The Peninsular Rivers

Godavari is a major Peninsular river of India. Exam tip: also remember it as Dakshin Ganga.

Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats. Exam tip: connect Krishna with Western Ghats and Bay of Bengal.

Kaveri rises from the Brahmagiri region of the Western Ghats. Exam tip: remember Kaveri as a river of South India.

Mahanadi flows through Odisha and reaches the Bay of Bengal. Exam tip: connect Mahanadi with Odisha.

Godavari rises near Nashik in Maharashtra. Exam tip: remember Maharashtra as the source region of Godavari.

The Tapi flows westward and drains into the Arabian Sea. The Narmada also flows westward and meets the Arabian Sea, so it has a similar flow direction. The Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri generally flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Exam tip: Remember Narmada and Tapi as the major west-flowing Peninsular rivers.

Peninsular rivers are mainly rain-fed. During the monsoon, heavier rainfall in their catchment areas increases surface runoff and, therefore, river discharge. Glacier melt mainly sustains Himalayan rivers, so option B does not explain the increased flow of Peninsular rivers. Exam tip: remember that Peninsular rivers are generally dependent on seasonal rainfall.

Most Peninsular rivers are mainly rain-fed. During summer, especially before the monsoon, low rainfall and higher evaporation can reduce their water level and discharge. Unlike many Himalayan rivers, they do not usually receive a continuous supply from melting glaciers. Exam tip: remember Peninsular rivers as largely rain-fed rivers with relatively seasonal flow.

Height difference in plateau regions can form waterfalls. Exam tip: connect waterfalls with the Peninsular Plateau.

Shivanasamudra waterfall is on the Kaveri river. Exam tip: remember the major waterfall of Kaveri.

Narmada meets the Gulf of Khambhat. Exam tip: connect Narmada with Arabian Sea and Gulf of Khambhat.

Tapi flows westward and meets the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Khambhat region. Exam tip: remember Tapi like Narmada.

As a Peninsular river approaches the sea, its velocity decreases and it deposits the sediments it carries. The accumulated deposits form a delta. A river does not form a delta because it originates from the sea. Exam tip: east-flowing rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri generally form deltas.

Godavari and Krishna both flow towards the Bay of Bengal. Exam tip: keep them in the east flowing group.

Narmada and Tapi are major west-flowing rivers of Peninsular India. They flow westwards and drain into the Arabian Sea; both follow rift valleys. Most east-flowing Peninsular rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal, so option A is not correct. Exam tip: remember Narmada and Tapi together as west-flowing rivers.

Old stable land makes river courses relatively fixed. Exam tip: connect stable courses with Peninsular Plateau.

Kaveri is a major Peninsular river of South India. Exam tip: also connect it with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Godavari basin is very extensive in Peninsular India. Exam tip: remember Godavari as a large river system.

Krishna rises in the Western Ghats and flows eastward. Exam tip: remember both source and mouth.

Kaveri is an important river in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Exam tip: connect Kaveri with South India.