Uttarakhand is known as the Land of Rivers. Because Uttarakhand is located in the lap of the Himalayas, many small and big rivers start from here. It is rich in natural resources and is known for its many glaciers, rivers, dense forests, mountain peaks, and abundant water sources. The rivers in Uttarakhand are not just water bodies; they are the lifeline of the state, holding deep religious, cultural, and environmental value. Several major rivers of Uttarakhand originate from the Himalayan glaciers and Shivalik hills, which makes the region one of the most important river systems in India. Uttarakhand is also known as Devbhoomi, meaning the “Land of the Gods,” as many important religious sites, such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, are located in this state, and many of which lie near the sources of major rivers.

These hills are directly connected to sacred mountain ranges such as Mount Kailash, which is why the rivers flowing from this region carry water throughout the year. These rivers of Uttarakhand are not only important for Uttarakhand, but also serve as major sources of drinking water, irrigation, and power generation for many other states of the country. In this article, we will learn about the major rivers in Uttarakhand.

List of Famous Rivers in Uttarakhand

Some of the rivers in Uttarakhand are very important for religious reasons, while others are known for their natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Many rivers are mentioned in ancient texts like the Vedas and Puranas, which show their religious, social, and economic importance. Along the banks of some rivers, there are holy places and sacred temples, while along others, important cities of the state have developed. Most rivers flowing in Uttarakhand move in the south-east direction. Some of the major rivers in Uttarakhand were:

Bhagirathi
Alaknanda
Gori Ganga River
Kali River
Dhauliganga (Garhwal and Kumaon)
Ganga River
Yamuna River
Tons River
Gaula River
Kosi River
Ramganga (Western and Eastern)
Mandakini River
Nandakini River
Pindar
Saryu

Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand

Bhagirathi river in uttarakhand

The Bhagirathi River is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It originates from a place called Gaumukh, which is about 19 kilometers away from the Gangotri and Khatling glacier base.

Origin: The origin point is named Gaumukh because the source of the river looks like the mouth of a cow (gau means cow and mukh means mouth).
Length: If we talk about the length of the Bhagirathi River, it is approximately 205 kilometers long.
Tributaries: This river has many tributaries, including Kedar Ganga, Jadh Ganga, Kakora, Jalandhari, Siyan, Assi Ganga, and Bhilangana.
River confluence: The confluence of Bhagirathi and Kedar Ganga takes place near Gangotri. Jadh Ganga merges with the Bhagirathi at a place called Bhairav Ghati. After this, the Jalandhari River joins the Bhagirathi near Harsil, while the Siyan River meets it at a place called Jhala. Finally, Assi Ganga near Uttarkashi and Bhilangana near Old Tehri also merge into the Bhagirathi River.
Basin: The basin area of the Bhagirathi River is about 6,921 square kilometers, and its highest source point is known as Chaukhamba.
Dams on the Bhagirathi River: Many important dams are located on the Bhagirathi River, such as Maneri Bhali, Joshiyara, and Koteshwar, but the most important among them is the Tehri Dam. The Tehri Dam has a height of 260.5 meters and is considered the fifth-highest dam in the world. This dam generates around 2,400 megawatts of electricity. It also supplies about 1.2 billion liters of drinking water to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Religious Importance: The Bhagirathi River has great religious importance in Uttarakhand. It flows close to Kedarnath, which is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Devotees who visit Kedarnath take a holy dip in this river to wash away their sins.
End: The Bhagirathi begins its journey from Gaumukh and finally meets the Alaknanda River at Devprayag.

Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Alaknanda River originates from the confluence of the Satopanth Glacier and the Bhagirathi Kharak Glacier.
Length: The total length of the Alaknanda River is about 195 kilometers. It flows through the Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Pauri Garhwal districts of the Garhwal division.
River confluence: The Alaknanda River meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag. From this point onward, the two rivers together are known as the Ganga River. At Devprayag, the color of the Alaknanda stream appears light blue, while the Bhagirathi River looks light green. Because of this color difference, the confluence point looks very beautiful and unique.
Main Tributaries: The Alaknanda River has five main tributaries. These tributaries join the river at five different places in the Garhwal region, forming the famous Panch Prayag:

Dhauliganga joins at Vishnuprayag
Nandakini River joins at Nandprayag
The Pindar River joins at Karnaprayag
Mandakini River joins at Rudraprayag
Bhagirathi River joins Alaknanda at Devprayag

Basin: The total basin area of the Alaknanda River is about 10,882 square kilometers. At present, 6 hydroelectric dams are operational on this river. Additionally, 8 dams are under construction, and 23 hydroelectric projects have been proposed.
Religious Importance: Like the Bhagirathi River, the Alaknanda River also has great religious importance. The ancient name of this river is believed to be Vishnu Ganga. One of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites, Badrinath, is located on the banks of the Alaknanda River. This holy place is surrounded by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges and the Neelkanth Peak.

Gori Ganga River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Gori Ganga River originates from the Milam glacier in the Munsiyari tehsil of Pithoragarh District.
Course: The Gori River flows for about 104 km through the Johar Valley.
Major Tributary: The major tributaries of gori ganga river include the Ralam Gad and Madkani (at Madkot).
Confluence: The Gori Ganga merges into the Kali River at Jauljibi.
Cultural Importance: This spot is famous for the Jauljibi Mela, an annual international trade fair held in November that brings together traders and cultures from India, Nepal, and Tibet.

Kali River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Kali River is one of the main rivers of Uttarakhand. It originates near Lipulekh Pass in the Pithoragarh district, from a place called Kalapani.
Religious importance: The river is named after the Hindu goddess Maa Kali. Near the place where the river originates, there is a Maha Kali temple located close to the Lipulekh Pass, which lies on the Indo-Tibetan border.
River meets: The Kali River forms the natural boundary between India and Nepal. After flowing through Uttarakhand, the river enters Uttar Pradesh. From Tanakpur onwards, it is known as the Sharda River. The river finally meets the Ghaghara River near Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh.
Length of the River: The total length of the Kali River in Uttarakhand is about 252 kilometers.
Main Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Kali River are the Eastern Dhauliganga, Gori Ganga, Lohawati River, and Saryu River
Dams: Several important dams and barrages are located on the Kali River. The most important among them are the Tanakpur Barrage and the Sharda Barrage. The Tanakpur Barrage, located in Uttarakhand, is a hydroelectric power generation project that produces about 120MW of electricity. The Sharda Barrage at Banbasa near Tanakpur is mainly used for irrigation and flood control, and supplies water to large agricultural areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Dhauliganga River in Uttarakhand

The Dhauliganga River is one of the six source streams of the Ganga River. There are two rivers named Dhauliganga in Uttarakhand—one in the Garhwal region and the other in the Kumaon region.

West Dhauliganga

Origin: The Garhwal Dhauliganga originates from the Deban Glacier.
Length: It flows for a total distance of about 94 kilometers and meets the Alaknanda River at Vishnuprayag.
Tributaries: This river has several small tributaries, including Parla, Kamat, Jainti, Amrit Ganga, and Girthi rivers.

East Dhauliganga

Origin: The second Dhauliganga River flows through the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. It originates from the Govan Khana Glacier and joins the Kali River at a place called Tawaghat.
Length: The total length of this river is about 91 kilometers.
Dam: A Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project (280 MW) dam has been built on this river in the Pithoragarh district.

Ganga River in Uttarakhand

The Ganga River is not only the longest river in India but also the most popular and sacred river in the country. The river is mentioned in many religious scriptures, which is why it is considered the holiest river in India.

Ganga River Formation: The Ganga River is formed by the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. It flows through the plains of Haridwar and then enters Uttar Pradesh. The total length of the Ganga River is about 2,525 kilometers, but in Uttarakhand, it flows for only about 96 kilometers.
Ganga Mainstreams: The Ganga River has many upstream rivers. Among them, there are six main upstreams, which are Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Dhauliganga, Pindar, and Nandakini.
Religious Importance: In 2008, it was declared the National River of India. In 2017, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the Ganga a living entity, giving it the same legal rights as a human being. World-famous evening rituals, Ganga Aarti, are performed daily at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar and Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh.
Dams: Many hydroelectric projects are located on the Ganga River in Uttarakhand. Important projects include those run by NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) was Tapovan Vishnugad project in the Joshimath region.

