List of Rivers in India – Length and States

List of Rivers in India PDF with names, touching states, length, originates from and merge / ends to improve General Knowledge and General Awareness .

India is home to a vast and intricate network of rivers, which play a crucial role in the country’s geographical, ecological, and cultural diversity. These rivers have shaped the landscape, supported agriculture, and influenced the development of civilizations for millennia. Here is an overview of some of the major rivers in India:

  1. Ganges (Ganga):
    • The Ganges is one of India’s most sacred rivers, revered by millions of people. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
    • It flows through the northern plains of India, passing through states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
    • The Ganges is not only important culturally but also agriculturally, as it provides fertile soil for farming.
  2. Yamuna:
    • The Yamuna is the Ganges’ major tributary and flows through northern India, originating from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
    • It flows through states like Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh before joining the Ganges in Allahabad.
  3. Brahmaputra:
    • The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet and flows through India’s northeastern states, particularly Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
    • It is known for its powerful currents and its importance in the region’s agriculture and transport.
  4. Indus:
    • The Indus River primarily flows through Pakistan, but a portion of it runs through the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
    • It played a significant historical role in the development of the Indus Valley Civilization.
  5. Krishna:
    • The Krishna River flows through the southern part of India, originating in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
    • It is a vital river for agriculture and is a major source of irrigation in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
  6. Godavari:
    • The Godavari is the second-longest river in India, originating in the central part of the country and flowing eastwards through states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
    • It is often referred to as the “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganges of the South) due to its significance.
  7. Narmada:
    • The Narmada River flows through central India, originating in Madhya Pradesh and emptying into the Arabian Sea.
    • It is known for the Marble Rocks in Jabalpur and plays a vital role in providing water and irrigation to the surrounding regions.
  8. Tapti:
    • The Tapti River flows through central India, originating in the Satpura Range and emptying into the Arabian Sea.
    • It is relatively shorter compared to other major rivers but serves as an important water source for the region.

These rivers not only contribute to India’s agriculture and economy but also hold immense religious and cultural significance.

