Rivers and Lakes of India

Farakka Barrage is constructed across the Ganga River in West Bengal. Its main purpose is to divert water into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system to help maintain navigation at Kolkata Port. Do not confuse it with Hirakud Dam, which is on the Mahanadi. Exam tip: remember Farakka Barrage with the Ganga and West Bengal.

Sabarmati is especially associated with Gujarat. For exams remember Ahmedabad with Sabarmati.

Mahi River flows westward into the Arabian Sea. For exams remember Mahi as a river of western India.

Periyar is an important river of Kerala. For exams link Periyar with South India and Kerala.

Damodar was earlier called the Sorrow of Bengal due to floods. For exams also remember the Damodar Valley Project.

Teesta is an important river linked with the Brahmaputra system. For exams link Teesta with Sikkim and North Bengal region.

Jhelum is a major river of the Indus system. For exams link Jhelum with Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus system.

Ravi is a major river of the Indus system. For exams remember the names of the five rivers of Punjab.

The Beas is a major tributary of the Indus river system. It rises near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh and joins the Sutlej in Punjab. The Krishna, Godavari and Mahanadi belong to separate Peninsular river systems. Exam tip: Remember Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej as rivers of the Indus system.

Alaknanda meets Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganga. For exams remember Alaknanda Bhagirathi and Devprayag.

The Bhagirathi stream of Ganga rises from the Gangotri Glacier. Source locations are often asked in exams.

The Yamuna is a major Himalayan river and its traditionally identified source is the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. From the high Himalaya, the river flows through the Yamunotri region and eventually joins the Ganga at Prayagraj, forming part of the Ganga river system. Therefore option A is correct. Amarkantak is associated mainly with the source of the Narmada and Son rivers. Lake Mansarovar is linked with the upper courses or traditional source regions of rivers such as the Indus, Sutlej and Brahmaputra, not the Yamuna. Brahmagiri Hills are associated with the origin of the Godavari. These contrasts make the source-based answer clear.

The Brahmaputra enters Arunachal Pradesh as Siang or Dihang. Later it is known as Brahmaputra in Assam.

The Narmada flows westward and drains into the Arabian Sea. Remember west flowing rivers separately.

The Tapi flows westward and drains into the Arabian Sea. Narmada and Tapi are both west flowing rivers.

The Narmada flows westward through a rift valley and reaches the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Khambhat. Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Exam tip: Remember Narmada and Tapi as major west-flowing rivers.

The Godavari rises near Trimbak in Maharashtra. Remember the source states of peninsular rivers.

The Kaveri rises from the Brahmagiri Hills in Karnataka. It is very important among South Indian rivers.

The Mahanadi forms a large delta in Odisha before entering the Bay of Bengal. Identify delta forming rivers on the map.

Wular Lake is located in Jammu and Kashmir. It is counted among the major freshwater lakes of India.