Aravalli range river system

North-
North-to-
to-south flowing rivers,
rivers
originate from the western slopes of Aravalli range in Rajasthan, pass through
the southeastern portion of the Thar Desert, and end into Gujarat.

• Luni River, originates in the Pushkar valley near Ajmer, ends in the marshy
lands of Rann of Kutch.
• Sakhi river, ends in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch.
• Sabarmati River, originates on the western slopes of Aravalli range of
the Udaipur District, end into the Gulf of Cambay of Arabian Sea.

1. Luni :

(also known as Lonari, Lavanavari, Lavanavati, Salt river) is a river in Rajasthan.

It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range, near Ajmer, passes
through the southeastern portion of the Thar Desert, and ends in the marshy
lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, after travelling a distance of 495 km.

It is first known as Sagarmati,

Sagarmati then after passing Govindgarh, it meets its
tributary Saraswati,
Saraswati which originates from Pushkar Lake, and from then on it
gets its name Luni.
Luni

In 1892, Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur constructed Jaswant Sagar in

Pichiyak village of Jodhpur district. It is one of the largest artificial lakes in India.

2. The Sabarmati river

It is one of the major west-flowing rivers in India.[3] It originates in the Aravalli

Range of the Udaipur District of Rajasthan and meets the Gulf of
Khambhat of Arabian Sea after travelling 371 km
 Dams

The Dharoi dam is located on the main river. The Kalpasar is planned project in
the Gulf of Khambhat.

West to north-
north-west flowing rivers,
rivers

originate from the western slopes of Aravalli range in Rajasthan, flow through
semi-arid historical Shekhawati region, drain into southern Haryana.
Several Ochre Coloured Pottery culture sites, also identified as late Harappan
phase of Indus Valley Civilisation culture,[3] has been found along the banks of
these rivers.

Sahibi River, originates near Manoharpur in Sikar district flows through

Haryana, along with its following tributaries:
The current and paleochannels of Sahibi river have several important wetlands
that lie in series, including the Masani barrage wetland, Matanhail
forest, Chhuchhakwas-Godhari, Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhindawas
Wildlife Sanctuary, Outfall Drain Number 6 (canalised portion in Haryana of
Sahibii river), Outfall Drain Number 8 (canalised portion in Haryana of Dohan
river which is a tributary of Sahibi river), Sarbashirpur, Sultanpur National
Park, Basai Wetland, Najafgarh lake and Najafgarh drain bird sanctuary,
and The Lost lake of Gurugram, all of which are home to endangered and
migratory birds, yet largely remain unprotected under extreme threat from the
colonisers and builders.

• Dohan river, tributary of Sahibi river, originates near Neem Ka Thana in

Alwar district).
• Sota River, tributary of Sahibi river, merges with Sahibi river at Behror in
Alwar district.
• Krishnavati river, former tributary of Sahibi river, originates
near Dariba copper mines in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, flows
through Patan in Dausa district and Mothooka in Alwar district, then
disappears in Mahendragarh district in Haryana much before reaching
Sahibi river.

West to north-
north-east flowing rivers,
rivers originating from the eastern slopes of Aravalli
range in Rajasthan, flow northwards to Yamuna.

• Chambal River, a southern-side tributary of Yamuna river.

o Banas River, a northern-side tributary of Chambal river.

The Chambal River

a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, It is a legendary river and finds
mention in ancient scriptures. The perennial Chambal originates at janapav,
south of Mhow town, near manpur Indore, on the south slope of the Vindhya
Range Singar Chouri peak in Madhya Pradesh.

The Chambal and its tributaries drain the Malwa region of northwestern
Madhya Pradesh, while its tributary, the Banas, which rises in the Aravalli
Range, drains southeastern Rajasthan.

It ends a confluence of five rivers, including the

Chambal, Kwari, Yamuna, Sind, Pahuj, at Pachnada near Bhareh in Uttar
Pradesh state, at the border of Bhind and Etawah districts.

