Major Popular Rivers of Nepal: It’s Features and Importance

The Himalayan nation of Nepal is popular for its majestic mountains, valleys, and river systems. In spite of being a relatively small nation, Nepal has several rivers that flow down from the Himalayas, the Mahabharat range, and the Chure hills.

The main river systems of Nepal include the Karnali, Koshi, and Gandaki Rivers, which flow out of or near the Himalayas into India. There are several other rivers such as the Bagmati, Rapti, Kankai, Tamur, Marshyangdi, and Mahakali that help in the formation of the drainage systems of Nepal.

Major Popular Rivers of Nepal

1. Karnali River

• One of the longest and most important rivers of Nepal is Karnali River. It originates from Tibetan Plateau near the region of Mount Kailash and after flowing through western Nepal, enters India and becomes known as Ghaghara.
• Shey Phoksundo National Park, Rara National Park and Bardia National Park are some of the prominent conservation areas in the Karnali basin.
• Karnali river has immense hydropower potential along with being an excellent choice for adventure tourism including white water rafting, fishing and angling activities. Bheri River, which originates from Dolpo region, is one of the major tributaries of Karnali.

2. Koshi River

• Koshi, also called Saptakoshi, is one of the major river systems of Nepal. The name Saptakoshi is derived from the drainage system of this river which consists of seven major tributaries.
• Some of the notable tributaries of Koshi system are Sun Koshi, Arun and Tamur rivers. The Sun Koshi river is very famous for white-water rafting, kayaking and camping.
• After flowing into India, the river is referred to as the “Sorrow of Bihar”.

3. Gandaki River

• The third major river system in Nepal is the Gandaki River which is also known as Narayani River. The drainage basin of this river is situated between the drainage basin of Karnali River in the west and Koshi River in the east.
• It is called Sapta-Gandaki due to the presence of seven main tributaries of this river system.
• One of its most significant tributaries is Kali Gandaki. This tributary crosses through the Himalayan range and carves out Kali Gandaki Gorge, which is one of the deepest river gorges of the world.
• Trishuli River is another significant tributary of the Gandaki River. It is easily accessible from Kathmandu and Pokhara and is a site of choice for white-water rafting.

4. Kankai River

• Kankai River, which is also called Mai Khola, is an important river of eastern Nepal. It is considered as a holy river and has many tourist spots along its length, including Domukha, Chuli, and Dhanuskoti.
• The Kankai Irrigation Project has also added to the agricultural development in Nepal’s Terai region.

5. Bagmati River

• Bagmati River is perhaps the most important river from a cultural standpoint in Nepal. It flows through the Kathmandu Valley and acts as the dividing line between Kathmandu and Patan cities.
• Some very important Hindu temples and religious places exist on its banks. Hence, it is considered to have a great deal of religious and cultural significance in Nepal.

6. Rapti River

• In Nepal, there exist both West Rapti and East Rapti Rivers.
• The former flows through certain portions of western Nepal, after which it enters India and joins the Ghaghara River. The latter flows through the Chitwan Valley and marks the northern boundary of the Chitwan National Park.

7. Tamur River

• The Tamur River originates in the eastern part of the Himalayas in the Kanchenjunga region. It is an important tributary of the Koshi river basin.
• It is famous among tourists seeking adventure through white-water rafting and other water sports.

8. Marshyangdi River

• Marshyangdi River starts from the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. This river runs through amazing mountains and is linked with the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek.
• Its difficult terrain, gorges, and rapid flow of water make it a perfect destination for adventure tourism and rafting.

9. Sharda or Mahakali River

• Sharda or Mahakali River runs through sections of the boundary between Nepal and India.
• This river has links with some important protected areas like Shuklaphanta National Park in Nepal and Dudhwa National Park in India. Its rapid flow makes it suitable for rafting and other adventure activities.

Rivers Classification in Nepal

The classification of rivers in Nepal is done on the basis of their size, source, amount of water available and geographical features.

First Class Rivers

• These are the major rivers originating from the Himalayas. The major rivers that come under this category include Karnali, Koshi and Gandaki. These rivers have a fair flow of water all year round and have immense power generation and irrigation capabilities.

Second Class Rivers

• They include rivers like Mechi, Tinau, Babai, Mohana and Trijuga.

Third Class Rivers

• These are rivers that originate from the Chure Hills. Some examples include Manusmara, Jamuni, Hardinath and Tilabe.