Peninsular River System — Updated Notes (2025)
The Peninsular drainage is older and more mature than the Himalayan drainage. These rivers mostly flow across hard crystalline rocks and show features of old drainage systems — broad shallow valleys, fixed courses and relatively smaller sediment load. This page summarises the origin, character, major rivers, basins, and important exam facts about the Peninsular rivers.
Key characteristics: Older (geologically), mostly ephemeral/seasonal (monsoon-fed), flow through hard crystalline rocks, have shallower valleys and gentle gradients, fixed channels (few meanders), limited navigability except in lower reaches. Major exception: Narmada & Tapi flow westward in rift valleys.
- Subsidence of western flank (early Tertiary): Partial submergence disturbed original symmetry of drainage towards both coasts.
- Himalayan uplift & tilting: Tectonic uplift and tilting oriented many rivers eastwards toward Bay of Bengal.
- Rift faulting: Narmada and Tapi occupy rift/trough faults (hence westward flow and narrow valleys).
Godavari (Dakshin Ganga)
Origin: Western Ghats near Nashik (Maharashtra). Length ~1500 km. Drains Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha & Andhra Pradesh. Major tributaries: Purna, Pranhita (with Wainganga & Wardha), Manjra, Indravati. Forms a large delta near Rajahmundry. Prone to seasonal floods in lower reaches; navigation limited to deltaic stretches.
Krishna
Origin: Mahabaleshwar (Sahyadri). Length ~1400 km. Tributaries: Bhima, Tungabhadra, Koyna, Ghataprabha. Drains Maharashtra, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh. Major dams: Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar (on Krishna/Tungabhadra system).
Mahanadi
Origin: Sihawa (Chhattisgarh). Length ~851 km. Drains Chhattisgarh & Odisha predominantly. Tributaries: Hasdeo, Mand, Jonk. Large basin with seasonal floods; Hirakud reservoir (major dam).
Kaveri
Origin: Brahmagiri hills (Western Ghats, Karnataka). Length ~760–800 km. Tributaries: Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani. Flows through Karnataka & Tamil Nadu; distinctive dual-monsoon-fed regime (SW monsoon upper catchment, NE monsoon lower catchment) leading to relatively perennial flow.
Narmada
Origin: Amarkantak plateau (Madhya Pradesh). Length ~1,312 km. Flows west in a rift valley between Satpura & Vindhyan ranges; forms Marble Rocks & Dhuandhar Falls near Jabalpur. Major project: Sardar Sarovar (Narmada valley dams).
Tapi (Tapti)
Origin: Multai (Betul district, MP). Length ~724 km. Flows westwards parallel to Narmada but shorter; basin across Maharashtra, MP & Gujarat. Key dams and irrigation projects exist on tributaries.
Luni
Origin: Near Ajmer / Pushkar (Rajasthan). Flows southwest into Rann of Kachchh — ephemeral river (seasonal), draining the rain shadow of Aravalli in western Rajasthan.
| River | Origin | Approx. Length (km) | Major Tributaries / Basin States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Near Nashik (Maharashtra) | ≈1500 | Purna, Pranhita (Wainganga, Wardha), Indravati — MH, MP, CG, OR, AP |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra) | ≈1400 | Bhima, Tungabhadra — MH, KA, AP |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa (Chhattisgarh) | ≈851 | Hasdeo, Mand — CG, OR |
| Kaveri | Brahmagiri (Karnataka) | ≈760–800 | Hemavati, Bhavani, Kabini — KA, TN, KL |
| Narmada | Amarkantak (MP) | ≈1312 | Tributaries short; basin MP, GJ — flows in rift valley to Arabian Sea |
| Tapi | Multai (MP) | ≈724 | Tributaries: Purna, Girna (basin MH, MP, GJ) — westward |
| Luni | Near Ajmer / Pushkar (Rajasthan) | ≈495 | Ephemeral; drains into Rann of Kachchh (RJ) |
Basins: Godavari has the largest peninsular basin; many rivers form broad alluvial plains and deltas on the east coast (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi).
Deltas & Navigation: Most peninsular rivers form deltas (Godavari — Rajahmundry, Krishna — near Machilipatnam, Kaveri — near Cuddalore) but are less navigable due to seasonal flow and rapids upstream. Lower stretches and deltas can support limited inland navigation.
Why rift valleys?
Due to faulting and subsidence, long narrow troughs (rift valleys) formed. Rivers like Narmada & Tapi occupy these troughs and flow westwards — a notable exception to the general eastward flow of peninsular rivers.
Geomorphological features
These rivers have straight courses, narrow valleys, and escarpments; sediments are coarser and deltas are poorly developed.
- Irrigation & agriculture — peninsular rivers support large irrigation projects (Sardar Sarovar — Narmada; Hirakud — Mahanadi; Polavaram & Godavari link projects).
- Hydropower — many dams and reservoirs across Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri & Mahanadi basins.
- Mineral transport & industry — Peninsular rivers drain mineral-rich plateaus (eg. Godavari & Mahanadi basins near Chotanagpur).
- Interlinking & river management — proposals (Polavaram, Godavari-Krishna links) to optimize water distribution and reduce flood/drought impact.
| Project | River / Basin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hirakud | Mahanadi | Major multipurpose dam (Odisha) |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada | Large irrigation & hydro project (Gujarat/MP) |
| Polavaram | Godavari | Multi-purpose project — irrigation & flood control (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Nagarjuna Sagar | Krishna | One of the largest masonry dams (Telangana/AP) |
| Srisailam | Krishna | Major hydroelectric & irrigation project |
Characteristic
Older, seasonal, fixed course, flow over crystalline rocks; limited meandering.
Direction
Most flow east → Bay of Bengal; exceptions (Narmada & Tapi) flow west into Arabian Sea.
Biggest Basin
Godavari — largest peninsular basin; often called Dakshin Ganga.
Rift Valley Rivers
Narmada & Tapi — flow in fault troughs; show narrow valleys & estuaries.
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