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Godavari River is the second most sacred river which is located in Central and Southeastern India. The Godavari River is one of the longest rivers of the Indian Peninsular. It is approximately 1,465 kms. The Arabian Sea is 80 kms away from the Godavari River. Originating from Nasik in Maharashtra the river passes through many states of the country before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Top 10 Largest Rivers in India, you would also find the details about Indian River Systems and major rivers of India.

Godavari River Details

Name of the River:	Godavari River
Source of Origin:	Nashik, Maharashtra
Location:	West India and South India
Tributaries:	Pravara, Purna, Manjira and Manair.
Length:	1,465 kms
Importance:	Agriculture, Irrigation and Transportation
Pollution: Industrial waste, coal mining, and thermal plants	Industrial waste, coal mining, and thermal plants
Another Name:	Ganga of the South

About Godavari River

Godavari River is known as the Godavari is a river in Central India, rising in Nashik, a district of Maharashtra. It flows in the Deccan plateau and then, to the south of India before it joins the Bay of Bengal The Godavari river rises in the Sahyadris near Trimbakeshwar. It is located around 80 kms away from the Arabian Sea. It flows south-easterly for sound 1,465kms direction through the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh before it falls into the Bay of Bengal.

The river extends over an area of 3,12,813 kms², which is almost 10% of the area of the country. There are many hills that surround the river on all four sides. The banks of the Godavari river are rich in aluminium soil and are great for agricultural activities.

Godavari River History

The history of the Godavari river is from the Kotirudar Samhita of the Shiva Purana. The origin of the river Godavari, according to the Hindu culture, is due to Shiva and Ganga. It is said that Ganga said that she will agree to stay on the Brahmagiri Mountain if Shiva manifests himself in the area too.

Shiva manifested himself as the Triambakeshwara, one of the twelve of the country and Ganga agreed to stay as a new river. At first, the river was called Gautami river but later it was known as Godavari river.

The Godavari river is the largest river in the Peninsular and the third largest in India. Another name given to the Godavari River is “Ganga of the South”. There are many holy places that are located on the banks of the Godavari River. Every twelve years there is a Kumbh Mela which takes places in the holy areas along the river.

Godavari River Map

Godavari River, known as the Ganga of the South is the largest river of the Indian peninsular. It originates at Nashik, Maharashtra. The Godavari River stretches for 1,465 kms and is one of the most important rivers of the country.

The Godavari River basin covers a territory of 3,12,812 km², which is 9.5% of the total geographical area of India. Godavari river flows through three main states of the country- Maharashtra with a drainage area of 1,52,199 kms², Andhra Pradesh with a drainage area of 73,201 kms² and Madhya Pradesh with a drainage area of 31,821 kms².

Godavari River Basin is bounded by several hills. In the north, it is surrounded by Satmala Hills, in the east by the Eastern Ghats, in the west by the Western Ghats and in the south by Ajanta Hills.

The Godavari River drainage basin briefly covers small districts in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before draining into Bay of Bengal.

Godavari River System

Godavari River System originates in Central India and is one of the main rivers of South India. The Godavari River stretches for around 1,465 kms and is the largest river of the Indian peninsular.

Godavari River is a river that runs through many states of the country. Some of the major states that the Godavari River flows through are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It shifts from Central India to Southern India.

The Godavari River is 80 kms away from the Arabian Sea and it drains out in the Bay of Bengal. There are 16 tributaries of the Godavari River on both sides of the bank.

Godavari River Pollution

One of the biggest reasons for pollution is industrial pollution that is growing every year. Companies along the banks of the river and its various tributaries, release tonnes of untreated industrial waste into the river. Due to the vast amounts of industrial waste, it is harming the life of the animals living underwater.

Other sources of pollution that the Godavari River faces is urban and rural sewage and agricultural runoff. Due to these reasons, the Godavari River is critically polluted. In regions such as the Wardha basin, due to the coal mining and thermal power plants, the river is severely polluted.

People that take a dip in the water contact skin diseases and the people that drink the Godavari River water face stomach problems. The main reason for these diseases is the industrial waste which is released by companies along the bank of the river.

Godavari River Importance

There is a lot of economic as well as spiritual and cultural significance of the Godavari River. The importance of the Godavari River has been growing over the years. One of the biggest significance of the Godavari River is that it is the largest river of the Indian Peninsular. Due to this reason, it contributes a lot towards the agricultural activities which happen around the river.

