Indian Geography: River Systems of India

The rivers of India are the lifeline of its people. They are broadly classified into two groups: Himalayan Rivers (perennial) and Peninsular Rivers (seasonal).

Himalayan River Systems

• The Indus System: One of the largest river basins in the world. Main tributaries: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Satluj.
• The Ganga System: Formed by the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi joining at Devprayag. The largest basin in India.
• The Brahmaputra System: Known as Tsangpo in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh. It forms the world’s largest delta (Sundarbans) with the Ganga.

Peninsular River Systems

• East Flowing: Rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow into the Bay of Bengal and form deltas.
• West Flowing: Narmada and Tapi are the major rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea. They flow through rift valleys and form estuaries rather than deltas.
• Dakshin Ganga: The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river and is often called the ‘Ganga of the South’.

Question for you: Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” due to its frequent and devastating floods?

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