Yamuna River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Yamuna River is the largest tributary of the Ganga River. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier on the Bandarpunch mountain range in Uttarakhand. The river flows southward and finally ends at Prayagraj, where it meets the Ganga River at the holy Sangam.
Length: The total length of the Yamuna River is about 1,376 kilometers, while in Uttarakhand, it flows for around 136 kilometers. In Uttarakhand, the Yamuna River flows through the Uttarkashi and Dehradun districts and also forms the boundary between Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Tributaries of Yamuna: The main tributaries of the Yamuna River in Uttarakhand include the Tons River, Rishi Ganga, Hanuman Ganga, and Kamal Ganga.
Religious Importance: In Hinduism, the Yamuna River holds the same religious importance as the Ganga River. The Yamuna is believed to be the daughter of the Sun God (Surya) and the Cloud Goddess Sanjna, and the twin sister of Yama, the God of Death.
Dams: A few important dams and barrages are built on the Yamuna River in Uttarakhand. The most important among them is the Dakpathar Barrage, located near Dehradun, which diverts water for irrigation and supplies water to the Dhakrani and Dhalipur hydroelectric power plants. Another major project on the Yamuna is the Lakhwar Multipurpose Dam, which is currently under construction. After completion, this dam will help in hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, drinking water supply, and flood control in the Yamuna basin.

Tons River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Tons River is the largest tributary of the Yamuna River in Uttarakhand, which carries more water than the Yamuna at their meeting point. It is formed by the meeting of two rivers. The Supin River, which originates from the Swargarohini Glacier in the Bandarpunch mountain range, and the Rupin River, which originates from the Dodra Kwar region of Himachal Pradesh, meet at a place called Naitwar in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
River Confluence: The Tons River finally meets the Yamuna River at Kalsi in the Dehradun district. After their confluence, the river is known as the Tamas River for some distance, and later it is called the Tons River. It forms the natural boundary between Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Length: The total length of the Tons River is about 148 kilometers.
Religious Importance: The famous temple Mahasu Devta Temple at Hanol, dedicated to the chief deity of the region, is located on the banks of the Tons River.
Dam: An important structure, the Ichari Dam, is built on the Tons River in Uttarakhand.
Adventure: This small town, Mori, on the banks of the Tons river is the primary hub for riverside camping and adventure sports.

Gaula (gola) River in Uttarakhand

The Gola River is also known as the Lifeline of Haldwani. The Gola River is the largest river of the Haldwani tehsil in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Origin: It originates from the Pidapani valley, near a place called Paharpani. After this, it becomes larger by joining several small streams that flow from the lakes of Bhimtal and Sattal.
Length: The Gola River flows through cities such as Kathgodam, Gola Barrage area, and Haldwani, and finally meets the Ramganga River near a place called Kichha. The total length of the Gola River is about 103 kilometers.
Dam: A massive multi-purpose project, the Jamrani Dam is being constructed on this river to solve the long-term water crisis in the Haldwani region.
Religious Importance: The river flows near the holy site Kainchi Dham, a highly revered Hanuman temple and ashram established by Shri Neem Karoli Baba.

Kosi River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Kosi River in Uttarakhand originates from Dharapani Dhar, located in the Kausani hills. The Kosi River is also known as the Sorrow of Bihar.
Course: It is a tributary of the Ramganga River and flows parallel to the Ramganga River on its eastern side. The river passes through the Almora and Nainital districts and enters the plains near Ramnagar. After flowing through Udham Singh Nagar, the Kosi River finally joins the Ramganga River near Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. At the local level, this river is also known as the Koshila River.
Many towns and cities are situated along the banks of the Kosi River, including Someshwar, Almora, Khwarab, Khairana, Garm Pani, Betalghat, Garjia, Ramnagar, and Sultanpur.
Main Tributaries: The Kosi River has several tributaries, among which Devgad, Milolgad, and Sumaligad are important
Religious Importance: A very famous temple Garjiya Devi Temple, is located on a large rock in the middle of the Kosi River near Ramnagar.

