Table of Contents
Yamuna River
| Name of the River | Important facts | |
| Yamuna | enters HP at Khadar Majri in Sirmaur district and leaves at Tajewala. | |
| It is biggest tributary of the Ganga river. | ||
| Ancient Name | According to a legend, this river has relation to the Sun. | |
| Kalindi | In Garhwal hills, it rises from Yamunotri glacier. | |
| Also, the Yamuna is the Eastern-most river of HP. | ||
| Tons, Pabbar and Giri or Giri Ganga are some famous tributaries of Yamuna in HP. | ||
| It length in HP is nearly 22 kilometer. | ||
| In Himachal, Yamuna has a catchment of 2,320 sqkm. | ||
| Important human settlement Paonta-Sahib |
Tributaries of Yamuna River
| River Name | Important Facts |
| Jalal River | –smallest tributary of the Giri river in Himachal Pradesh. –starts from Dharthi ranges’ at ‘Dadahu‘ it joins Yamuna. – at Dadahu, it also joins the river Giriganga. –a rainfed river and during the monsoon season, river has sudden flow. -Bagthan and Dadhau are important Human settlements on bank of this river. |
| Markanda RIver | –In Nahan area, Markanda river is a small river. -rainfed river and rises abruptly in the monsoon. -Nahan town lies on its right bank. |
| Andhra RIver | –tributary of the Pabbar River(Pabbar River also drains into the Tons river). –starts from a small glacier located in the North West of Chirgaon in Shimla district. –at Chirgaon, river merges with the Pabbar river. |
| Giri River | –important tributary of the Yamuna. –rising from Kupar peak near the town Jubbal. –divides the Sirmaur district into two equal parts-1) Cis-Giri 2) Trans-Giri region. –near Sadhupul, it is joined by Ashni river. -river Jalal joins it at Dadahu from the right bank. –through a tunnel water of Giri river is led to the power house of Girinagar and then to Bata river.(tunnel length-13.16 km) |
| Asni River | The Asni river is a tributary of the Giri river which in turn drains into the Yamuna river. river flows along a deep V shaped valley. various small tributaries join the Asni river. |
| Bata River | –originates below the Nahan ridge’ as the Jalmusa ka-Khala. –mainly fed by rain water. –small tributories to join Bata river are 1) Khara-Ka-Khala rises from the Nahan ridge. 2) Kanser Khala rises near the Nahan (Kanser ridge). |
Satluj River
| River Name | Important Facts |
| Satluj | -In Tibet, it rises near “Mansarover lake from Rakas lake“.(known as Longchhen Khabag river in Tibet). |
| –largest river among the five rivers of HP. | |
| Vedic Name–Satudri | -at ‘Shipki‘ in Kinnaur district (6,608 meters), it enters HP. |
| Sanskrit Name–Shatadru | -it flows through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. |
| -in HP total length is-320 Km. | |
| -Important tributaries: Right bank tributaries-Spiti, Ropa, Taiti, Kashang, Mulgaon, Yula, the Wanger, Throng and Rupi. Left bank tributaries– Tirung, Gayanthing, Baspa, Duling and Soldang. | |
| -leaves HP to enter Punjab at ‘Bhakhra‘-world’s highest gravity dam. | |
| –total catchment area in Himachal Pradesh-20,000 sqkm. | |
| -important human settlements- Rampur, Tattapani, Sunni, Namgia, Kalpa, and Bilaspur. |
Tributaries of Satluj River
| River Name | Important facts |
| Baspa River | -an important river which joins Satluj in its upper courses. -the main Himalayan range is cut across by this river. -In district Kinnaur, this river(Baspa) joins the Satluj river. -from the Baspa hills, it rises and joins Satluj from near Karcham (Kalpa) left bank. -To enter Shimla district, it leaves the Kinnaur district near Chauhra. |
| Spiti River | -rises from Kunzum range in L-S district. -Two small rivers-Tegpo‘ and ‘Kabzian‘ joins this river. -this river also got water from the famous Pin valley. -This river does not receive water from S-W monsoon due to its position across the main Himalayan range. -at ‘Namgia‘ in Kinnaur, spiti river merges with Satluj river. -it covers about 150 km before merging in Satluj river. -main settlements- Dhankar Gompa and Hansi. |
