Geography

Different from the Himalayan rivers because they are seasonable in their flow (while Himalayan rivers are perennial).

They can be divided into two groups:

A. EAST FLOWING RIVERS OF INDIA (OR DELTA FORMING RIVERS)

• Mahanadi River (858 km): Rises in Raipur District in Chhatisgarh.
• Main tributaries: lb, Seonath, Hasdo, Mand, Jonk, Tel, etc.
• Godavari River (1465 km): Also called Vriddha Ganga or Dakshina Ganga. It is the longest peninsular river. Rises in Nasik. 
• Main tributaries: Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Indravati, Wainganga, Sabari, etc.
• Krishna River (1327 km): Rises in Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. Main tributaries: Koyna, Dudhganga, Panchganga, Malprabha, Ghatprabha, Bhima, Tungabhadra, Musi, etc.
• Cauvery River (805 km): It is the largest peninsular river (maximum amount of water). Infact, it is the only peninsular river which flows almost throughout the year. Known as the ‘Ganga of the South’. It rises from the Brahmagir range of Western Ghats.
• Main tributaries: Hemavati, Lokpawni, Shimsa. It is less seasonal than others as its upper catchment area receives rainfall during summer by the S.W monsoon and the lower catchment area during winter season by the retreating N.E. monsoon. Its 90% – 95% irrigation and power production potential is already being harnessed.
• Swarnarekha River (395 km) and Brahmani (705 km).

B. WEST FLOWING RIVERS IN INDIA

• Narmada River (1057 km): Has only l/10th part in Gujarat. Rises in Amarkantak Plateau and flows into Gulf of Khambat. It forms the famous DhuanDhar Falls near Jabalpur.
•  Main tributaries: Hiran, Burhner, Banjar, Shar, Shakkar, Tawa, etc.
• Tapti River (724 km): Rises from Betuldistt in MR Also known as twin or handmaid of Narmada. Main tributaries: Purna, Betul, Arunavati, Ganjal, etc.
• Sabarmati River (416 km): Rises from Aravallis in Rajasthan.
• Mahi River (560 km): Rises from Vindhyas in MR
• Luni River (450 km): Rises from Aravallis. Also called Salt River. It is finally lost in the marshy grounds at the head of the Rann of Kuchchh.
• Sharavati: is a west flowing river of the Sahyadris. It forms the famous Jog or Gersoppa or Mahatma Gandhi Falls (289 m), which is the highest waterfall in India.

INLAND DRAINAGE

Some rivers of India are not able to reach the sea and constitute inland drainage. Ghaggar (494 km) is the most important of such drainage.

It is a seasonal stream which rises on the lower slopes of the Himalayas and gets lost in the dry sands of Rajasthan near Hanumangarh. It is considered the old Saraswati of the Vedic times.

Note:

The largest man-made lake in India is Indira Sagar Lake, which is the reservoir of SardarSarovar Project, Onkareshwar Project and Maheshwar Project in Gujarat-MP.

Chilka Lake (Orissa) is the largest brackish water lake of India. Otherwise also, it is the largest lake of India.

Wular Lake (J & K) is the largest fresh water lake of India. Dal Lake is also there in J & K.

From Sambhar and Didwana Lake (Rajasthan), salt is produced.

Other important lakes are Vembanad in Kerala and Kolleru&Pulicat in AP.

The three important Gulfs in the Indian Territory are:

Gulf of Kuchch (west of Gujarat) : Region with highest potential of tidal energy generation

Gulf of Cambay or Gulf of Khambat (Gujarat): Narmada, Tapti, Mahi and Sabarmati drain into it.

Gulf of Mannar (south east of Tamil Nadu): Asia’s first marine biosphere reserve.