Himalayan Drainage System – UPSC Indian Geography Notes
The rivers of the Himalayan River system are sustained by a combination of melting and precipitation, rendering them eternal. The Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers stand out as the three major Himalayan rivers.
These rivers exhibit significant length and possess numerous tributaries. A river system comprises the primary river and its various tributaries. Upon reaching the plains, rivers give rise to depositional features like flat valleys, oxbow lakes, flood plains, braided channels, and deltas at the river mouth. This article aims to elucidate the River Systems of Himalayan Drainage, providing valuable insights for Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil Service Exam.
Evolution of Himalayan Drainage
- Miocene period: Enormous river named Shiwalik or Indo-Brahma spanned the entire longitudinal range of the Himalaya from Assam to Punjab and onward to Sind.
- Shiwalik’s characteristics: Noteworthy stability, lacustrine origin, and alluvial deposits (sands, silt, clay, boulders, conglomerates).
- Resulting division of Himalayan rivers: Three primary systems.
- Probable cause of dismemberment: Pleistocene instability in the western Himalayas, particularly the elevation of the Potwar Plateau (Delhi Ridge) acting as a hydrological barrier between the Indus and Ganga drainage systems.
- Another Pleistocene event: Down-thrusting of the Malda gap region between the Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau, redirecting the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems towards the Bay of Bengal.
Indus River system
- One of the world’s major river basins.
- Indus River: Known as Sindhu, is the westernmost Himalayan river in India.
- Originates from a glacier at Bokhar Chu in the Kailash Mountain range in Tibet.
- Tibet name: ‘Singi Khamban’, meaning Lion’s Mouth.
- Flows northwest between Ladakh and Zanskar mountain ranges, passing through Ladakh and Baltistan.
- Creates a breathtaking gorge near Gilgit in Jammu & Kashmir as it slashes through the Ladakh range.
- Enters Dardistan area of Pakistan around Chillar.
- Receives Himalayan tributaries like Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting, and Dras.
- Emerges from highlands around Attock, joined on its right bank by the Kabul River.
- Flows south, receiving ‘Panjnad’ just above Mithankot.
- The five rivers of Punjab (Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum) collectively known as Panjnad.
- Empties into the Arabian Sea to the east of Karachi; in India, exclusively runs through Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh district.
Important Tributaries of Indus
| Tributary | Features |
|---|---|
| Satluj | – Source: “Rakas tal” near Mansarovar in Tibet.<br>- Forerunner river in Tibet: Langechen Khambab.<br>- Runs parallel to the Indus River for 400 km before entering India.<br>- Crosses Himalayan peaks at Shipki La and enters Punjab plains.<br>- Merges with Beas River near Hari-ke-Patan, Amritsar, Punjab.<br>- Enters Pakistan after the confluence.<br>- Feeds Bhakra Nangal project’s canal system. |
| Beas | – Point of origin: Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh.<br>- Runs through Kullu valley (Himachal Pradesh) and forms gorges in Dhauladhar mountain at Kati and Largi.<br>- Flows into Punjab plains, meeting Satluj at Harike, Punjab.<br>- Runs across India. |
| Ravi | – Starting point: Killu Hills, west of Rohtang Pass (Himachal Pradesh).<br>- Flows through Chamba valley (Himachal Pradesh).<br>- Drains region between Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar hills in the south-east.<br>- Enters Punjab plains, stretches along Indo-Pakistan border.<br>- Enters Pakistan, merges into Chenab at Sarai Sidhu. |
| Chenab | – Starting point: Baralacha Pass, Himachal Pradesh.<br>- Formed by streams Chandra and Bhaga merging near Keylong, Himachal Pradesh (sometimes referred to as Chandrabhaga).<br>- Largest tributary of the Indus, flows over 1180 kilometres before entering Pakistan. |
| Jhelum | – Springs at Verinag, south-eastern region of the Kashmir valley, in the slopes of the Pir Panjal.<br>- Runs past Srinagar, reaches Wular Lake, and enters Pakistan through a steep, narrow valley.<br>- Connects with Chenab at Jhang, Pakistan. |
- Variety of Himalayan tributaries: Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting, and Dras.
- Emerges from highlands at Attock, meets Kabul River on its right bank.