| Nogli Khad | –joins Satluj below Rampur Bushahr. -this river touches the Nirmand tehsil (Kullu district) which is opposite to Rampur tehsil of Shimla district. -In Mandi district, near Firnu village Satluj enters the district. -Except Jaidevi and Balh circles all circles of ancient state of Suket drains into Satluj. -main tributories in Mandi district-Behna, Siman, Bantrehr, Khadel, Siun, Bahlu, Kotu, and Bhagmati. |
| Soan River | -rises from ‘Solasinghi’ range also known as Shivalik’ range. -joins the Satluj river near the boundary of HP and Punjab. |
Beas River
| River Name | Important facts |
| Beas | -‘Beas Rishi‘- the source of the river Beas lies to the right of Rohtang pass. |
| Vedic Name–Arjikiya | -here Maharishi Vyas meditated (great thinker and Mahabharata writer). |
| Sanskrit Name–Irawati | -‘Beas Kund‘- another source of Beas (located to south of ‘Beas Rishi’). |
| -at village ‘Palachan‘-streams from both sources meet and form the river Beas. | |
| -ancient name till Mahabhrata- “Arjiki“. | |
| -The great sages Narad, Vashisht, Vishwamitra, Bhrigu, Jamdagni, Bhardwaj, Vyas, Prashar, Kanav, Vamdev, Kapil, Gautam, Shringi and on the banks of this river-on different occasions Parshuram meditated. | |
| -Today temples of many sages still exist in the valley of vyas. | |
| -main tributaries which join Beas are- -In the East, the Parbati, the Spin and the Malana nala. -In the west, the Sujoin, the Phojal, the Solang, the Manalsu, and the Sarvari rivers. | |
| -Except Southern tributaries all tributaries of Beas are snow fed and hence perennial. | |
| -The water of Beas have been turned toward to Satluj through a big tunnel at Pandoh(Mandi district). | |
| -length in HP-256km | |
| -the world famous valleys of Kullu and Kangra-formed by Beas river. | |
| -main settlements- Sujanpur Tihra, Nadaun, Kullu, Mandi, Bajaura, Pandoh and Dehra-Gopipur. | |
| -total catchment in HP-12000 sqkm. |
Tributaries of Beas River
| River Name | Important facts |
| Awa River | -it rises from the Kangra Valley of HP in Dhauladhar range. -It flows in a S-W direction then joins the river Beas. -receives snowfed as well as rainfall water. |
| Baner River | -other name-‘Baner Khad‘. -the central part of the Kangra valley is drained by this river. -near Palampur, rises from small snow fed channel in Dhauladhar range. |
| Banganga River | -in the Kangra valley, Banganga river joins the river Beas. -rises from the Dhauladhar range Southern slopes. -various snow melt streams joins this river. |
| Chakki River | -drains the S-W part of HP. –stream in upper course is snow-fed which also receives the rain water. -it joins the Beas near Pathankot after it enters the Punjab. -main settlements-Nurpur town is prominent. |
| Gaj Khad | -various small streams from the Dhauladhar range joins together and forms the river Gaj(or Khad) in Kangra district. –near the Pong dam lake, this river joins the Beas. |
| Harla River | -in the N-W plank of Kullu valley, it rises as a small stream from snowy peaks. -near Bhuntar, Beas river is joined by this river. -The Harla river flows through a narrow V-shaped valley. -Among its course, various rivers join the river Harla. |
| Luni River | -In Kangra valley, Luni river rises from Southern slopes of Dhauladhar range. -In the central part of Kangra valley, this river joins the Beas. |
| Manuni River | -rises from Dhauladhar range Southern slopes and joins the Beas. |
| Parbati River | –Parbati rises in the upper area of Manikaran. -at Shamshi, Parbati river joins the river Beas in Kullu valley. -Hot water springs at Manikaran pour their water into this river. -‘Manikaran‘ and ‘Kasol‘-important human settlements. |