The Godavari River and the Krishna River have their deltas very close to each other. Both the rivers together support more than a crore people of the country. Another importance of the Godavari River is that it is an important inland and national waterway.

Trimbakeshwar, where the Godavari River originates is one of the  twelve of its kind in the country. It holds a great amount of importance for religious communities. Trimbakeshwar is one of the four places in the country where the Kumbh Mela takes place. This Kumbh Mela takes place every twelve years.

The tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, on the banks of the river Godavari declared Guru Granth Sahib as Sikhism’s eternal Guru. Godavari River is the one where India’s most well-known Saraswati Temple is located.

Many of the great dynasties which rules the country grew along the banks of the second largest river in the country.

Short Essay on Godavari River

The Godavari River is one of the many rivers in India. It is a river that originates in the district of Nashik in Maharashtra. The river is the second largest river of the country and flows for 1,465 kms before it drains into the Bay of Bengal. Another name the River Godavari is known is ” Ganga of South India”. It flows through central and south India.

The Godavari river provides for very fertile land on its bank. Due to the fertile land, there are many agricultural activities which happen on the banks of the river Godavari. It is one of the third largest rivers in the country. It flows through Central India and then through South India before it flows into the Bay of Bengal.

The Godavari River holds a lot of religious importance. One of the main reasons for the religious importance is that on the banks of the river is located, Trimbakeshwar, which is one of the twelve of it’s kind in the country. There is a Kumbh Mela that happens once in every twelve years in Trimbakeshwar.

10 Lines on Godavari River

1. In India, the Godavari River is the second largest and sacred river.
2. The direction that the Godavari River flows is from the central part of the country to the south-eastern part of the country.
3. Godavari river is the largest river on the Indian Peninsular in comparison to the length, area it covers and the water flow
4. The origin on the Godavari River in Nashik in the state of Maharashtra.
5. The Godavari River is 80kms away from the Arabian Sea
6. Godavari River is one that splits into two distributaries before it falls into the Bay of Bengal.
7. Some of the tributaries of the Godavari River are Pravara, Purna, Manjira and Manair.
8. The Indian Navy has a warship named “INS Godavari” due to the Godavari River.
9. It is one of the rivers which originates in the Western Ghats.
10. A name that the river is known for is the “Ganga of South India”.

FAQs on Godavari River

Question 1.
Name the four hills that surround the Godavari River?

Answer:
Godavari River Basin is bounded by several hills. In the north, it is surrounded by Satmala Hills, in the east by the Eastern Ghats, in the west by Western Ghats and in the south by Ajanta Hills.

Question 2.
Where is the Godavari River located?

Answer:
The Godavari River is located in Central and Southeastern India.

Question 3.
Which are some reasons for the pollution of the Godavari River?

Answer:
Companies along the banks of the river and its various tributaries, release tonnes of untreated industrial waste into the river. Due to the vast amounts of industrial waste, it is harming the life of the animals living underwater. Other sources of pollution that the Godavari River faces is urban and rural sewage and agricultural runoff.

Question 4.
What is the importance of the Godavari River?

Answer:
One of the biggest significance of the Godavari River is that it is the largest river of the Indian Peninsular. Due to this reason, it contributes a lot towards the agricultural activities which happen around the river. Another importance of the Godavari River is that it is an important inland and national waterway. Trimbakeshwar, where the Godavari River originates is one of the twelve of its kind in the country.

The Yamuna river is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges and originates from Champasar (Yamunotri) Glacier. It is widely known for its historical significance related to Lord Krishna. The Yamuna River runs through Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, meeting the Ganga River at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, UP.

Top 10 Largest Rivers in India, you would also find the details about Indian River Systems and major rivers of India.

Name of the River	Yamuna River
Source of Origin	Yamunotri Glacier, Bandarpunch Peak, Uttarkashi district in Uttaranchal
Location	Northern India – Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh
Tributaries	Tons, Hindon, Sindh, Kens, Chambal,
Length	1376 kilometres (855 mi) approx.

About Yamuna River

The Yamuna River is the longest tributary in all of India, running a length of approximately 1376 kilometres, which is about 855 miles. It is also the second largest tributary of the river Ganga and is highly responsible for maintaining the alluvial fertility of the soil in the regions through which it passes.

The Yamuna River originates in the Himalayas, at the Yamunotri Glacier in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand close to Dehradun, at the mighty altitude of 6387 metres. In a town called Yamunotri, this glacier starts and extends for 1376 kilometres as the river Yamuna that brings great solace and fertility to the lands that it passes on its way to Prayagraj.

