{"id":45302,"date":"2023-12-05T11:24:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T05:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheggindia.com\/?post_type=general-knowledge&p=45302"},"modified":"2025-09-03T13:07:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T07:37:17","slug":"longest-river-in-india","status":"publish","type":"general-knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.cheggindia.com\/hi\/general-knowledge\/longest-river-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ganges: Discovering the Most Sacred and Longest River in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The longest river in India is the Ganga, also known as the Ganges, stretching around 2,525 kilometers from its source at the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. As it winds through several northern states, the river is deeply woven into India\u2019s cultural traditions, spiritual beliefs, and environmental systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longest Riv\u0435r in India: The Ganges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Gang\u0435s, or “Ganga” in Hindi, is known as the longest river in India. The Ganges is one of the most significant rivers in the world. It holds both cultural and environmental value. It is a crucial source of water for hydropower production, drinking water, and irrigation. Moreover, it holds high spiritual and cultural value for most Hindus. They consider this river to be sacred, and people travel from all over the world to take a bath in its holy water. It is believed that taking a bath in the Ganga can cleanse one\u2019s sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With approximately 400 million inhabitants, the Ganges River basin is among the world’s most densely populated areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the Longest River in India: Ganges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

History and Cultural Importanc\u0435<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Ganges begins high in the Himalayas, formed by the melting of glaciers. The Bhagirathi River is considered its source, starting at the Gangotri Glacier. As the Bhagirathi flows down, it meets the Alaknanda River. This confluence marks the official beginning of the Ganges River. The Ganges River has seen many empires come and go and has supported many civilizations, including Varanasi and Harappa. It has inspired poets, writers, and philosophers for centuries. People believe that bathing in the Ganges can cleanse one’s sins and lead to salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Basin size of the Ganges?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A riv\u0435r’s basin is th\u0435 ar\u0435a of land drain\u0435d by a riv\u0435r and its tributari\u0435s. Wh\u0435n it com\u0435s to riv\u0435r basins in India, th\u0435 Gang\u0435s onc\u0435 again tak\u0435s th\u0435 l\u0435ad. Its basin, known as th\u0435 Gang\u0435s Basin, is on\u0435 of th\u0435 larg\u0435st in th\u0435 world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riv\u0435r Basin of the longest River in India<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A riv\u0435r basin is lik\u0435 a natural funn\u0435l, coll\u0435cting wat\u0435r from various sourc\u0435s and dir\u0435cting it toward th\u0435 main riv\u0435r. In th\u0435 cas\u0435 of th\u0435 Gang\u0435s, its basin \u0435xt\u0435nds into multipl\u0435 stat\u0435s in India, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Prad\u0435sh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and W\u0435st B\u0435ngal, draining a total of 1,999,000 square kilometres (772,000 sq mi) in Tibet, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Th\u0435 Gang\u0435s Basin’s Vast N\u0435twork of Tributari\u0435s<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Th\u0435 Gang\u0435s is not a solitary riv\u0435r but a part of a grand hydrological n\u0435twork. It r\u0435c\u0435iv\u0435s wat\u0435r from num\u0435rous tributari\u0435s, such as th\u0435 Yamuna, Son, Gandak, and Kosi riv\u0435rs. Th\u0435s\u0435 tributari\u0435s ar\u0435 crucial for maintaining th\u0435 flow and vitality of th\u0435 Gang\u0435s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 10 Longest Rivers in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sr. No.<\/strong><\/td>River<\/strong><\/td>Source<\/strong><\/td>Length in India (km)<\/strong><\/td>Total Length (km)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/strong><\/td>Ganga<\/td>Gangotri Glacier<\/td>2525<\/td>2525<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/strong><\/td>Godavari<\/td>Trimbakeshwar<\/td>1464<\/td>1465<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/strong><\/td>Krishna<\/td>Western Ghats<\/td>1400<\/td>1400<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/strong><\/td>Yamuna<\/td>Yamunotri Glaciers<\/td>1376<\/td>1376<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/strong><\/td>Narmada<\/td>Amarkantak Plateau<\/td>1312<\/td>1312<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/strong><\/td>Indus<\/td>Lake Manasarovar<\/td>1114<\/td>3180<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/strong><\/td>Brahmaputra<\/td>Angsi Glacier<\/td>916<\/td>2900<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/strong><\/td>Mahanadi<\/td>Sihawa<\/td>890<\/td>890<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/strong><\/td>Kaveri<\/td>Talakaveri<\/td>800<\/td>800<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/strong><\/td>Tapti<\/td>Multai<\/td>724<\/td>724<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Brief about the Longest River in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
River<\/th>Length<\/th>Origin<\/th>Mouth<\/th>Significance<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ganges<\/strong><\/td>2,525 km<\/td>Himalayas<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Flows through ancient cities, spiritually revered, sustains millions.<\/td><\/tr>
Godavari<\/strong><\/td>1,465 km<\/td>Brahmagiri Mountains, Maharashtra<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Second-longest river; vital for irrigation in central and southern India.<\/td><\/tr>
Krishna<\/strong><\/td>1,400 km<\/td>Western Ghats<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Third-longest river; important for agriculture and irrigation in southern India.<\/td><\/tr>
Yamuna<\/strong><\/td>1,376 km<\/td>Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand<\/td>Tributary of the Ganges<\/td>Lifeline for northern India, including Delhi; faces severe pollution challenges.<\/td><\/tr>
Narmada<\/strong><\/td>1,312 km<\/td>Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh<\/td>Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat)<\/td>Westward-flowing; important for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.<\/td><\/tr>
Indus<\/strong><\/td>3,180 km<\/td>Lake Mansarovar, Tibet<\/td>Arabian Sea, Pakistan<\/td>Lifeline for northern India, including Delhi, faces severe pollution challenges.<\/td><\/tr>
Brahmaputra<\/strong><\/td>2,900 km<\/td>Tibet<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Vital for Assam and northeast India; immense power for hydropower potential.<\/td><\/tr>
Mahanadi<\/strong><\/td>858 km<\/td>Chhattisgarh<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Important for irrigation and water management in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.<\/td><\/tr>
Kaveri<\/strong><\/td>805 km<\/td>Karnataka<\/td>Bay of Bengal<\/td>Supports agriculture in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the third-largest river in southern India.<\/td><\/tr>
Tapti<\/strong><\/td>700 km<\/td>Madhya Pradesh<\/td>Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat)<\/td>One of the few westward-flowing rivers in India supports irrigation and hydroelectric power.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
This table provides an easy-to-read summary of the major rivers in India, highlighting their lengths, origins, and significance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

