Major East Flowing Rivers

East flowing rivers flow from west to east due to the natural gradient of the land and eventually drain into the Bay of Bengal.

• These rivers carry large amounts of sediment, leading to the formation of deltas on the eastern coast (while west-flowing rivers typically form estuaries).

Mahanadi

Origin:

• Near Sihawa, Raipur district, Chhattisgarh

Course:

• Flows through Odisha and discharges into the Bay of Bengal
• Initially flows northward through Raipur district
• Shifts to an easterly direction, joined by Jonk and Hasdeo rivers before entering Odisha
• Enters the Bay of Bengal via several channels near Paradeep at False Point, Jagatsinghpur, Odisha

Length:

• Approximately 851 km

Drainage Basin:

• Shared by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha

Major Dam:

• Hirakud Dam (Located near Sambalpur, Odisha), the largest earthen dam in the world, constructed to control the river and mitigate flooding

Godavari

Significance:

• Largest Peninsular river system, Also known as the Dakshin Ganga (Ganga of the South)

Origin:

• Western Ghats, near Nashik, Maharashtra

Course:

• Flows eastwards into Telangana (Nizamabad district)
• Continues southeast, flows through a gap in the Eastern Ghats
• Crosses Andhra Pradesh
• After Rajahmundry, splits into several branches, forming a large delta along the Bay of Bengal coast

Delta:

• The delta, along with the Krishna river delta, is known as the Rice Granary of South India

Length:

• Approximately 1,465 km

Drainage Basin:

• Shared by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh

Major Dam:

• Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton’s Dam: Constructed below Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh in the mid-19th century; first major irrigation project on the Godavari

Principal Tributaries:

• Penganga, Indravati, Pranhita, Manjra

Krishna

Origin:

• Near Mahabaleshwar, Sahyadri Range, Maharashtra

Course:

• Flows eastward and empties into the Bay of Bengal at Hamsaladeevi, near Koduru in Andhra Pradesh

Length:

• Approximately 1,401 km

Drainage Basin:

• Shared by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana

Important Tributaries:

• Tungabhadra, Dudhganga, Koyna, Ghatprabha, Musi, Bhima

Kaveri/Cauvery

Origin:

• Brahmagiri Range, Western Ghats, Kodagu district, Karnataka

Course:

• Flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Length:

• Approximately 800 km

Basin:

• Shared by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry

Significant Features:

• Shivasamudram Falls: Second biggest waterfall in India, located on the Kaveri River. The hydroelectric power generated here supplies Mysore, Bengaluru, and the Kolar Gold Fields.

Rainfall and Flow:

• Receives rainfall during summer monsoon, retreating monsoon, and winter monsoon. This ensures a steady flow throughout the year with comparatively less fluctuation than other Peninsular rivers.

Important Tributaries:

• Kabini, Bhavani, Amravati, Hemavati

East-Flowing Small Rivers

• Subarnarekha: Originates in Jharkhand, flows through Odisha and West Bengal before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
• Baitarani: Rises in Odisha and flows eastwards into the Bay of Bengal.
• Brahmani: Formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers in Odisha, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
• Vamsadhara: Originates in Odisha, flows through Andhra Pradesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• Penner: Starts in Karnataka, flows through Andhra Pradesh into the Bay of Bengal.
• Palar: Originates in Karnataka and flows southeast through Tamil Nadu into the Bay of Bengal.
• Vaigai: Rises in the Western Ghats, flowing through Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Palk Strait.