📌 Topic 05 of 6 · Chapter 02 · Drainage Systems
Peninsular Rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada
Major peninsular rivers — origin, tributaries, dams, water disputes — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
🌊 Major Peninsular Rivers — Overview
| River | Origin | Length | Drains into | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar, Nashik (Maharashtra) | 1,465 km | Bay of Bengal | Longest peninsular river; “Dakshin Ganga”; 2nd largest basin after Ganga |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Satara (Maharashtra) | 1,400 km | Bay of Bengal | 2nd longest peninsular river; Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam dams |
| Cauvery | Talakaveri, Kodagu (Karnataka) | 800 km | Bay of Bengal | “Dakshin Ganga” of South India; Mettur dam; water dispute |
| Narmada | Amarkantak, Anuppur (MP) | 1,312 km | Arabian Sea | Flows west through rift valley; forms estuary; Sardar Sarovar dam |
| Tapi (Tapti) | Betul district (MP) | 724 km | Arabian Sea | Flows west; parallel to Narmada; Ukai dam (Gujarat) |
🌊 Godavari River System
- Longest peninsular river (1,465 km); called “Dakshin Ganga” (Ganga of the South)
- Flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
- Tributaries: Pravara, Manjra, Wainganga, Wardha, Pranhita, Indravati, Sabari
- Major dams: Nagarjuna Sagar (on Krishna-Godavari link), Srisailam, Pochampad (Sriramsagar)
- Forms a large delta on the Andhra Pradesh coast
- Pushkaram festival held on Godavari every 12 years
🌊 Krishna River System
- 2nd longest peninsular river (1,400 km)
- Flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
- Tributaries: Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Koyna
- Major dams: Nagarjuna Sagar (world’s largest masonry dam), Srisailam, Almatti (Karnataka)
- Tungabhadra = most important tributary; Hampi (UNESCO site) on its banks
- Musi river = flows through Hyderabad
🌊 Cauvery River System
- Called “Dakshin Ganga” and “Ponni” (Golden River) in Tamil Nadu
- Flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
- Tributaries: Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathi, Kabini, Bhavani, Amaravathi
- Major dams: Mettur dam (Tamil Nadu), KRS dam (Karnataka), Kabini dam
- Cauvery Water Dispute: Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu — one of India’s longest river water disputes; Supreme Court verdict in 2018
- Shivasamudram Falls — on Cauvery — one of India’s largest waterfalls
🌊 Narmada & Tapi — West-Flowing Rivers
⭐ Why do Narmada and Tapi flow West?
Both Narmada and Tapi flow through rift valleys (grabens) — formed by faulting. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges act as walls on either side. Because of this structural control, they flow westward into the Arabian Sea instead of eastward like most peninsular rivers.
Both Narmada and Tapi flow through rift valleys (grabens) — formed by faulting. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges act as walls on either side. Because of this structural control, they flow westward into the Arabian Sea instead of eastward like most peninsular rivers.
- Narmada: Originates at Amarkantak (MP); flows through Marble Rocks (Bhedaghat); Sardar Sarovar dam (Gujarat) — largest dam in India by volume; forms estuary at Gulf of Khambhat
- Tapi: Originates at Betul (MP); flows parallel to Narmada; Ukai dam (Gujarat); forms estuary at Gulf of Khambhat near Surat
- Both rivers form estuaries (not deltas) — tidal action prevents delta formation
📌 Key Exam Points — Peninsular Rivers:
• Godavari = longest peninsular river = “Dakshin Ganga” = 1,465 km
• Narmada + Tapi = flow west = rift valleys = form estuaries
• Cauvery dispute = Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu = SC verdict 2018
• Nagarjuna Sagar = world’s largest masonry dam = Krishna river
• Sardar Sarovar = largest dam by volume = Narmada = Gujarat
• Godavari = longest peninsular river = “Dakshin Ganga” = 1,465 km
• Narmada + Tapi = flow west = rift valleys = form estuaries
• Cauvery dispute = Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu = SC verdict 2018
• Nagarjuna Sagar = world’s largest masonry dam = Krishna river
• Sardar Sarovar = largest dam by volume = Narmada = Gujarat