| Patlikhul River | -joins the Beas river in the Manali area. -rises from Pir Panjal range and joins the Beas river near Kullu. |
| Sainj River | -rises from watershed between Satluj and Beas rivers in the lower ranges to East of Kullu. -flows towards S-W to join the Beas. -The valley of Sainj river is V shaped. |
| Suketi River | -joins the Beas in the Kangra valley. -rises from Dhauladhar range Southern slopes. -In its upper course, no. of small streams join the Suketi river. |
| Tirthan River | -rises in S-E of Kullu from the base of great Himalyan range. -joins Beas at Larji (at also cut Dhauladhar range). -In its upper course, it flows through a deep V shaped valley. |
| Uhl River | -it rises in Northern area to Dhauladhar range. -after taking the S-E direction, near the Mandi town, this river merges with Beas. |
Chenab river
| River Name | Important facts |
| Chenab | -rises when two rivers or streams ‘Chandra‘ and ‘Bhaga‘ rise on the adverse side to the Baralacha pass(4891 m). |
| Vedic name-Asikini | –Chandra and Bhaga meet at a place named ‘Tandi‘(2286 m) and form the river Chenab. |
| -near Bhujind, it enter the famous Pangi valley(Chamba). | |
| -at Sansari Nala it leaves the district and entered the Podar valley(Kashmir). | |
| -total length in HP-122 km | |
| -In HP catchment area-7500 sqkm | |
| -in terms of volume of waters–Chenab is the largest river of HP. |
Tributaries of Chenab River
| River Name | Important facts |
| Miyar khad and Saicher khad | -In Lahaul, Miyar Khad joins Chenab. -In Pangi valley, Chenab is joined by Saicher Khad. -lower course tributaries- Jammu Tavi river and Bhaga, -In Dun valley- joined by river Munawarwali. -important human settlements- Udaipur, Killar, Doda and Ramban. |
| Chandra River | -rises from great Himalayan range in L-S district. -thereafter it takes S-E direction—then takes 1800 degree turn—and S-W course in Spiti valley. -this area lies in rain shadow to north of Pir Panjal range. -important human settlement-Koksar. |
| Bhaga River | -rises from the Lahaul valley. -A no. of snowfed rivers join it before Tandi. -various waterfalls, glaciers and U shaped valleys lies in its upper course. -discharge increases during the summer months due to snow melting. |
Ravi River
| River Name | Important Facts |
| Ravi | -originates when Bhadal(feded by glacier) and Tant Giri rivers joins. |
| Vedic Name-Purushni | –right bank tributaries-Budhil, Tundahan Beljedi, Saho and Siul. |
| Sanskrit Name- Irawati | -left bank tributary– Chirchind Nala. |
| –Chamba town-on the right bank. | |
| -the Ravi flows through the famous Chamba Valley. | |
| -length in HP-158 km and catchment area-5,451 sqkm. | |
| -length in Chamba region-130 km and leaves at ‘Kheri‘. | |
| –Alexander’s historians called it the ‘Hydraster‘ and also ‘Rhouadis‘. | |
| -In Kangra district-via Bara Bansu, Tretha Chanota and Ulhansa. | |
| -human settlements- Bharmaur, Madhopur and Chamba. |
Tributaries of Ravi River
| River Name | Important facts |
| Bhadal River | -the trough between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges is the area where Bhadal river originates. -joins the Tant Giri river to form Ravi river. -its course lies in waterfalls and U shaped valleys. |
| Siul River | -rises near J & K and HP border-tract between the Dhauladhar and Pir-Panjal ranges. –River Baira also joins it. -joined by various small snow and spring fed streams. |
| Baira River | -rises from Pir Panjal range in HP. -joined by various snow fed tributaries. -joins the Siul river (also joins the Ravi river). |
| Tant Giri | -originates from area East of Bharmaur (Chamba) as a small stream. -merges with Bhadal river before joining joining Ravi. -the Tant Giri valley is U-shaped. |
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