and is considered quite holy. Tapti has got huge cultural and religious importance in the lives of Indian people.
Chambal River | Longest And Major Rivers of India
- Length – 965 km
- Mouth – Yamuna
- Source(s) – Janapav
- Cities – Kota
River Chambal is the major tributary of the Yamuna River. The River flows through the northeast through Madhya Pradesh and reaches the Yamuna River in the Uttar Pradesh. It rises in Old Vindhya Range and flows towards the northeast region. Chambal is one of the cleanest and unpolluted rivers in India and supports rich wildlife. It is home to a variety of marine animals and home to rare species.
Chambal River is a wildlife sanctuary and is famous for the pristine water.
Final Words
We provided the list of longest and major rivers in India. They are not just a major resource for people but also holds huge religious and cultural significance. Rivers holds great importance not just to human life but also serves a great purpose to animals and trees as well.
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