At the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj or Allahabad, the Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years, as it is the place where Lord Ganesha was said to have offered penance. The occurrence of the festival here majorly adds to the sacredness of the river, which is often equated to that of the Ganga as well.

To add to the river’s sacredness, one of the many notable things about the Yamuna River is that at its origin, there is a hot water body emerging from it, which is said to be so hot that if a bag of potatoes or rice is put in it, it will cook. People often use the water of the Yamuna at Yamunotri for this purpose as well.

Yamuna River History

There are a few stories that have been told about how the Yamuna River was given its name. One story is closely linked to the river Ganga and goes that “yama” is the Sanskrit word for “twin,” and the sacredness of both rivers is equated in that the ganga and Yamuna Rivers can be called twins.

The other, more widely told story, relates to the goddess Yamuna. She was the daughter of Surya, the sun god; her brother was Yama, the god of death. Because Yamuna’s brother was the god of death, it was believed, and still is, to this day, that taking a dip in the holy water of the Yamuna River will rid one of the fear of death.

The history of the Yamuna River is also very closely linked with Lord Krishna, who, as a young child, crossed the river with his father Vasudev. Lord Krishna spent a lot of his time by the Yamuna River as he was growing up and, thus, the river is also very significant to the followers of Hinduism and especially those of Lord Krishna.

Yamuna River Map

One of the most major rivers in Northern India, the Yamuna River originates in the lower Himalayas, specifically in the Bandarpunch Peak in the Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal. The origin of the Yamuna River lies in the Yamunotri Glacier in the town of Yamunotri in this Uttarkashi district. From here, the river makes its way to Himachal Pradesh at Paonta Sahib and enters Haryana.

In Haryana, at the Hathni Kund Barrage, the Yamuna River splits into the Western Canal and Eastern Canal, and then the river enters the city of Delhi. From Delhi, the Yamuna makes its way to Uttar Pradesh, passing through various important cities like Mathura, Agra, Etawah, and then on to its final destination, Prayagraj or Allahabad. At Allahabad lies the Triveni Sangam, where the sacred Yamuna River meets the sacred Ganges.

All throughout, the Yamuna River stretches to about 1376 kilometres and is responsible for taking care of approximately 57 million people along its way. This not only includes sustaining people for drinking water and water to be used for cooking and cleaning, but also for irrigation purposes in the fields on the banks of the Yamuna River as well.

Yamuna River System

The Yamuna River itself is a tributary of the Ganga River, but the Yamuna also has several tributaries of its own. The following are the most important tributaries of the Yamuna River:

• Tons River: This river also originates at the Bandarpunch Peak in the lower Himalayas and is the Yamuna River’s largest tributary. Tons River meets the Yamuna close to Dehradun, under Kalsi.
• Sindh River: This river originates on the Malwa Plateau from Central India and flows north-eastwards to meet Yamuna in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.
• Hindon River: Originating in Saharanpur between the Shivalik and Himalayan mountain ranges, the Hindon River meets the Yamuna just outside of Delhi towards the Uttar Pradesh side.
• Ken River: This river finds its origin in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and meets the Yamuna in a village called Chilla near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
• Chambal River: Originating in the Vindhya Ranges of Madhya Pradesh, Chambal River merges with the Yamuna near Sohna Gaon in Etawah.
• Betwa or Vetravati River: This river originates in the Vindhya Ranges and meets the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh at Hamirpur Town.

Yamuna River Pollution

In recent years, more than its sacredness, the Yamuna River has come to be known for how polluted it has gotten. Owing to many years of dumping city waste such as the propelling of sewage, drainage, garbage and dirt into the river, the Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world today. Industries are also responsible for having dumped their waste in the Yamuna River, adding to its desecration and pollution.

Efforts have been made over the years to clean up the river, but only in vain due to corruption, dirty politics and laziness of the people in charge of cleaning the Yamuna that came in the way. Thus, the river remains a dumping ground for all sorts of waste. This is due to lack of awareness, or lack of care despite awareness.

Toxic waste emptied into the river is not only harmful for the people, households and crops that are dependent on the river, but also the aquatic life that lives in the river. The oxygen levels of the river are reduced, leading to the killing of aquatic life in the river, terrible odours and also a high amount of turbidity of the water.