Ramganga River in Uttarakhand

Western Ramganga River

Origin: The Ramganga River in Uttarakhand originates from the watershed area of the Dudhatoli mountain range in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.
Length: It later meets the Ganga River in the Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. During its course, the river covers a total distance of 596 kilometers, out of which 155 kilometers lie in Uttarakhand. The Ramganga River enters the plains of Uttar Pradesh near Kalagarh Fort in Bijnor district.
Main tributaries: In Uttarakhand, ramganga river main tributaries are the Birma, Gagas, and Vino rivers.
Dam: The Kalagarh Dam in Pauri Garhwal district has been constructed on the Ramganga River.
Religious Importance: It's believed that Lord Rama crossed this river during his exile.

Eastern Ramganga River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Eastern Ramganga River, which flows in the Kumaon region. It originates from the Namik Glacier in the Pithoragarh district of the Kumaon region. It merges with the Saryu River at Rameshwaram.
Length: The total length of this river is 108 kilometers. The region of the eastern Ramganga is known as Shira–Didihat.

Mandakini River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The origin point of the Mandakini River is the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath. The Mandakini River is a tributary of the Alaknanda River. It joins the Alaknanda River at Rudraprayag.
Length: It covers a total distance of 72 km along its course. During the rainy season, the river becomes quite violent, causing significant loss of life and property.
Religious Importance: The river flows right alongside the Kedarnath Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a major part of the Char Dham Yatra.
Main Tributary: The main tributaries of the Mandakini River were the Vasukiganga River (joining at Sonprayag), Kaliganga, and the Madhyamaheshwar Ganga.
Dam: The Mandakini Hydro Power Project has been constructed on the Mandakini River.

Nandakini River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Nandakini River originates from the Nanda Ghunti glacier within the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. It is a tributary of alaknanda river.
Length: After flowing for about 56 km, it meets the Alaknanda River at Nandprayag.
Religious Importance: The river and the town (Nandprayag) are named after King Nanda, who is said to have performed a great penance here to seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Dams: Many small-scale hydroelectric projects like Vanala HEP (15 MW) & Rajwakti HEP (3.6 MW) run on the Nandakini river.

Pindar River in Uttarakhand

Origin: The Pindari River originates from the Pindari Glacier in the Bageshwar district of the Kumaon region.
Length: The Pindar River in Uttarakhand flows approximately 105 km.
Confluence: It merges with the Alakananda River in Karanprayag.
Major tributaries: Kali ganga and Ata Gad were the major tributaries of pindar river.
Religious Importance: The confluence at Karnaprayag is named after Karna, a central character of the Mahabharata. It is believed he meditated here to please the Sun God and received his impenetrable armor (Kavach and Kundal).

Saryu River in Uttarakhand

The Saryu River is one of the most important and sacred rivers in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Origin: The Saryu River originates from near Nanda Kot in Bageshwar district. It flows through the districts of Bageshwar, Almora, and Pithoragarh.
Confluence (End): The Sarju merges with the Kali River at a place called Pancheshwar.
Total Length: It covers a distance of approximately 146 km within Uttarakhand.
Major Tributaries: Gomati River, the Eastern Ramganga, and Panar River are the major tributaries of the Saryu River in Uttarakhand.
Religious Importance: The meeting point of the Saryu and Gomati rivers in Bageshwar is considered highly sacred. It is the site of the ancient Bagnath Temple. Every year in January (during Makar Sankranti), a massive fair called the Uttaraini Mela is held on the banks of the Sarju in Bageshwar. Historically, this fair was the site of the Coolie-Begar abolition movement in 1921.
Dams: Dams on the Saryu River in Uttarakhand include the existing Nanak Sagar Dam and proposed Pancheshwar Dam, a massive joint venture between India and Nepal intended for massive hydroelectric power and irrigation.

Rivers in Uttarakhand: Major Rivers, Origin & Facts