The Gangas is a transboundary river of Asia that flows through India and Bangladesh, and covers about 2,525 kilometers (1,569 miles) from its origin in the Himalayas to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal. The Ganga is considered the holiest river in Hinduism, with numerous pilgrimage sites along its course, including Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. The river is central to various festivals, including Ganga Dussehra and Kumbh Mela. The Ganga faces severe pollution from industrial waste, sewage, and religious offerings. The government has launched initiatives like the Namami Gange project to clean and rejuvenate the river. The Ganga basin supports agriculture, providing water for irrigation and sustaining a significant population. It is also important for fishing, transport, and hydropower.
The Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand formed from six headstreams, where it is primarily formed by the confluence of two rivers:
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Bhagirathi River: Originates from the Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh, located at an elevation of about 4,100 meters (13,450 feet) in the Garhwal Himalayas. The glacier is situated in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The Bhagirathi is traditionally considered the main source of the Ganga.
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Alaknanda River: Originates from the Satopanth Glacier, near the sacred Badrinath temple in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The headwaters of the Alakananda are formed by snow melt from peaks such as Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Kamet. The glacier is located at an elevation of around 3,800 meters (12,500 feet). The Alaknanda is the largest of the headstreams in terms of volume.
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Confluence Points (Panch Prayag):
- Vishnuprayag: Confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga.
- Nandaprayag: Confluence of Alaknanda and Nandakini.
- Karnaprayag: Confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar.
- Rudraprayag: Confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini.
- Devprayag: Confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, marking the beginning of the Ganga.
After Devprayag, the river is known as the Ganga and continues its journey through the plains of northern India.
The course of the Ganga River spans across several states in northern and eastern India, flowing through diverse landscapes before reaching the Bay of Bengal:
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Uttarakhand (110 km): Main stem of the Ganges begins at the town of Devprayag and flows through Rishikesh and Haridwar, where it descends from the Himalayas into the plains.
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Uttar Pradesh (1450 km): Ganga enters the Gangetic Plains at Haridwar and flows southeast across the vast alluvial plains of northern India.
- Kanpur: An important industrial city along the Ganga.
- Allahabad (Prayagraj): The site of the Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga meets the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.
- Varanasi: One of the holiest cities in Hinduism, where pilgrims perform rituals on the riverbanks.
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Bihar (445 km): The Ganga continues its southeastward flow, entering Bihar.
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West Bengal (520 km): The Ganga enters West Bengal and approaches its deltaic region.
- At the Farakka Barrage, the river splits into two main distributaries: the Hooghly (which flows through Kolkata) and the Padma (which flows into Bangladesh).
- In West Bengal, the river begins to branch out, forming the extensive Sundarbans delta.
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Bangladesh: After splitting at Farakka, the Ganga River known as the Padma River enters Bangladesh.
- The Padma meets the Jamuna (the main distributary of the Brahmaputra River) and later the Meghna, forming one of the largest river systems in the world.
- The combined flow of these rivers empties into the Bay of Bengal through the Sundarbans delta.
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Sundarbans Delta: The Ganga, along with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, forms the Sundarbans Delta, the largest delta in the world, covering parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. The delta is home to the Sundarbans mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the habitat of the Bengal tiger.
Right Bank tributaries of the Ganga River are those that join the river from the south, primarily originating from the peninsular plateau of India:
Left Bank tributaries of the Ganga River are those that join the river from the north, mainly originating from the Himalayan region:
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Ramganga River
- Origin: Southern slopes of Dudhatoli Hill in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
- Flows through Dun Valley of Corbett National Park
- Joins the Ganga near Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh.
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Gomti River
- Source: Gomat Taal (Fulhaar Jheel) near Madhoganj Tanda, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
- Joins the Ganga in Ghaziapur (location of famous Markandey Mahadev temple).
- The Gomti is an important river in Uttar Pradesh, flowing through the state capital, Lucknow.
- Most important tributary: Sai River (confluence near Jaunpur)
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Ghaghara River
- Origin: Tibetan Plateau near the Mapchachungo Glacier.
- Trans-Himalayan origin
- Also known as Karnali or Kauriala
- Cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal
- Joins the Ganga near Chhapra in Bihar.
