The Ganga river system
India's holiest and longest river, formed where two Himalayan streams meet, flowing to the world's largest delta.
What the paper can ask
- The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet in Uttarakhand to form the main stem; it is India's longest river.
- Enters the plains at Haridwar; splits near Farakka, where the Hooghly branches off; called the Padma in Bangladesh.
- The Ganges delta is the world's largest, about 64,000 sq km.
- The Alaknanda is the hydrological source (longer); the Bhagirathi the traditional one.
Why exams ask
The glacier, the confluence town, where the Yamuna joins and the delta are the usual questions.
The full story
The Ganga is formed in Uttarakhand where two Himalayan rivers, the Bhagirathi (the source in Hindu tradition) and the Alaknanda (the longer source stream), meet at one of the five 'prayags'. It leaves the hills at Rishikesh, enters the plains at Haridwar, and flows through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Its biggest tributary is the Yamuna; others include the Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi.
In the news
- MEA: Joint Rivers Commission is the mechanism for cross-border rivers incl. the Ganga; Ganga treaty expires 12 December 3 Nov
- Ganges Grandmasters win Global Chess League Season 4 13 Sep
- Bihar raises concerns over renewal of 1996 Ganga Water Treaty 25 Aug
- Rajasthan and Haryana sign Yamuna Water Project agreement ending 30-year dispute 29 Jun
Test yourself
1.The Ganga begins its journey as the Bhagirathi from which glacier?
Correct. The Bhagirathi rises at the Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh in Uttarakhand.
Not quite. The Bhagirathi rises at the Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh in Uttarakhand. It goes into your error book.
2.At which place do the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet to form the main stem of the Ganga?
Correct. The main stem of the Ganges begins at Devprayag where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet.
Not quite. The main stem of the Ganges begins at Devprayag where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet. It goes into your error book.
3.The Yamuna, longest tributary of the Ganga, joins it at which city?
Correct. The Yamuna joins the Ganges at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
Not quite. The Yamuna joins the Ganges at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj. It goes into your error book.