- Additional major tributaries on the right bank: Khurram, Tochi, Gomal, Viboa, and Sangar; originating in the Sulaiman ranges.
- Left bank tributaries: Zanskar river, Suru river, Kishanganga (Neelam) river, Jhelum river, Chenab river, Ravi river, Beas river, Satluj river, Panjnad river.
Indus Water Treaty (IWT)
- Indus Water Treaty (IWT): Signed on September 19, 1960 between India and Pakistan.
- Signatories: Jawaharlal Nehru (then-Indian Prime Minister) and Ayub Khan (then-Pakistani President).
- Mediator: World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development at that time), facilitating the agreement over a nine-year period.
- Purpose: To enhance trust between India and Pakistan.
- Division of Indus river system into:
- Eastern rivers: Satluj, Beas, and Ravi.
- Western rivers: Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus.
- Water utilization rights: India has the right to use the waters of the eastern rivers, while Pakistan has the right to use the waters of the western rivers.
- Water distribution: India granted 20% of the water from the Indus river system, while Pakistan receives the remaining 80%.
The Ganga System
- Ganga River Significance:
- India’s most significant river in terms of basin and cultural significance.
- Origin: Near Gaumukh in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, in the Gangotri glacier; called Bhagirathi in this region.
- Confluence: Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda at Devprayag, transforming into the Ganga.
- Plains Entry: Enters the plains at Haridwar, flowing south, then south-east, and finally east.
- Distributaries: Separates into two distributaries, the Bhagirathi and the Hugli.
- River System: India’s largest, with perennial and non-perennial rivers from the Himalayas (north) and the Peninsula (south).
- Main Right Bank Tributary: Son.
- Prominent Left Bank Tributaries: Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda.
- Outlet: Empties into the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island.
Important Tributaries of Ganga – Right Bank
| Tributary | Features |
|---|---|
| Yamuna | – Longest and westernmost tributary of the Ganga.<br>- Source: Western slopes of the Bandarpunch range, Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand).<br>- Merges with Ganga in Prayag (Allahabad).<br>- Major tributaries on the right bank from Aravallis (Rajasthan), Vindhya Range, and Malwa Plateau (Madhya Pradesh).<br>- Primary right-hand tributaries: Tons, Chambal, Sindh, Betwa, and Ken. |
| Tamas | – Source: Tamakund in the Kaimur Range (Madhya Pradesh).<br>- Meets Ganga in Sirsa (Uttar Pradesh). |
| Son | – Second-largest southern tributary of Ganga (after Yamuna).<br>- Origin: Amarkantak Hill in Madhya Pradesh, near the Narmada River.<br>- Confluence with Ganga near Patna in Bihar. |
| Punpun | – Indigenous to the Chotanagpur Plateau region of Jharkhand’s Palamu district.<br>- Merges with Ganga near Fatwa (Patna). |
Important Tributaries of Ganga – Left Bank
| Tributary | Features |
|---|---|
| Ramganga | – Named after Garhwal hills near Gairsain (Uttarakhand).<br>- Shifts course to the south-west after the Shiwaliks, enters Uttar Pradesh plains at Najibabad.<br>- Flows into Ganga at Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh).<br>- Meanders through Jim Corbett National Park. |
| Gomti | – Monsoon and groundwater-fed river, flows from Gomat Taal (Fulhaar Jheel) near Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh).<br>- Confluence with Ganga at Kaithi, Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh).<br>- Markandey Mahadev temple located near the confluence. |
| Ghaghara | – Year-round transboundary river, originates in Mapchachungo glaciers near Mansarovar Lake in Tibet.<br>- Tributaries: Tila, Seti, and Beri; meets Sharda near Brahmaghat in Bihar.<br>- Second-longest tributary after Yamuna; known as Karnali in Nepal.<br>- Joins Ganga at Chhapra (Bihar). |
| Gandak | – Source: Nhubine Himal Glacier in Mustang area of Nepal’s border.<br>- Also known as Kali Gandaki, one of Nepal’s major rivers; also called Narayani and Sapt-Gandhaki in Nepal.<br>- Joins Ganga at Patna (Bihar). |
| Kosi | – Antecedent river, sometimes called “Bihar Sorrow.”<br>- Major stream, Arun, rises on northern slopes of Mt. Everest in Tibet (China).<br>- Joins by Son Kosi from west and Tamur Kosi from east in Nepal; creates Sapta Kosi.<br>- Splits into tributaries before entering Ganga at Kursela, Katihar district (Bihar). |
| Mahananda | – Originates in Darjeeling highlands, West Bengal.<br>- Flows south across Bihar’s lush agricultural region before entering West Bengal.<br>- Enters Ganga in Bangladesh at Godagari Ghat; most eastern tributary of Ganga. |
The Brahmaputra System
- One of the world’s greatest rivers, rises from Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar Lake in the Kailash range.