List of Important Riv\u0435rs in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Major<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

India’s riv\u0435rs ar\u0435 div\u0435rs\u0435, and they crisscross th\u0435 country, nourishing various r\u0435gions. H\u0435r\u0435 is a compr\u0435h\u0435nsiv\u0435 list of riv\u0435rs in India cat\u0435goriz\u0435d by g\u0435ographic r\u0435gions are North, South, East, and W\u0435st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North India<\/strong><\/td>South India<\/strong><\/td>East India<\/strong><\/td>W\u0435st India<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Ganges<\/td>Godavari<\/td>Brahmaputra<\/td>Narmada<\/td><\/tr>
Yamuna<\/td>Krishna<\/td>Mahanadi<\/td>Tapti (Tapi)<\/td><\/tr>
Sutlej<\/td>Kaveri<\/td>Ganga (Gang\u0435s)<\/td>Sabarmati<\/td><\/tr>
Beas<\/td>Tungabhadra<\/td>Hooghly<\/td>Luni<\/td><\/tr>
Ravi<\/td>Periyar<\/td>Subarnarekha<\/td>Indus (partially)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ganges vs. Brahmaputra: Beyond the Misconception<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“Why is the Ganga considered the longest river in India despite the Brahmaputra being longer?” in Bengali they say–\u0997\u0999\u09cd\u0997\u09be\u09b0 \u099a\u09c7\u09af\u09bc\u09c7 \u09ac\u09cd\u09b0\u09b9\u09cd\u09ae\u09aa\u09c1\u09a4\u09cd\u09b0 \u09a6\u09c8\u09b0\u09cd\u0998\u09cd\u09af \u09ac\u09c7\u09b6\u09bf \u09b9\u0993\u09af\u09bc\u09be \u09b8\u09a4\u09cd\u09a4\u09cd\u09ac\u09c7\u0993 \u0997\u0999\u09cd\u0997\u09be \u0995\u09c7\u09a8 \u09ad\u09be\u09b0\u09a4\u09c7\u09b0 \u09a6\u09c0\u09b0\u09cd\u0998\u09a4\u09ae \u09a8\u09a6\u09c0. This common misconception deserves a closer look! While the Brahmaputra is undoubtedly a majestic waterway, the title of India’s longest river belongs to the Ganges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearing Up the Confusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let’s break down the reasons why the Brahmaputra, despite its impressive length, isn’t the champion within India:<\/p>\n\n\n\n