Rivers of Himachal Pradesh

Yamuna River

Name of the River		Important facts
Yamuna		enters HP at Khadar Majri in Sirmaur district and leaves at Tajewala.
		It is biggest tributary of the Ganga river.
Ancient Name		According to a legend, this river has relation to the Sun.
Kalindi		In Garhwal hills, it rises from Yamunotri glacier.
		Also, the Yamuna is the Eastern-most river of HP.
		Tons, Pabbar and Giri or Giri Ganga are some famous tributaries of Yamuna in HP.
		It length in HP is nearly 22 kilometer.
		In Himachal, Yamuna has a catchment of 2,320 sqkm.
		Important human settlement Paonta-Sahib

Tributaries of Yamuna River

River Name	Important Facts
Jalal River	–smallest tributary of the Giri river in Himachal Pradesh. –starts from Dharthi ranges’ at ‘Dadahu‘ it joins Yamuna. – at Dadahu, it also joins the river Giriganga. –a rainfed river and during the monsoon season, river has sudden flow. -Bagthan and Dadhau are important Human settlements on bank of this river.
Markanda RIver	–In Nahan area, Markanda river is a small river. -rainfed river and rises abruptly in the monsoon. -Nahan town lies on its right bank.
Andhra RIver	–tributary of the Pabbar River(Pabbar River also drains into the Tons river). –starts from a small glacier located in the North West of Chirgaon in Shimla district. –at Chirgaon, river merges with the Pabbar river.
Giri River	–important tributary of the Yamuna. –rising from Kupar peak near the town Jubbal. –divides the Sirmaur district into two equal parts-1) Cis-Giri 2) Trans-Giri region. –near Sadhupul, it is joined by Ashni river. -river Jalal joins it at Dadahu from the right bank. –through a tunnel water of Giri river is led to the power house of Girinagar and then to Bata river.(tunnel length-13.16 km)
Asni River	The Asni river is a tributary of the Giri river which in turn drains into the Yamuna river. river flows along a deep V shaped valley. various small tributaries join the Asni river.
Bata River	–originates below the Nahan ridge’ as the Jalmusa ka-Khala. –mainly fed by rain water. –small tributories to join Bata river are 1) Khara-Ka-Khala rises from the Nahan ridge. 2) Kanser Khala rises near the Nahan (Kanser ridge).

Satluj River

River Name	Important Facts
Satluj	-In Tibet, it rises near “Mansarover lake from Rakas lake“.(known as Longchhen Khabag river in Tibet).
	–largest river among the five rivers of HP.
Vedic Name–Satudri	-at ‘Shipki‘ in Kinnaur district (6,608 meters), it enters HP.
Sanskrit Name–Shatadru	-it flows through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi and Bilaspur districts.
	-in HP total length is-320 Km.
	-Important tributaries: Right bank tributaries-Spiti, Ropa, Taiti, Kashang, Mulgaon, Yula, the Wanger, Throng and Rupi. Left bank tributaries– Tirung, Gayanthing, Baspa, Duling and Soldang.
	-leaves HP to enter Punjab at ‘Bhakhra‘-world’s highest gravity dam.
	–total catchment area in Himachal Pradesh-20,000 sqkm.
	-important human settlements- Rampur, Tattapani, Sunni, Namgia, Kalpa, and Bilaspur.