List of Rivers in India

Name of Rivers Touching StatesLengthOriginates FromEnds in
AlaknandaUttarakhand190 K.MSatopanth & Bhagirathi-Kharak glacierMerge in Ganga, Devprayag, Uttarakhand
BeasHimachal Pradesh, Punjab470 K.M.Rises at Himalayas in central Himachal PradeshJoins Sutlej river in Punjab, India
BenasRajasthan, Uttar Pradesh512 K.MRohtang PassChambal 
BetwaMadhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh590 K.M.Vindhya RangeJoins Yamuna at Hamirpur in UP
BhagirathiUttarakhand,205 K.MGaumukh, UttarakhandMerge in Ganga, Devprayag, Uttarakhand
BhimaMaharashtra, Karnataka,Telangana861 K.MBhimashankarKrishna river, near raichur
BrahmaniOdisha480Bay of BengalGanga
BrahmaputraAssam, Arunachal,Tibet1800 K.M.Himalayan Glacier in Tibet, but enters India in Arunachal PradeshMerges with Ganga and ends in Bay of Bengal
ChenabHimachal Pradesh, Punjab960 K.M.Upper Himalayas in the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh Merges with Indus
DamodarJharkhand, Bengal592 K.MTributary of Hugli near Chandwara, JharkhandMerges with Hugli in West Bengal
GandakMadhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar630 K.M.Nepal; Ganges tributary at Indo-Nepal border (Triveni Sangam)Joins Ganga near Patna
GangaUttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal2,525 K.M.Gangotri Glacier (Bhagirathi), UttarakhandBay of Bengal  
GhagharaHimachal Pradesh, Rajasthan1080 K.MHimalayan Glacier in Tibet, tributary of GangaJoins Ganga in Bihar
GodavariMaharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry1,465 K.M.Starts in Maharashtra and passes through 7 Indian statesEmpties in Bay of Bengal
GomtiUttarpradesh, Gujarat,900 K.M.Tributary of Ganga, starting at Gomat Taal, UPJoins Ganga in Varanasi district
Hugli (Hooghly)West Bengal, Kolkata260 K.MTributary of Ganga near West BengalMerges with Ganga at Bay of Bengal
IndravatiOdisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra535 K.MDandakaranya range, Kalahandi district, OdishaGodavari near border of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana
IndusGilgit-Baltistan, Jammu and Kashmir
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Tibet
3180 K.MOriginates in Tibetan plateau, Enters India in J&KMerges into Arabian sea near Sindh
JhelumPunjab, Jammu and Kashmir,725 K.M.Tributary of Chenab River, PunjabMerges with Chenab at Jhang (Pakistan)
KaveriKarnataka, Tamilnadu,765 K.M.Talakaveri in Western Ghats in KarnatakaEnds in Bay of Bengal
KonyaMaharashtra130 K.MKrishna Rive Maharashtra
KosiShigatse Prefecture, Janakpur, Sagarmatha, Koshi, Mechi Zones, Bihar720 K.M.
Starts from Bihar near Indo-Nepal border
Joins Ganga near Katihar district of Bihar
KrishnaMaharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh1,400 K.M.Originates in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar in MaharashtraEnds in Bay of Bengal near Andhra Pradesh
MahanadiChhattisgarh, Odisha858 K.M.Dhamtari, Dandakaranya, ChhattisgarhBay of Bengal, near False Point, Kendrapara, Odisha
MahanandaWest Bengal, Bihar360 K.MPaglajhora falls, Darjeeling, West BengalMerge in Ganga
MahiMadhya Pradesh, Vindhyas580 K.MRises in Madhya PradeshFlows into Arabian sea from Gujarat
NarmadaMadhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat1,315 K.M.Starts from Amarkantak, Madhya PradeshDrains into Arabian sea via Gulf of Cambay
Penner (Penna)Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka597 K.MNandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district, KarnatakaBay of Bengal, near Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
PeriyarKerala, Tamil Nadu244 K.MSivagiri hills, Sundaramala, Tamil NaduLakshadweep sea, Kerala
RamgangaUttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh596 K.MGanga Ramganga Dam
RaviHimachal Pradesh, Punjab720 K.M.Starts from Bara Bhangal, Kangra district, Himachal PradeshJoins Chenab in Pakistan
SabarmatiAravalli Range, Udaipur 371 K.MDhebar lake, Aravalli range, near Udaipur, RajasthanGulf of Khambhat
ShardaUttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh350 K.M GangaGhaghra River
SonMadhya pradesh,Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand,Bihar784 K.M.Tributary of Ganga, starting at Amarkantak, Madhya PradeshJoins Ganga just above Patna – also considered part of Vindhya river system
SubarnarekhaJharkhand, Odisha,West Bengal395 K.MChota Nagpur plateau, near Ranchi, JharkhandKirtania Port, near Talsari, Bay of Bengal
SutlejHimachal Pradesh, Punjab1,500 K.M.Tributary of Indus River, originates at Rakshastal, TibetMeets Beas River in Pakistan and ends at Arabian sea
TaptiMadhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat724 K.M.Rises in Eastern Satpura Ranges, Madhya PradeshEmpties into Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat
TeestaSikkim, India, West Bengal, India,Rangpur, Bangladesh309 K.MBrahmaputraRangeet River.
TungabhadraKarnataka, Andhra Pradesh,Telangana531 K.MTributary of Krishna River staring at KarnatakaJoins Krishna River along the border of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
VaigaiTamil Nadu,258 K.MVarusanadu Hills, Tamil NaduPalk Strait, Tamil Nadu
YamunaUttarakhand,Himachal Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi1,376 K.M.Yamunotri Glacier, UttarakhandMerges with Ganga at Allahabad (Triveni Sangam – Kumbh Mela spot