Indian rivers are the veins of its landscapes, coursing through a diversity of geography and culture. These waterways hold more than just freshwater, they hold the essence of the nation’s history, spirituality, and livelihoods. From the grand Ganges, revered as a goddess, to the mystical Yamuna, each river has its own significance. Providing water for agriculture, transportation and daily needs, these rivers sustain life across the subcontinent.
These rivers can be broadly categorized into two types: Himalayan Rivers, which flow perennially, and Peninsular Rivers, which are fed by rainfall. An overwhelming majority, approximately 90%, of these rivers flow in an eastern direction, ultimately draining into the Bay of Bengal. The remaining 10% take a western course, emptying into the Arabian Sea.
Indian rivers are integral to one another. They comprise the lifeline of the country as because of them the land remains fertile and suitable for agriculture. The top ten longest rivers are often worshipped as goddesses by the people of India.
The Ganges River, also known as the Ganga, is the longest river in India. It stretches about 2,525 kilometers (1,569 miles) from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. This river is not only vital for its length but also holds great cultural and spiritual importance for millions of people.
The Ganges River begins at the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, India. It flows down through the mountains and eventually reaches the flat plains of North India. The glacier is located at a height of about 3,892 meters (12,770 feet).
The Ganges flows through several Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The map of the Ganges River helps to understand its journey and the regions it supports.
The Ganges River has several important tributaries that contribute to its flow:
The Ganga River is the longest river of India with the total length of 2525 kilometers, followed by Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna and Narmada. Check the names of top-10 longest rivers of India along with their length.
| River | Length in India (km) | Total Length (km) |
| Ganga | 2525 | 2525 |
| Godavari | 1464 | 1465 |
| Krishna | 1400 | 1400 |
| Yamuna | 1376 | 1376 |
| Narmada | 1312 | 1312 |
| Indus | 1114 | 3180 |
| Brahmaputra | 916 | 2900 |
| Mahanadi | 890 | 890 |
| Kaveri | 800 | 800 |
| Tapti | 724 | 724 |
India’s top 10 longest rivers carve unique stories across its geography. From the longest river Ganga to the smallest Tapi River, these waterways sustain life, culture and history. The details of Top-10 longest rivers in India are:
The Ganga River, spanning 2,525 km, is the longest river in India as it flows entirely through the mainland. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier. Its left bank tributaries include the Ramganga, Garra, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, and Mahananda, while its right bank tributaries are the Yamuna, Tamsa, Son, Punpun, Kiul, Karmanasa, and Chandan. The Ganga discharges its waters into the Bay of Bengal. The river passes through the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Godavari River with a length of 1464 km is the longest river in peninsular India. It originates from Nashik in Maharashtra. It begins from Triambakeshwar, Nasik in Maharashtraand traverses via Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, after which it finally meets with the Bay of Bengal. The left bank tributaries of the Godavari are Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, and Purna and the right bank tributaries are Nasardi, Darna, and Pravara. The river discharges itself into the Bay of Bengal.
River Krishna with a length of 1400 km originates from the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 1337 metres from the sea level about 64 km from the Arabian Sea. The left bank tributaries of the river are Bhima, Dindi Musi, Paleru, and Munneru and the right bank tributaries are Vienna, Koyna, and Panchganga. Krishna discharges its water into the Bay of Bengal. It serves as one of the prominent sources of irrigation for the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
River Yamuna with a length of 1376 km originates from the Yamunotri glacier at the Banderpoonch peak in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is the main tributary of the River Ganga. The left bank tributaries of Yamuna are Hindon, Sharda and the right bank tributaries are Chambal, Betwa and Ken. The major states through which the river flows are Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The source of the 1312 km-long River Narmada is the Amarkantak Peak in Madhya Pradesh. Left bank tributaries of Narmada are Burhner, Banjar, Sher and Karjan. The right bank tributaries are Hiran, Tendoni, and Choral. It discharges its water into the Arabian Sea. It is also known as the “Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat” for its huge contribution to the state of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Indus is the longest river in terms of the distance it covers i.e. 3180 km. However, its distance covered within India is only 1,114 kilometers. But a major portion of the river flows through present-day Pakistan. The source of the river is the Northern slopes of the Kailash range in Tibet near Manasarovar. Major Cities located on the banks of Indus are: Leh, and Skardu. The left bank tributaries of Indus are Zanskar, Suru, Soan, Jhelum, Chenab and Luni. The right bank tributaries are Shyok, Hunza, Gilgit, Gomal and Zhob. Indus drains its water into the Arabian Sea.
Brahmaputra River with a length of 2900 km originates from the Kailash Ranges of the Himalayas in Tibet. Its total length within India is only 916 kilometres. It enters India through Arunachal Pradesh. The left bank tributaries of the river are Dibang, Lohit, Dhansiri and the right bank tributaries are Kameng, Manas, Jaldhaka, Teesta and Subansiri.
The Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh as Jamuna and then joins Padma (the Ganges in India) before emptying itself into the Bay of Bengal. The Majuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and in 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. It had an area of 880 square kilometres at the beginning of the 20th century.
The 890 km-long Mahanadi River originates in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Its left bank tributaries are Mand, Ib, and Hasdeo and right bank tributaries are Ong and Parry. The Mahanadi discharges its water into the Bay of Bengal. Hence it was called ‘the distress of Odisha’. Anyway, the development of the Hirakud Damhas enormously modified the circumstance.
The 800 km-long Cauvery River originates from the Brahmagiri Range of the Western Ghats in the Coorg District of Karnataka. There is Harangi Reservoir on its left bank. The main right bank tributary is Lakshmana Tirtha. Cauvery discharges its water into the Grand Anicut (South). Before emptying into the Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu, the river breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India.”
The 724 km-long Tapi River originates from the Satpura Range. Its tributaries are Purna and Girna. It discharges its water into the Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea). It runs through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat and has six tributaries.
River Ganga with a length of 2525 km is the longest river of India as it flows entirely through the mainland. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier.
India is home to numerous rivers, but some of the major ones include the Ganga, Godavari, Krishna, Yamuna, Narmada, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Cauveri and Tapi.
The Narmada River is often referred to as the “Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat” due to its significant contributions to these states.
The Krishna River spans a length of about 1,400 km, originating from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
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