Top 10 Longest Rivers of India – Indian Rivers

Seven major rivers Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi along with their numerous tributaries make up the river system of India. Most of the major rivers flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal but there are only three rivers in India that run from east to west Narmada, Mahi and Tapti River.

35 Main Tributaries of 10 Major River of India

The Ganges – 2,525 km

The Ganges or Ganga river flows through the nations of India and empties into the Bay of Bengal. River Ganga is the most sacred river to Hindus and worshipped as the goddess, The Ganges is the longest river of India and Ganges Delta is the world’s largest delta.

Godavari – 1,465 km

Godavari is the second longest river in India after the river Ganga and also forms one of the largest river basins in India. The River is sacred to Hindus and Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove formation in the country.

Krishna – 1,400 km

Krishna River is the fourth longest river in India and a major source of irrigation for south Indian states. River Krishna source is at Mahabaleswar and Delta of this river is one of the most fertile regions in India.

Yamuna – 1,376 km

The Yamuna sometimes called Jamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the uppermost region of the Lower Himalayas. Yamuna creates natural state borders between the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, is the largest tributary river of the Ganges.

Yamuna river is the longest river in India which does not directly flow to the sea.

Narmada – 1,312 km

Narmada is the fifth longest river in the Indian subcontinent also known as Life Line of Madhya Pradesh. River Narmada is one of the rivers in India that flows in a rift valley between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, Dhuandhar Falls and Marble rocks in Bhedaghat are the major attractions of Narmada basin along with Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Brahmaputra – 916 km | (2900 km Total)

Brahmaputra is an important river for irrigation and transportation also known as Life Line of Assam,originates on the Angsi Glacier. Brahmaputra enters India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh then enters the state of Assam and forms Majuli, the biggest river island in the world.

Mahanadi – 858 km

Mahanadi is the major river in East Central India,flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Mahanadi originates from the mountain hills streams of the Eastern Ghats in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. Hirakud Dam,Second Mahanadi Rail Bridge are two major civil structure of Mahanadi river.

Kaveri – 800 km

Kaveri or Cauvery is holiest river of South India,forms two islands of Srirangapatna and Shivanasamudra. Doddabetta is the highest point of the Kaveri basin and the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls created by river Kaveri.

Tapti – 724 km

Tapti River is one of the major rivers of peninsular India and one of only three rivers run from east to west. Tapi river originates in the Betul district and empties into the Gulf of Khambhat near the city of Surat in Gujarat.

Indus | 3,120 km

Indus River is one of the 50 largest rivers in the world in terms of average annual flow by confluences of the five Punjab rivers, namely the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers.

Indus river runs 3120 km but only 709 km in India and Brahmaputra runs 2900 km but 916 km only in India.