Rivers of peninsular India
The rivers of the Deccan plateau: most flow east into the Bay of Bengal and build deltas, a few flow west into the Arabian Sea.
What the paper can ask
- The Godavari is India's second longest river and the longest in peninsular India, about 1,465 km, draining about 312,812 sq km.
- Its major tributaries are the Pranhita (largest), Indravati, Sabari, Purna, Manjira and Pravara; it forms a delta near Rajahmundry.
- A rift valley river flows in a trough between two ranges; such rivers meet the sea in an estuary, not a delta.
- The Western Ghats are a major watershed: the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri all rise there.
Why exams ask
The source of each river, which rivers flow west, which forms an estuary and which dam sits on which river are standard.
The full story
Peninsular rivers rise in the Western Ghats or central highlands, are rain-fed and older than the Himalayan rivers. Most flow east into the Bay of Bengal and build wide, fertile deltas; the Godavari is the longest. A few flow west into the Arabian Sea through narrow trough valleys and end in estuaries (funnel-shaped mouths) instead of deltas, because the fast flow and the tides carry the silt away. Dams and water disputes are exam staples.
In the news
Test yourself
1.The Godavari rises near Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of which state?
Correct. The Godavari rises near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and flows into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.
Not quite. The Godavari rises near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and flows into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. It goes into your error book.
2.The Krishna river rises near which hill station in the Western Ghats?
Correct. The Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar (Jor village, Satara district), Maharashtra.
Not quite. The Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar (Jor village, Satara district), Maharashtra. It goes into your error book.
3.The Kaveri rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills of Kodagu district in which state?
Correct. Talakaveri lies in Kodagu district, Karnataka; the river ends near Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu.
Not quite. Talakaveri lies in Kodagu district, Karnataka; the river ends near Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu. It goes into your error book.