Tributaries of Satluj River

River Name	Important facts
Baspa River	-an important river which joins Satluj in its upper courses. -the main Himalayan range is cut across by this river. -In district Kinnaur, this river(Baspa) joins the Satluj river. -from the Baspa hills, it rises and joins Satluj from near Karcham (Kalpa) left bank. -To enter Shimla district, it leaves the Kinnaur district near Chauhra.
Spiti River	-rises from Kunzum range in L-S district. -Two small rivers-Tegpo‘ and ‘Kabzian‘ joins this river. -this river also got water from the famous Pin valley. -This river does not receive water from S-W monsoon due to its position across the main Himalayan range. -at ‘Namgia‘ in Kinnaur, spiti river merges with Satluj river. -it covers about 150 km before merging in Satluj river. -main settlements- Dhankar Gompa and Hansi.
Nogli Khad	–joins Satluj below Rampur Bushahr. -this river touches the Nirmand tehsil (Kullu district) which is opposite to Rampur tehsil of Shimla district. -In Mandi district, near Firnu village Satluj enters the district. -Except Jaidevi and Balh circles all circles of ancient state of Suket drains into Satluj. -main tributories in Mandi district-Behna, Siman, Bantrehr, Khadel, Siun, Bahlu, Kotu, and Bhagmati.
Soan River	-rises from ‘Solasinghi’ range also known as Shivalik’ range. -joins the Satluj river near the boundary of HP and Punjab.

Beas River

River Name	Important facts
Beas	-‘Beas Rishi‘- the source of the river Beas lies to the right of Rohtang pass.
Vedic Name–Arjikiya	-here Maharishi Vyas meditated (great thinker and Mahabharata writer).
Sanskrit Name–Irawati	-‘Beas Kund‘- another source of Beas (located to south of ‘Beas Rishi’).
	-at village ‘Palachan‘-streams from both sources meet and form the river Beas.
	-ancient name till Mahabhrata- “Arjiki“.
	-The great sages Narad, Vashisht, Vishwamitra, Bhrigu, Jamdagni, Bhardwaj, Vyas, Prashar, Kanav, Vamdev, Kapil, Gautam, Shringi and on the banks of this river-on different occasions Parshuram meditated.
	-Today temples of many sages still exist in the valley of vyas.
	-main tributaries which join Beas are- -In the East, the Parbati, the Spin and the Malana nala. -In the west, the Sujoin, the Phojal, the Solang, the Manalsu, and the Sarvari rivers.
	-Except Southern tributaries all tributaries of Beas are snow fed and hence perennial.
	-The water of Beas have been turned toward to Satluj through a big tunnel at Pandoh(Mandi district).
	-length in HP-256km
	-the world famous valleys of Kullu and Kangra-formed by Beas river.
	-main settlements- Sujanpur Tihra, Nadaun, Kullu, Mandi, Bajaura, Pandoh and Dehra-Gopipur.
	-total catchment in HP-12000 sqkm.

Tributaries of Beas River

River Name	Important facts
Awa River	-it rises from the Kangra Valley of HP in Dhauladhar range. -It flows in a S-W direction then joins the river Beas. -receives snowfed as well as rainfall water.
Baner River	-other name-‘Baner Khad‘. -the central part of the Kangra valley is drained by this river. -near Palampur, rises from small snow fed channel in Dhauladhar range.
Banganga River	-in the Kangra valley, Banganga river joins the river Beas. -rises from the Dhauladhar range Southern slopes. -various snow melt streams joins this river.
Chakki River	-drains the S-W part of HP. –stream in upper course is snow-fed which also receives the rain water. -it joins the Beas near Pathankot after it enters the Punjab. -main settlements-Nurpur town is prominent.
Gaj Khad	-various small streams from the Dhauladhar range joins together and forms the river Gaj(or Khad) in Kangra district. –near the Pong dam lake, this river joins the Beas.
Harla River	-in the N-W plank of Kullu valley, it rises as a small stream from snowy peaks. -near Bhuntar, Beas river is joined by this river. -The Harla river flows through a narrow V-shaped valley. -Among its course, various rivers join the river Harla.
Luni River	-In Kangra valley, Luni river rises from Southern slopes of Dhauladhar range. -In the central part of Kangra valley, this river joins the Beas.
Manuni River	-rises from Dhauladhar range Southern slopes and joins the Beas.
Parbati River	–Parbati rises in the upper area of Manikaran. -at Shamshi, Parbati river joins the river Beas in Kullu valley. -Hot water springs at Manikaran pour their water into this river. -‘Manikaran‘ and ‘Kasol‘-important human settlements.
Patlikhul River	-joins the Beas river in the Manali area. -rises from Pir Panjal range and joins the Beas river near Kullu.
Sainj River	-rises from watershed between Satluj and Beas rivers in the lower ranges to East of Kullu. -flows towards S-W to join the Beas. -The valley of Sainj river is V shaped.
Suketi River	-joins the Beas in the Kangra valley. -rises from Dhauladhar range Southern slopes. -In its upper course, no. of small streams join the Suketi river.
Tirthan River	-rises in S-E of Kullu from the base of great Himalyan range. -joins Beas at Larji (at also cut Dhauladhar range). -In its upper course, it flows through a deep V shaped valley.
Uhl River	-it rises in Northern area to Dhauladhar range. -after taking the S-E direction, near the Mandi town, this river merges with Beas.

