Rivers in India are given religious importance. Rivers in India are considered to be holy and sacred. The famous rivers in India have a very important space in the heart of every Indian. Hindu Mythology considers these rivers in India as Gods. There are many festivals in India which can’t be celebrated without these famous rivers in India.
List of Rivers in India are:
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra is one of the major rivers in India and in Asia Continent. This trans-boundary river is called the Brahmaputra in India but is known by the name of Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet. The Brahmaputra conceived its name from Sanskrit word Brahma means god and Putra mean son. This rivers in India is considered as the son of god. The Brahmaputra is the biggest river in India. This river originates from Kailasa range of the Himalaya and flows down to its massive delta and the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra River is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit a tidal bore.
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Chenab River
Chenab is a river that originates from the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga Rivers of Himachal Pradesh. This rivers in India is considered as clean as the moon. The Chenab River is formed by the merger at Tandi which is located in the upper Himalayas in Lahul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh. Chenab also flows through some regions of Pakistan. Chenab after its origination moves to Jammu and from there it comes to Punjab where it meets Jhelum River.
Ganges River
The Ganges is a major river in the Indian subcontinent flowing east through the plains of northern India into Bangladesh. This river begins at the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, in the central Himalayas, and drains into the Bay of Bengal through its vast delta in the Sunderbans.
The river Ganges is a sacred river and the Hindus believe that if one takes a bath in this rivers in India, then all your sins will be forgiven and it helps in attaining salvation. Some of the most important Hindu festivals and religious congregations are celebrated on the banks of the river Ganges, such as the Kumbh Mela and the Chhat Puja.
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Godavari River
River Godavari is one of the seven sacred rivers in India. Godavari River flows through Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh and then it falls into the Bay of Bengal near Rajahmundry. This river is worshipped in south India just like the Ganges in the north. This river originates from western India at Trimbak in Nasik of the state of Maharashtra. Godavari River has Indravati River, Manjira River, Bindusara River, and Sabari River as her tributaries. This river after crossing through Andhra Pradesh turns towards south India. River Godavari is longest in the south India.
Jhelum River
The River Jhelum was called by the name Vitista in the ancient times and is mentioned in Rig Veda. The River Jhelum originates from a spring at Verinag, located at the foot of the Pir Panjal which is in the south-eastern part of the valley of Kashmir. This river goes to Srinagar after its origination and then after it proceeds towards Pakistan.
River Jhelum is a tributary of River Indus and is the largest of the five rivers of Punjab. It is said that Alexander the Great and his army crossed the Jhelum in 326 BC at the Battle of the Hydaspes River where he defeated the Indian king, Porus.
Kaveri River
Indian peninsula has five major rivers in India naming Mahanadi, Godavari, Narmada, and Krishna and Kaveri. The River Kaveri is the smallest of the five rivers of this Peninsula. Kaveri is the most sacred river of the south India. It is worshipped like the Ganges by the south Indians. This is the reason it is famous by the name of Dakshin Ganga or the Ganges of the south.
The River Kaveri flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri river is joined by two small rivers and it is then collected at Krishnaraj Sagar reservoir, on the bank of which the very beautiful Mysore – Brindavan garden are situated.
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Krishna River
Krishna is very clean and one of the longest rivers in India. Krishna River originates from Mahabaleswar in Maharashtra and goes into the mouth of Bay of Bengal. Krishna River flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. On the banks of River Krishna near Sangli of Maharashtra, there are two pilgrimages namely Audumber and Narsobawadi.
An interesting fact about this rivers in India is that it originates from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev (Lord Shiva) in Mahabaleshwar. The water of Krishna River is pure and it enriches the black soil near its bank.
Mahanadi River
Mahanadi is having its origin at Chattisgarh and it flows through the state of Orissa and finally ends up in the mouth of Bay of Bengal. Mahanadi is one the river that drains the substantial part of peninsular India.The largest dam in the world, the Hirakund dam is built on Mahanadi River. This river irrigates the fertile land of Mahanadi Valley where intensive cultivation of rice, oilseeds, sugarcane is done. The States of Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa shares the water of Mahanadi.
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Narmada River
River Narmada is the fifth largest rivers in India. River Narmada flows in the central India through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, and Maharashtra. This river forms a traditional boundary between North India and South India.This river is also called by the name of Shankari (Shiva’s daughter) since it is believed to have originated from the body of Lord Shiva. On the banks of this holy river, there are many pilgrimages like Maheshwar, Mahadeo, and Omkareshwar, named after Lord Shiva. The Narmada is considered as the peace giver.
Ravi River
Ravi is a river which flows through India and Pakistan. This trans-national river is one of the five sister rivers in Punjab which give the state its name. Having its source of origin in the Himalayas this rivers in India starts its journey from Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh. Ravi is having the historical importance since on its western bank in Pakistan the tombs of Jahangir and Noor Jahan are built in the Shahdara Bagh. Lahore city is on its eastern bank. The name Ravi is given since its water is pure and clean and shines like sunlight.
Saraswati River
Saraswati River has derived her name after the goddess of knowledge, Maa Saraswati. River Saraswati is said to be a mythical rivers in India since there is no signs of its origin. It is believed that this river flows under the two holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna. All these holy rivers in India meet at a point in Allahabad (known as Prayag in ancient times).
Satluj River
Satluj River is the longest of five rivers in India flowing through the state of Punjab in India. Satluj also forms historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. River Satluj has its source as Lake Rakshastal in Tibet near Mount Kailasa. Satluj is also called as the red river. The region to its south and east is called as Great Indian Desert or the Thar Desert.
Indus River
River Sindhu or Indus River is one of longest rivers in India. Indus/Sindhu is the longest river flowing through Pakistan. Due to its Trans-national character, it is also called as father of rivers in India. This river is also called as the life-line of Pakistan. Its origin takes place in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar. Indus or Sindhu River forms a delta at Sindh province of Pakistan which is called by the name of Sapta Sindhu (Seven Rivers). This delta is a result of the collaboration of Sindhu River with the other six rivers in India naming Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Ravi and Saraswati.
Tapi River
Tapti River is also known by the name of Tapi River. Tapti River is one of the three rivers in India which flow from east to west. This rivers in India rise from the Satpura range of southern Madhya Pradesh. Tapti goes from Madya Pradesh to Maharashtra and then to Gujrat and then finally ends up there in the Arabian Sea.
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Beas River
River Vyas is one of the five rivers in India that flow in the state of Punjab. River Vyas is also named as Beas. This river originates from Himalaya in central Himachal Pradesh. River Vyas after beginning its journey from Rohtang Pass at Himachal Pradesh and from there its flows to the western Punjab and then merges to Sutlej River.
Vyas River is named after the author of great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Shiva cut the Bhrigu Tung Mountain with his trishula to create a path which is now called as Rohtang pass. The interesting fact about this rivers in India is that it was marked as the eastern most border of Alexander the great conquest in 326 BC.
Yamuna River
River Yamuna is a holy Indian river that originates from Bundar Poonch glaciers, located in the Indian state Uttaranchal. Jamuna, as this river called by its Hindi name, begins its journey from Jamunotri in the north of Himalayan Ranges. The Yamuna rises near Jamunotri and then begin its journey through Mathura Vrindavan.
After its long journey, she moves to southern India and then meets the Ganges at a point called Prayag. The Yamuna according to Hindu Mythology is considered to be more sacred than the Ganges since Lord Krishna use to play near the Yamuna. River Yamuna has a rich flora and fauna around it and shelters various wild animals.
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