Explore the Longest Rivers of India: Discover the Lifelines of the Nation in 2024!

India is endowed with some of the most stunning natural features, including lakes, forests, rivers, and mountains. Another name for the nation is the “land of rivers,” which contributes significantly to India’s economic expansion and advancement. In the areas where they flow, these rivers serve as the primary source of irrigation and life. Plan your next vacation to see the most beautiful rivers where you may rest and rejuvenate. Learn more about the longest rivers in India and their intriguing origins.

10 Longest Rivers In India

This list of India’s longest rivers has been carefully chosen so that visitors can experience the breathtaking beauty of these waterways. 

1. Ganga

The Ganges, the longest river in India and one of the country’s holiest rivers, rises from the Gangotri glacier in Uttarakhand. The river begins to flow at Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers converge. About 90 terrestrial and aquatic species, including the Gharial, and 140 different fish species may be found in the river. States like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttarakhand are all included in the Ganges. The river’s last stretch joins the Bay of Bengal at Bangladesh. 

2. Godavari

The Godavari, commonly known as the South Ganges or the Dakshin Ganges, is the longest river in South India according to the list of longest rivers in India. This river rises in Nashik at the Trimbakeshwar and then changes course to travel through Chhattisgarh and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This river, which eventually empties into the Bay of Bengal, is regarded as India’s second longest. The Purna, Pranhita, Sabari, and Indravati rivers are the principal tributaries of the Godavari River. 

3. Yamuna

Emerging from the Bandarpoonch hill in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, which is home to the Yamunotri glacier. One of the Ganges River’s longest tributaries, it does not immediately join with the sea. Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are all traversed by the Yamuna, one of India’s longest rivers. Hindon, Sharda, Giri, Hanuman Ganga, Sasur, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sindh, Rishiganga, and Tons are a few of the Yamuna River’s principal tributaries. 

4. Narmada

The Narmada river, formerly known as the Nerbudda, is referred to as the “life line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.” One of India’s biggest rivers, the Narmada, is a must-see when on vacation. The river, which is regarded as one of India’s holiest, rises from the Amarkantak. This river runs westward in contrast to the other rivers, which flow eastward. The Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other Puranic texts mention this river by name. Along with the six other rivers—the Ganga, Godavari, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, and Sindhu—the Narmada River is considered by Hindus to be one of India’s divine streams.

5. Krishna

The fourth-longest river in India, the Krishna, is used extensively for irrigation in Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. This river rises from Mahabaleshwar and flows into the Bay of Bengal, a distance of 1290 kilometers. The Panchganga, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Tungabhadra, and Dudhaganga are the river’s tributaries. It passes via Vijayawada and Sangli’s banks. 

6. Indus

History claims that the name of the river Indus is where India got its start. This river flows across Ladakh, Baltistan, and Gilgit after emerging from the Mansarovar Lake. The river then eventually reaches Pakistan’s borders. The river is also well-known for serving as a harbor for one of the oldest and most thriving civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization. The Indus River is 3180 km long overall, however only 1,114 km of that length is traversed inside India. Some of the largest cities along the banks of the Indus River include Leh and Skardu.

7. Brahmaputra

In addition to the Indus River, the Mansarovar hills are the source of the Brahmaputra. It is known that the river originated in Tibet, China, near the Mansarovar Lake, on the Angsi Glacier. The only river in India that is thought to have a masculine gender is this one. The Brahmaputra, also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo river in China, flows into India via Arunachal Pradesh. The river is 916 km long in India, with the remaining portion located in China. 

8. Mahanadi

This river, which rises in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district, is well-known for its catastrophic floods, which have been chronicled throughout history. The river is also known as the “distress of Odisha” because of this. After the Hirakud Dam was built and is currently maintained by a canal system, the situation changed over time. The river’s principal tributaries are Hasdeo, Jonk, Telen, Mand, Ong, and Seonath. 

9. Kaveri

The Kaveri is regarded as a sacred body of water in South India and is the ninth-longest river in India. The Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats of Karnataka is the source of this river, which runs southeast through the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. In the irrigation projects, this river plays a significant role.

10. Tapti

This river, one of the three that flow from east to west, originates in Peninsular India. This river originates in the Satpura Range in the Betul district and empties into the Gulf of Khambhat. The Purna, Gomai, Panzara, Pedhi, Arna, and Girna rivers are the six tributaries of the Tapti River, which originates in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.