Chenab river

River Name	Important facts
Chenab	-rises when two rivers or streams ‘Chandra‘ and ‘Bhaga‘ rise on the adverse side to the Baralacha pass(4891 m).
Vedic name-Asikini	–Chandra and Bhaga meet at a place named ‘Tandi‘(2286 m) and form the river Chenab.
	-near Bhujind, it enter the famous Pangi valley(Chamba).
	-at Sansari Nala it leaves the district and entered the Podar valley(Kashmir).
	-total length in HP-122 km
	-In HP catchment area-7500 sqkm
	-in terms of volume of waters–Chenab is the largest river of HP.

Tributaries of Chenab River

River Name	Important facts
Miyar khad and Saicher khad	-In Lahaul, Miyar Khad joins Chenab. -In Pangi valley, Chenab is joined by Saicher Khad. -lower course tributaries- Jammu Tavi river and Bhaga, -In Dun valley- joined by river Munawarwali. -important human settlements- Udaipur, Killar, Doda and Ramban.
Chandra River	-rises from great Himalayan range in L-S district. -thereafter it takes S-E direction—then takes 1800 degree turn—and S-W course in Spiti valley. -this area lies in rain shadow to north of Pir Panjal range. -important human settlement-Koksar.
Bhaga River	-rises from the Lahaul valley. -A no. of snowfed rivers join it before Tandi. -various waterfalls, glaciers and U shaped valleys lies in its upper course. -discharge increases during the summer months due to snow melting.

Ravi River

River Name	Important Facts
Ravi	-originates when Bhadal(feded by glacier) and Tant Giri rivers joins.
Vedic Name-Purushni	–right bank tributaries-Budhil, Tundahan Beljedi, Saho and Siul.
Sanskrit Name- Irawati	-left bank tributary– Chirchind Nala.
	–Chamba town-on the right bank.
	-the Ravi flows through the famous Chamba Valley.
	-length in HP-158 km and catchment area-5,451 sqkm.
	-length in Chamba region-130 km and leaves at ‘Kheri‘.
	–Alexander’s historians called it the ‘Hydraster‘ and also ‘Rhouadis‘.
	-In Kangra district-via Bara Bansu, Tretha Chanota and Ulhansa.
	-human settlements- Bharmaur, Madhopur and Chamba.

Tributaries of Ravi River

River Name	Important facts
Bhadal River	-the trough between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges is the area where Bhadal river originates. -joins the Tant Giri river to form Ravi river. -its course lies in waterfalls and U shaped valleys.
Siul River	-rises near J & K and HP border-tract between the Dhauladhar and Pir-Panjal ranges. –River Baira also joins it. -joined by various small snow and spring fed streams.
Baira River	-rises from Pir Panjal range in HP. -joined by various snow fed tributaries. -joins the Siul river (also joins the Ravi river).
Tant Giri	-originates from area East of Bharmaur (Chamba) as a small stream. -merges with Bhadal river before joining joining Ravi. -the Tant Giri valley is U-shaped