Names of major rivers of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand river system, and origin of rivers.
Major Rivers of Uttarakhand state
Major rivers flowing in the state of Uttarakhand and their point of origin and basin area –
Most of the rivers in Uttarakhand flow in the south or south-east direction, There are many small and big river systems in the state, Of which the Kali river system, Ganga river system and Yamuna river system are mainly.
Kali River System
Origin – Located in the far north of Pithoragarh, near the Tibetan border, in the east of the Jaxar Range is Kalapani.
Length – 252 km.
Tributaries – Eastern Dhauliganga, Gauriganga, Saryu River.
In the local language, it is called Kali Gad (काली गाड़) or Kali Ganga. This river flows along the Indo-Nepal border. After Pithoragarh it enters Champawat, and enters Nepal under the name Sharda River from Barmdev near Purnagiri in Tanakpur. In Skandpuran it is called Shyama river and its water is not called holy.
Gauri Ganga Subsystem
Origin – Milam glaciers located in the Malla Johar region. The Goriganga River meets the right side of the Kali Ganga at a place called Jauljibi.
Sarayu Subsystem
Origin – A place called Sarmool, located to the southeast of Bageshwar.
Length – The sacred river of Kumaon, which gives the most water to the Kali river, is Saryu, its length is 146 kilometers.
Ladhia River
Origin – From the meeting point of Pithoragarh, Almora and Nainital Gajar.
This is the last river of Uttarakhand, which joins the Kali River. In Kali, it is found near Champawat. It flows from west to east.
Yamuna River System
Origin – Yamunotri glacier situated on the south-western slope of the Bandarpunch mountain in Uttarkashi.
Length – 136 km.
Tributaries – There are Rishiganga, Hanumanganga, Krishnagad, Kamalgad, Bhadrigad, Tons, Khutanugad, Barnigad etc. The river Yamuna, flowing from Uttarkashi and Dehradun, flows out of the state, the most prominent tributary of the Yamuna is the River Tons, which brings two and a half times more water than the Yamuna. It joins the Yamuna between Kalsi Dakpathar after flowing 148 km along the border of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh. After meeting Tones, Yamuna moves along the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The total length from Yamunotri to Allahabad is 1384 kilometers.
Tons River Subsystem
Origin – The North Glacier Glacier north of the Bandar Punch mountain in Uttarkashi.
Length – 148 Km.
On the Tons River is the Ichdi Dam which is a joint project of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the confluence of the Tons River and the Yamuna takes place in the Kalsi of Dehradun. The Yamuna flows out of the state from a place called Dhalipur in Dehradun.
Ganga River System
Length – 90 Km.
In Uttarakhand, the river Ganges is known as ‘Ganga’ after Devprayag, Whereas from Gangotri to Devprayag it is known as ‘Bhagirathi’. In Devprayag, Bhagirathi and Alaknanda joined together in the name of Ganga, and in Haridwar, the rivers Ratmau (रतमऊ) and Solani (सोलानी) join the Ganges. The length of the Ganges from Devprayag to Haridwar is 90 kilometers.
Alaknanda Subsystem
Origin – The Alaknanda originates from the Satopanth Glacier, located on the Swargaharani, on the Uttarkashi and Chamoli borders.
Length – 195 Km.
Tributaries – Saraswati, Western Dhauliganga, Nabalika, Laxmanganga, Nandakini, Pinder and Mandakini.
The ancient name of Alaknanda is Vishnuganga, after a 195 km journey through Satopanth Tal, it joins the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag.
- Alaknanda first meets the Laxmanganga River.
- On proceeding, it joins the Saraswati river at Keshavprayag, located to the north-west of Badrinath.
- In Nandprayag it joins the Nandakini River, which originates from the Nanda Ghungti located near the Trishul mountain.
- The Pinder river is joins in Alaknanda at Karnaprayag.
- In Rudraprayag it joins the Mandakini river, which originates from the Mandarachal range and glaciers near Kedarnath.
- Devprayag (Tehri) is joins Alaknanda (Daughter-in-law बहु) and Bhagirathi (Mother-in-law बहू).
Bhagirathi Subsystem
Origin – Gangotri originates from a place called Gomukh of the glacier adjacent to the Shivalinga peak, 19 km from Gangotri in Uttarkashi district.
Length – 205 Km.
Tributaries – Medganga, Dudhganga, Ramganga and Balganga rivers are tributaries of Bhilangana.
More than 20 small and big rivers are joins in the Bhagirathi river from Gaumukh to Tehri Dam. In Ganeshprayag (Old Tehri City), Bhagirathi joins the Bhilangana River. The river Alaknanda is join at Bhagirathi in Devprayag. The length of Bhagirathi from Gangotri to Devprayag is 205 kilometers.
Western Ram Ganga Subsystem
Origin – The eastern slopes of the Dudhatoli range spread across Pauri, Chamoli and Almora.
Length – 155 km
Tributaries – Birma, Gagas, Bino etc.
This river flows out of the state from the place called Kalagarh in Pauri and merges into the Ganges near Kannoj in Uttar Pradesh.
Gola River
Origin – Paharpani of Nainital.
Length – 102 km
After flowing 102 kilometers in Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar, it gets out of the state near Kichha.
Kosi River
Origin – Kausani, Situated on the hills of Bageshwar are the Dharpanidhars.
Length – 168 km
After flowing 168 km in Udham Singh Nagar, it exits the state at Sultanpur station in Udham Singh Nagar.
Nandhaur River
Origin – This river, originating from Deoh near Chorgalia in Nainital, is absorbed into the Nanak Sagar. To the east of Nandhore, two more small rivers also meet in the Nanak Sagar.
Basin areas of major rivers of Uttarakhand
| River | Basin Area |
| Kali River | 11,467 Km2 |
| Alaknanda | 10,951 Km2 |
| Bhagirathi | 7,880 Km2 |
| Kosi | 6,753 Km2 |
| Ramganga | 6,205 Km2 |
| Yamuna | 24,004 Km2 |
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