Indian Rivers & their Sources of Origin

Nov 2020|🟢Current|3 min read|26 entries

Key Takeaway

There are more than 400 rivers that are flowing throughout peninsular India that play an important role in sustaining life and shaping the culture of the country.Of the 400 rivers, the Government o...

Last verified: 12 Feb 2026·Source: www.pscarivukal.com

Indian Rivers & their Sources of Origin

There are more than 400 rivers that are flowing throughout peninsular India that play an important role in sustaining life and shaping the culture of the country.Of the 400 rivers, the Government of India has classified 12 rivers as the major rivers in India. They are  Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus, Narmada, Beas, Sutlej, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri & Tapti.The majority of India's river systems consist of east-flowing rivers, i.e. they flow from west to the east and empties into theBay of Bengal.But there arefive major river systemsthat arewest flowing, i.e. they flow from east to west, and finally drains out into theArabian Sea.

Basic Facts(20)

Study of Rivers
Potamology.No.of Westflowing Rivers in India –5
Largest River in India
Ganga(2525 km)
Longest River in India
Ganga
National River of India
Ganga
Longest Perennial River of India
Ganga
River with Largest Basin in India
Ganga(861452 sq. km.)
Second Longest River in India
Godavari(1465 km)
Largest River in South India
Godavari
Largest Peninsular River System
Godavari
Largest West Flowing River in India
Narmada(1312 km)
Deepest River Valley of India
Bhagirathi & Alaknanda
Fast Flowing River in India
Teesta
Widest River in India(Asia as well)
Brahmaputra(26 km)
Indian River without Delta
Tapti River
Indian State with least no. of rivers
Nagaland
Union Territory without any river
Chandigarh
First Privatized River in India
Sheonath
Most Polluted River(Open Sewer)in India
Yamuna
Indian River that crosses the Tropic of Cancer Twice
Mahi
First Non-human Entities("living entities")in India to be granted the same legal rights as people
Ganga & Yamuna(2017, by Uttarakhand)

Place of Origins of Important Rivers in India: List

River | Place of Origin ---------------------------------------- River: Bharatapuzha Place of Origin: Anaimalai Hills, Western Ghats(Tamil Nadu) --- River: Bhavani Place of Origin: Palghat Ranges(Kerala) --- River: Beas Place of Origin: Beas Kund, Rohtang Pass(Himachal Pradesh) --- River: Betwa Place of Origin: Vindhya Range(Madhya Pradesh) --- River: Brahmaputra Place of Origin: Chemayungdung Glacier(Tibet) --- River: Chaliyar Place of Origin: Elambaleri Hills, Western Ghats(Kerala) --- River: Chambal Place of Origin: Vindhya Range(Madhya Pradesh) --- River: Damodar Place of Origin: Chota Nagpur Plateau(Jharkhand) --- River: Ganga Place of Origin: Gangotri Glaciers(Uttarakhand) --- River: Godavari Place of Origin: Nasik(Maharashtra) --- River: Gomti Place of Origin: Gomat Taal(Uttar Pradesh) --- River: Indus Place of Origin: Mansarovar(Tibet) --- River: Kaveri Place of Origin: Brahmagiri Hills(Karnataka) --- River: Kosi Place of Origin: Himalayas(Nepal) --- River: Krishna Place of Origin: Mahabaleshwar(Maharashtra) --- River: Luni Place of Origin: Aravalli(Rajasthan Desert) --- River: Mahi Place of Origin: Minda Village(Rajasthan) --- River: Mahanadi Place of Origin: Sihawa, Raipur District(Chhatisgarh) --- River: Narmada Place of Origin: Amarkantak Hills(Madhya Pradesh) --- River: Pamba Place of Origin: Pulachimalai Hills(Kerala) --- River: Penna Place of Origin: Nadikonda(Kolar, Karnataka) --- River: Periyar Place of Origin: Sivagiri Hills, Western Ghats(Kerala) --- River: Ravi Place of Origin: Chamba District(Himachal Pradesh) --- River: Sabarmati Place of Origin: Udaipur, Aravalli Hills(Rajasthan) --- River: Sutlej Place of Origin: Lake Rakshastal(Tibet) --- River: Tapti Place of Origin: Multai(Madhya Pradesh) --- River: Yamuna Place of Origin: Yamunotri(Uttarakhand) ---

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Epithets of Indian RiversIndian Rivers & Major Cities: ListInter-states River Water Disputes of IndiaRivers of India: Complete DetailsPrevious Year PSC Questions on Rivers of India

📝SideNotes(6)

Study of Inland Waters(Lakes, ponds etc)
Limnology
Study of Former Lakes
Paleolimnology
Ganga also known as
Keertinasini in Bangladesh
Langchen Khambab in Tibet
Sutlej
First River in the world to be granted Human Status
Whanganui River(New Zealand)
Smallest Country in the World without a river
Vatican