Peninsular Rivers

• The main water divide in Peninsular India is formed by the Western Ghats, which runs from north to south close to the western coast.
• Most of the major rivers of the Peninsula flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• These rivers make deltas at their mouths.
• There are numerous small streams flowing west of the Western Ghats.
• The Narmada and the Tapi are the only long rivers, which flow west and make estuaries.
• The drainage basins of the peninsular rivers are comparatively small in size than the Himalayan rivers.
• Two types of peninsular rivers:

1. West Flowing: Narmada, Tapi
2. East Flowing: Damodar, Subarnrekha, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri                                                  West Flowing Rivers

The Narmada Basin (aka Rewa)

• It rises in the Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh.
• It flows towards the west in a rift valley formed due to faulting.
• All its tributaries are very short and most of these join the main stream at right angles.
• Its basin extends over the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
• It is bounded by the Vindhyas on the north, by the Maikala range on the east, by the Satpuras on the south, and by the Arabian Sea on the west
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam is on the river in the state of Gujarat.
• It enters Arabian Sea near Bharuch in Gujarat. Aaliya Bet island is situated on its mouth.
• Dhuandhar falls in Madhya Pradesh

The Tapi Basin

• It rises in the Satpura ranges (Betul plateau) in Madhya Pradesh
• It also flows in a rift valley parallel to the Narmada but it is much shorter in length.
• It flows south of the Satpuras.
• It covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Its mouth is located at Surat, Gujarat.
• Purna river is its important tributary.

Sabarmati

• It originates in Aravallis, Rajasthan.
• After reaching Gujarat, it drains into the Arabian Sea.

Mahi

• It rises in Madhya Pradesh and after flowing through the Vagad region of Rajasthan, enters Gujarat and flows into the Arabian Sea.

Mandovi (Mhadei) & Zuari river

• Both originate in Western Ghats.
• They are important rivers of Goa and merge with the Arabian Sea.

West Flowing rivers of Karnataka

• Kalinadi
• Sharavati- Jog Falls (aka Gerosoppa Falls or Jogada Gundi) is located on this river..
• Netravati

West Flowing rivers of Kerala

• Periyar- It merges into Vembanad Lake. Source is in Tamil Nadu
• Pamba/ Pampa- empties into the Vembanad Lake. Originates in Western Ghats.
• Bharathpuzha

The coastal plains between Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea are very narrow. Hence, the coastal rivers are short.

East Flowing Rivers

Damodar

• West bengal + Jharkhand
• Source: Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand
• Barakar is an important tributary which also originates from the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
• It meets Damodar in West Bengal.
• The river merges into Sunderbans
• The region is well known for it Iron & Steel industry.

Subarnrekha

• It originates from Ranchi plateau.
• Flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha.
• It merges with the Bay of Bengal in Odisha.

Baitarni

• It originates from the Garhjat Hills of Odisha ( on the southern edge of Chota Nagpur Plateau)
• It flows into the Bay of bengal

Brahmani

• It is a major seasonal river of Odisha.
• It is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and the South Koel rivers originating from the Chota Nagpur Plateau.

Mahanadi

• It rises in the highlands of Chattisgarh (Dandkaranya).
• It flows through Odisha to reach the Bay of Bengal.
• Left Bank Tributaries- Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo
• Left Bank Tributaries- Ong, Jonk, Telen
• The Hirakud Dam is built across the river.
• It is also known for Talcher Thermal Power Plant

Rushikulya

• Source: Nayagarh Hills (Odisha)
• Its mouth is a well known hatching site for Olive Ridley Turtles.
• They live in only warm tropical waters of Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.
• These small turtles are highly endangered.
• They are known for their unique mass nesting called ” Arribada”. In this process, thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Odisha’s Ganjam coast is the largest mass hatching site of Olive Ridley Turtles in the world.

Godavari

• It is the largest peninsular river.
• It rises from the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• Its length is about 1500 Km.
• It drains into the bay of Bengal.
• Its drainage basin is also the largest among the peninsular rivers.
• It covers parts of Maharashtra (> 50%), Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• It is also known as Dakshin Ganga.
• Left Bank tributaries- Penganga, Wardha, Wenganga (all three together form Pranhita), Indravati, Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, Purna, Kadam, Taliperu, Sabari
• Right Bank tributaries- Nasardi, Darna, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair, Kinnerasani

Krishna

• It rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.
• Its drainage basin is shared by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Left Bank Tributaries: Bhima (chandrabhaga river), Dindi, Peddavagu, Haliya, Musi, Paleru, Munneru
• Right Bank Tributaries: Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhaganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra

Penneru

• It rises from the Nandi Hills in Karnataka.
• It flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
• Left Bank Tributaries: Jayamangali, Kunderu, Sagileru
• Right Bank Tributaries: Chitravati, Papagni, Cheyyeru,

Kaveri

• It rises in the Brahmagiri range of the Western Ghats and reaches the Bay of Bengal via Tamil Nadu.
• Its basin drains part of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Left Bank Tributaries: Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathy
• Right Bank Tributaries: Kabini, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati
• Sivasamudram waterfall is located on Kaveri

Vaigai River

• It originates in Varusanadu Hills of Tamil Nadu.
• Madurai is located on the banks of the river.
• It empties into the Palk Strait.
• The Vattaparai Falls are located on this river.

Read More: Indian River System