- Known as Tsangpo in southern Tibet, meaning “purifier.”
- Rango Tsangpo: Main right-bank tributary in Tibet.
- Carves a deep valley in the Central Himalayas at Namcha Barwa, emerging as a tumultuous and powerful torrent.
- Siang or Dihang: Name of the river that emerges from the slopes.
- Enters India west of Arunachal Pradesh town of Sadiya.
- Receives main left bank tributaries: Dibang or Sikang and Lohit.
- Thereafter known as the Brahmaputra as it flows southwest.
- In Bangladesh, joins the Padma River, which empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Important Tributaries of Brahmaputra
- Left bank tributaries: Burhi Dihing and Dhansari (South).
- Right bank tributaries: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, and Sankosh.
- Antecedent river: Subansiri, originating in Tibet.
- Near Dhubri, the Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh and flows southward.
- Tista: Joins on its right bank in Bangladesh; river known as Yamuna in this region.
- Eventually joins the Padma River, emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
- Common occurrences on the Brahmaputra: Floods, channel shifting, and bank erosion.
- Explanation: Tributaries are huge and carry a lot of sediments due to considerable rainfall in the catchment region.
Significance of Himalayan Drainage
- Himalayan Rivers and Geology:
- Major Himalayan rivers flow through steep gorges, often representing geologic structural restrictions like a fault line.
- They originate north of the mountain ranges.
- Direction of Flow:
- Indus system rivers generally flow northwesterly.
- Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra system rivers, on average, flow easterly across the Himalayan area.
- Importance of River System:
- Vital to North India, providing both surface and groundwater for irrigation.
- Crucial for agriculture and industries like leather tanning.
- Supports inland waterways, a diverse range of species, and contributes to the country’s flora and wildlife.
- Essential for natural resources like forests, demonstrating their economic value.
- Dependency and Economic Value:
- Approximately half of the world’s population relies on these rivers, emphasizing their economic significance.
- Hydropower Potential:
- Himalayan rivers offer enormous hydropower-generating potential.
- India aggressively pursued this potential starting in the 1950s.
- Bhakra-Nangal Project:
- Massive multifunctional project located on the Sutlej River in the Outer Himalayas.
Conclusion
The Indian drainage system is a complex network comprising numerous small and major rivers, shaped by the evolution of three primary physiographic units and the characteristics of precipitation. Key river basins such as Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra are integral components of the vast Himalayan drainage system. The alarming melting of glaciers due to global warming poses a critical threat to this intricate ecosystem. Simultaneously, human activities, notably the establishment of industries along river banks, contribute to significant contamination.
In essence, our actions have direct consequences on the health of these rivers, and by jeopardizing them, we are not only risking our own well-being but also endangering the survival of other species. The repercussions of these actions are likely to unfold in the future, underscoring the urgency for sustainable practices to preserve these vital waterways.
FAQs on Himalayan Drainage System
Q1: Where is Potwar Plateau located?
A: The Potwar Plateau is located in northern Pakistan, extending into northeastern Pakistan and the western regions of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated between the Indus River in the west and the Jhelum River in the east.
Q2: What are the important tributaries of the Indus?
A: The Indus River has several important tributaries. Some notable ones include the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. These rivers significantly contribute to the Indus River system’s flow and drainage.
Q3: Where is the origin of the Brahmaputra river system?
A: The Brahmaputra river system originates from the Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar Lake in the Kailash range, situated in Tibet. The river is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet and as the Brahmaputra in India and Bangladesh as it flows through these countries before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
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