The Ganga River and its tributaries

 

The Ganga River

India's most Important river system, it cover more than a fourth of the country's total surface. The upper course of Ganga is popularly known as Bhagirathi. The Gangotri glacier of Gomukh (an ice cave in the Himalayas) is the source flowing  southward is known as Alakananda. The Ganga is formed by these two head streams when they meet at Devaprayag. Beyond Farakka in West Bengal, the mainstream of the Ganga which flows east-south-eastward into Bangladesh is known as Padma. A bifurcation channel runs southwards through the deltaic plan on to the sea. Here the river is known as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly. To the east of the Pabna (near Goalundo), the Padma receives the Brahmaputra known here as Jamuna. The combined stream continues to flow as Padma, till is receives the Meghna to the north of Chandpur. The Ganga and the Brahmaputra form the largest delta of the world, the Sunderbans. The Ganga has numerous larg and small tributaries. The Ram Ganga, the Ghaghra, the Gandhak and the Kosi are its major left bank tributaries while the Yamuna and the Son form the major right bank tributaries.

Name the Tributaries of Ganga

The Yamuna River

The Yamuna rises at the  Yamunotri glacier, on the western slope of Baderpunch at a height of 6,316 m. It flow towards the south up to Agra and farther down towards the south-east direction till it joins the Ganga at Allahabad (Prayag). Chambal, Sind, Betwa and the Ken ( which originate in the Malwa Plateau and passes through Panna district in MP ) are its important tributaries.

The Chambal River

The Chambal rise near Mhow in the Vindhyan range in the Malwa Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows up to Kota towards north. After traversing Bundi, Sawi Madhopur and Dholpur, it joins Yamuna river in the southern part of the Etawah district. It has a length of 1,050 km. Its important left bank tributary is the Banas. The Sind, the Betwa and Ken flow towards the North. Many ravines (the Chambal ravines) in the Ganga plain are formed.

The Son River

The Son Originating from Amarkantak plateau, it flows to the north and meets the Kashmir range which diverts its course towards the north-east. It flows for 780 km before joining the Ganga at Bankipura near Arrah, west of Patna. It drains an area of 71,900 sq km. Its tributaries mostly join it on its right bank.

The Ram Ganga River

The Ram Ganga River Rising in the Kumaon Himalayas and flowing into the Ganga plain near Kalagarh, the Ram Ganga runs for 690 km before pouring itself into the Ganga near Kannauj. 32,000 sq km of area is drained by this river.

The Sarda River

The Sarda Also called the Chauka and Kali (along the Indo-Nepal border), it begins in the Milam glacier in the Great Himalaya in Nepal (where it is called the Goriganga) and join the right bank of the Ghaghra near Bahramghat.

The Ghaghra River

The Ghaghra Originating from east of Gangotri in the glacier of Mapcha-chungo, the Ghaghra is has a course of 1,080 km.  More than half of the 1,27,500 sq km drained by it falls in Nepal territory. It abounds in silt and so is forced to often shift its course. It meets the Ganga at Chhapra (Bihar) after the Sarda joins it.

The Gandhak River

The Gandhak Rising near the Nepal-China border at a height of 7,600 m in the central Himalaya, the Gandhak enters Bihar in Champaran district, turns south-east and meets Ganga on its at Sonpur. Even the Gangdak often changes courses. It turns for 425 km and drains 48,500 sq.km of area of which 9,540 sq km in India.

The Kosi River

The Kosi Rising from the peaks of Tibet the Kosi, an antecedent river, drains eastern Nepal and enters Saharsa district in Bihar via numerous channels. The channels flowing from north to south are received by the westernmost channels after it makes a bend to the east. It drains the area between Gosainthan and the Kanchenjunga in the Himalaya. The main stream of Kosi, the  Arun- also Phungchu, in Tibetan - rise to the north of Gosainthan and is joined by the Son-Kosi from the west and the Tamur-Kosi from the east to from the Sapta-Kosi. It has a length of 730 km in India. It ends in the Ganga below Bhagalpur. The Kosi is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar" as it causes devastating floods. It has changed its course greatly over time.

The Damodar River

The Damodar It rises in the Chhotanagpur plateau near Tori in the Palamau district of Jharkhand. Its tributaries are the Garhi, Konar, Jamunia and the Barakar. It becomes a large river after its confluence with the Barakar. It  Joins the Hooghly, at Falta, after a course of nearly 541 km, a few kilometers  below Kolkata. It drains 22,000 sq km of area. River Damodar is known as the "Sorrow of Bengal" as it causes widespread destruction of lives, cattle and crops due to frequent flooding. It joins the Ganga from the right However, the Damodar Valley Construction has improved the situation

The Mahananda River

The Mahananda rises in the Darjeeling  hills in West Bengal near Siliguri. It makes sharp curves before it joins the Ganga as its last left bank tributary.