8 longest rivers of India and where to spot them

Priya Srivastava, TIMESOFINDIA.COM, TRAVEL TRENDS, INDIA Updated : Jun 2, 2024, 15:10 IST

Photo courtesy: Canva

8 longest rivers of India and where to spot them

India is all about rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes. The country is blessed with myriad rivers that are the reason for flourishing life and also culture across the subcontinent. Let's find out the 10 longest rivers of India, each narrating its own story as it courses through the heart of the nation.

Photo courtesy: Canva

Ganges River (2525 kilometers)

There’s no river as revered as the Ganga in India. The river, originating from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, holds immense spiritual significance for Indians. Flowing through the Gangetic plains, it passes through states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, before merging into the Bay of Bengal.

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Godavari River (1465 kilometers)

Godavari River is also famous as Dakshin Ganga or the Ganges of the South. It rises in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and flows across central India, through states including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. It eventually meets the Bay of Bengal, supporting diverse flora and fauna along its course.

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Yamuna River (1376 kilometers)

Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. It is the largest tributary of the Ganges and flows through the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, before meeting the Ganges at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad). The Yamuna serves as a lifeline for millions, supplying water for irrigation and domestic use.

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Brahmaputra River (916 kilometers in India)

Flowing through the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the Brahmaputra originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It enters India near the town of Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh and traverses the Assam Valley before crossing into Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra's fertile plains support agriculture and sustain diverse wildlife in the region.

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Indus River (709 kilometers in India)

Originating in the Tibetan Plateau, the Indus enters India in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab before entering Pakistan. The Indus and its tributaries are vital sources of water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation in the region.

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Narmada River (1312 kilometers)

Rising in the Amarkantak Plateau of Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada flows westward through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea. Known for its scenic beauty and sacred sites along its banks, the Narmada is considered one of the holiest rivers in India.

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Krishna River (1400 km)

Originating from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, the Krishna River flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

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Mahanadi River (858 kilometers)

The Mahanadi originates in the hills of Chhattisgarh and flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is a lifeline for agriculture and supports diverse ecosystems in the region.