Importance of the Yamuna River

The Yamuna River is incredibly important for Northern India for several reasons, one of them being that its deposits help maintain the fertility of the soil in the regions it passes, as mentioned before. People living near to the banks of the Yamuna use its flowing water for several purposes, which mostly accounts for irrigation purposes. The Yamuna River is responsible for providing water supply to all four states through which it passes, and it is accountable for approximately 70 percent of Delhi’s water system.

Aside from providing sustenance to tonnes of people, the Yamuna River is also home to a lot of wildlife, such as the Asian Elephant. The forests in the Shivalik Mountains through which Yamuna passes is home to many herds of Asian Elephants and the river acts as a safe passageway for the elephants to cross between forests and such.

For stringent devotees of Hinduism, the Yamuna River holds immense importance, as it is one of the most important places associated with Lord Krishna, Yama the god of death, Surya the sun god, and Yamuna the goddess of the river herself. Taking a dip in the Yamuna River is considered very holy and a true spiritual event, as the river is considered to be almost as holy as the Ganga herself.

Short Essay on Yamuna River

The Yamuna River is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganga and also one of the longest. It has a length of about 1376 kilometres from the point where it starts to the point where it meets the Ganga. The origin of the Yamuna River is at Bandarpunch Peak in the lower Himalayas from Yamunotri Glacier and it meets Ganga River at Triveni Sangam at Allahabad.

Yamuna is considered to be a very holy river as a large part of its history is attached to Lord Krishna. Alongside, the river was named after goddess Yamuna, who was the daughter of Surya (the sun god) and Yama (the god of death). Because of this, it is also historically significant to Hindu devotees.

The Yamuna River has several tributaries, the most important of which are the Tons River, Sindh River, Hindon River, Ken River, Betwa River and Chambal River. Some of these rivers originate from the Himalayas or Shivalik Mountains and the others come from the Vindhya Ranges and other parts of Central India.

Recently, the Yamuna River has been found to be very polluted because of all the city waste that is being dumped in it. While the river provides sustenance to 57 million people along its way, the people do not give it the appropriate respect. Sewage, garbage, toxic industrial waste, etc. is dumped in the Yamuna without any remorse. Even with government plans to rehabilitate the river, it has not yet worked out and remains in the same dirty condition.

10 Lines of Yamuna River

1. The Yamuna River is the longest tributary of the Ganga.
2. The length of the Yamuna River is approximately 1376 kilometres (855 miles).
3. The Yamuna River has a lot of religious significance as Lord Krishna spent his childhood beside it.
4. Yamuna originates at Bandarpunch Peak in Uttaranchal at the Yamunotri Glacier.
5. The Yamuna River meets the Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, where the Kumbh Mela takes place every twelve years.
6. The Yamuna River has several tributaries and its main ones are Tons River, Hindon River, Ken River, Betwa River, Sindh River and Chambal River.
7. The Yamuna River was named after the goddess Yamuna who was the daughter of the sun god Surya and the god of death Yama.
8. Recently, the Yamuna River has become highly polluted due to the dumping of waste by the cities.
9. The Yamuna passes through several states, namely Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
10. The Yamuna River provides sustenance to about 57 million people for drinking water, non-drinking water and for irrigation for crop fields.

Frequently Asked Questions about Yamuna River

Question 1.
How did Yamuna River get its name?

Answer:
Yamuna River is named after the goddess Yamuna, who was the daughter of Surya, the sun god, and the sister of Yama, the god of death. Another story says that because the Yamuna and Ganga are both considered to be very sacred, and “yama” is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘twin’, the origin of the name of the river lies here.

Question 2.
Where does the Yamuna River start and end?

Answer:
The Yamuna River originates in the lower Himalayas, at the Bandarpunch Peak in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand as the Yamunotri Glacier. It makes its way down to Himachal Pradesh from there, then to Haryana, Delhi and then Uttar Pradesh. It finally culminates in Uttar Pradesh at Allahabad, at the Triveni Sangam.

Question 3.
How did the Yamuna River get so polluted?

Answer:
Over recent years, the Yamuna River has become extremely polluted. Yamuna pollution is all we now associate with the river rather than how sacred it is to Hindus or important to the people it sustains. It has become this polluted because of the consistent dumping of untreated sewage and garbage into the river, and also industrial waste that comes from several factory units nearby in Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Question 4.
What is being done to reduce pollution in the Yamuna River?

Answer:
The government has tried to put in measures to reduce the pollution in the Yamuna River, but none have worked. A few years ago, a large fund was allocated to clean up the river but it disappeared due to corruption and the river was left untouched. The government now levies fines on companies whose factories do not treat their waste before disposing of it.