- The Ghaghara is a major tributary that contributes a large volume of water, especially during the monsoon. It is known for causing floods in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
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Kali River
- Rises in the high glaciers of trans-Himalaya
- Forms the boundary b/w Nepal and Kumaon
- Also known as Sarda (after it reaches the plains near Tanakpur)
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Gandak River
- Source: Himalayas in Nepal (Dhaulagiri range).
- Union of Kali and Trisuli rivers
- Joins the Ganga near Sonpur in Bihar.
- The Gandak flows through Nepal and India
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Burhi Gandak River
- Source: West Champaran district, Bihar.
- Joins the Ganga near Khagaria in Bihar.
- Burhi Gandak flows parallel to the Gandak and is known for its seasonal floods.
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Kosi River
- Source: Himalayas in Tibet and Nepal.
- Also known as Saptokoshi (has 7 Himalayan tributaries)
- Joins the Ganga near Kursela in Kathiar district of Bihar.
- Often called the "Sorrow of Bihar" due to its devastating floods, the Kosi is one of the most volatile rivers in the region.
The Ganga River Basin covers an area of approximately 1,086,000 square kilometers (419,300 square miles), making it one of the largest river basins in the world, covering parts of four countries and multiple Indian states:
- Four countries: India, Nepal, China, and Bangladesh
- Eleven Indian states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal
- One Indian Union Territory: Delhi.
The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin is spread across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and China.
The Ganga has played a crucial role in the history of India, with many of its cities along the riverbanks serving as major centers of power, culture, and economy. Here are some historically significant cities that have flourished on the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries:
- Pataliputra: Ancient capital of the Maurya and Gupta empires, located near modern-day Patna.
- Kannauj: Once a major center of culture and trade, particularly during the rule of Harsha in the 7th century.
- Sonargaon: An ancient administrative and commercial city in Bengal, near modern-day Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Dhaka: The capital of Bangladesh, located on the banks of the Buriganga River, a tributary of the Ganga.
- Bikrampur: An ancient city near Dhaka, historically significant in the Bengal region.
- Kara: An ancient town in Uttar Pradesh, historically a site of military importance.
- Munger: Known for its ancient fort and spiritual significance in Bihar.
- Kashi (Varanasi): One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, renowned for its religious and cultural heritage.
- Patna: The modern capital of Bihar, rich in history as the ancient city of Pataliputra.
- Hajipur: Known for its historical and cultural significance in Bihar.
- Delhi: Although not directly on the Ganga, it lies near the Yamuna River, a major tributary of the Ganga, and has been a center of power for several dynasties.
- Bhagalpur: An ancient city in Bihar, historically significant for its silk production.
- Murshidabad: The former capital of Bengal under the Nawabs, located near the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganga.
- Baharampur: Another historically important town in West Bengal, close to Murshidabad.
- Kampilya: An ancient city mentioned in Hindu scriptures, located in present-day Uttar Pradesh.
- Kolkata: The capital of West Bengal, situated on the Hooghly River, a major distributary of the Ganga, and a major colonial trade and administrative hub during the British era.
Extra Information about Ganges:
- The Ganges is the embodiment of all sacred waters in Hindu mythology.
- The Godavari River of Maharashtra is called the Ganges of the South or the 'Dakshin Ganga'
- Ganges water is used in Vedic rituals after death.
- Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges River. The major event of the festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river.
- The first British canal in India was the Ganges Canal built between 1842 and 1854.
- A major barrage at Farakka was built on the Ganga River in West Bengal. It is located close to the point where the main flow of the river enters Bangladesh, and the tributary Hooghly (also known as Bhagirathi).
- Lav Khush Barrage across the River Ganges in Kanpur.
- Tehri Dam was constructed on Bhagirathi River, a tributary of the Ganges.
- Bansagar Dam was built on the Sone River, a tributary of the Ganges
- The river's most famed faunal member is the freshwater Ganges river dolphin, which has been declared India's national aquatic animal.
- In November 2008, the Ganges was declared as a "National River"
- A bacteria called Batriaphos is found in the Ganges water, which keeps on eating the undesirable substances produced by chemical reactions inside the Ganges water. This maintains the purity of Gangajal.
