Rivers play an important role in the development of the country. India is a land of rivers and the Indian River system is classified into two part-Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers. Most of the Indian rivers flow eastwards and drain into the Bay of Bengal but there are only three rivers in India that run from east to the west Narmada, Mahi, and Tapti River. While the Nile is the longest river in the world, do you know which is the longest river in India? Let's find out the 10 longest rivers of India.
Top 10 Longest Rivers in India
10. Tapi River
Length (Km): 724
Origin (Source): Satpura Range
Tributaries: Purna River, Girna River, Gomai, Panzara, Pedhi, Arna, Anurati, Suki, Vaghur, Buray, Sipna
Discharge its water: Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea)
9. Cauvery River
Length (Km): 800
Origin (Source): Originates at Talakaveri in Coorg District of Karnataka in Brahmagiri Range of hills in the Western ghats
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Harangi Reservoir, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathy; (Right tributaries- Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani River, Noyyal, Amaravati River, Moyar River).
Discharge its water: Grand Anicut (South)
8. Mahanadi River
Length (Km): 851
Origin (Source): Originates from Raipur district of Chhattisgarh
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo); (Right tributaries- Ong, parry river, Jonk, Telen)
Discharge its water: Bay of Bengal
7. Narmada River
Length (Km): 1312
Origin (Source): Originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh
Tributaries: (Left tributarties- Burhner River, Banjar River, Sher River, Shakkar River, Dudhi River, Tawa River, Ganjal River, Chhota Tawa River, Kaveri River, Kundi River, Goi River, Karjan River);
(Right tributaries- Hiran River, Tendoni River, Choral River, Kolar River, Man River, Uri River, Hatni River, Orsang River).
Discharge its water: Arabian Sea
6. Yamuna River
Length (Km): 1376
Origin (Source): Originates from the Yamunotri glacier at the Banderpoonch peak in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Hindon, Sharda, Hanuman Ganga, Sasur Khaderi); (Right tributaries- Chambal, Betwa, Giri, Rishiganga, Ken, Sindh, Tons).
List of Towns situated on the Banks of River
5. Krishna River
Length (Km): 1400
Origin (Source): Originates in the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 1337 m. just north of Mahabaleswar, about 64 km from the Arabian Sea.
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Musi, Paleru, Munneru; (Right tributaries- Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhaganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra).
Discharge its water: Bay of Bengal
4. Godavari River
Length (Km): 1465
Origin (Source): Originates near Nasik in Maharashtra
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, Purna, Kadam, Pranahita, Indravati, Taliperu, Sabari); (Right tributaries- Nasardi, Darna, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair, Kinnerasani).
Discharge its water: Bay of Bengal
3. Ganga River
Length (Km): 2525
Origin (Source): Gangotri
Tributaries: (Left tributaries-Ramganga, Garra, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak Koshi, Mahananda); (Right tributaries- Yamuna, Tamsa, Son, Punpun, Kiul, Karamnasa, Chandan).
Discharge its water: Bay of Bengal
2. Brahmaputra River
Length (Km): 2900
Origin (Source): Originates from Kailash ranges of Himalaya
Tributaries: (Left tributaries- Dibang River, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River); (Right tributaries- Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River)
Discharge its water: Bay of Bengal
1. Indus River
Length (Km): 2900
Origin (Source): Originates in the northern slopes of the Kailash range in Tibet near Lake Manasarovar.
Tributaries: (Left tributaries-Zanskar River, Suru River, Soan River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, Beas River, Sutlej River, Panjnad River, Ghaggar-Hakra River, Luni River); (Right tributaries-Shyok River, Hunza River, Gilgit River, Swat River, Kunar River, Kabul River, Kurram River, Gomal River, Zhob River).
Discharge its water: Arabian Sea
Top 10 Longest Rivers in India
| Name of Rivers | Length (Km) |
| 1. Indus River | 2900 |
| 2. Brahmaputra River | 2900 |
| 3. Ganga River | 2525 |
| 4. Godavari River | 1465 |
| 5. Krishna River | 1400 |
| 6. Yamuna River | 1376 |
| 7. Narmada River | 1312 |
| 8. Mahanadi River | 851 |
| 9. Cauvery River | 800 |
| 10. Tapi River | 724 |
Hence, we can say that a river is not only important for human beings but also serves a great purpose to the surrounding environment and ecology.