The Chambal River is considered pollution free,and hosts an amazing riverine

faunal assemblage including 2 species of crocodilians – the mugger
and gharial, 8 species of freshwater turtles, smooth-coated otters, gangetic
river dolphins, skimmers, black-bellied terns, sarus cranes and black-necked
storks, amongst others.
National Chambal Sanctuary

The National Chambal Sanctuary lies in Dholpur. It consists of the large arc
described by the Chambal between Jawahar Sagar Dam in Rajasthan and the
Chambal-Yamuna confluence in Uttar Pradesh.

Over this arc, two stretches of the Chambal are protected as the National
Chambal Sanctuary status - the upper sector, extending from Jawahar Sagar
Dam to Kota Barrage, and the lower sector, extending from Keshoraipatan in
Rajasthan to the Chambal-Yamuna confluence in Uttar Pradesh.[12]

The sanctuary was gazetted 'in order to facilitate the restoration to "ecological
health" of a major north Indian river system and provide full protection for the
gravely endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).[12]

Dams on the Chambal

The Chambal River is used for hydropower generation at Gandhi Sagar
dam, Rana Pratap Sagar dam and Jawahar Sagar Dam and for annual
irrigation of the right main canal and the left main canal of the Kota
Barrage.
1) The Gandhi Sagar dam
dam is the first of the four dams built on the Chambal
River, located on the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.
The dam was completed in the year 1960.
The hydro-power station comprises five generating units of 23 MW
capacity each.
The water released after power generation is used for irrigation through
Kota Barrage
 2) The Rana Pratap Sagar dam is a dam located 52 km downstream of
Gandhi Sagar dam on across the Chambal River near Rawatbhata in
Chittorgarh district in Rajasthan.
It was completed in the year 1970 and it is the second in the series of
Chambal Valley Projects.
It is 54 meters high. The power house is located on the left side of the
spillway and consists of 4 units of 43 MW each.
3) The Jawahar Sagar Dam is the third dam in the series of Chambal Valley
Projects, located 29 km upstream of Kota city and 26 km downstream of
Rana Pratap Sagar dam.
It is a concrete gravity dam, 45 meter high and 393 m long, generating
60 MW of power with an installed capacity of 3 units of 33 MW.
The work was completed in 1972.
4) The Kota Barrage is the fourth in the series of Chambal Valley Projects,
located about 0.8 km upstream of Kota City in Rajasthan.
Water released after power generation at Gandhi Sagar dam, Rana Pratap
Sagar dam and Jawahar Sagar Dams, is diverted by Kota Barrage for
irrigation in Rajasthan and in Madhya Pradesh through canals on the left
and the right sides of the river.
The work on this dam was completed in 1960.

The Banas
It is a river which lies entirely within the state of Rajasthan in western India.

It is a tributary of the Chambal River, itself a tributary of the Yamuna, which in

turn merges into the Ganga.

The river originates in the Veron ka Math situated in Khamnor Hills of

the Aravalli Range, about 5 km from Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district. It
flows northeast through the Mewar region of Rajasthan, meet the Chambal near
in Sawai Madhopur District.[2]
Rivers of south and west india:
Godavari River

in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh states.

The Godavari is India's second longest river after the Ganga. Its source is in
Triambakeshwar, Maharashtra.

It flows east for 1,465 kilometres.

only the Ganga and Indus rivers having a larger drainage basin.[5] In terms of
length, catchment area and discharge, the Godavari is the largest in peninsular
India, and had been dubbed as the Vridha Ganga and Southern Ganga.
Ganga

Lores state that Sage Gautama brought down this river to atone for killing a
cow.

The Godavari originates in the Western Ghats of central India

near Nashik in Maharashtra, 80 km (50 mi) from the Arabian Sea. It flows for
1,465 km (910 mi), first eastwards across the Deccan Plateau then turns
southeast, entering the West Godavari district and East Godavari district of
Andhra Pradesh, until it splits into two distributaries that widen into a
large river delta at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram and flow
into the Bay of Bengal.

Within Maharashtra

In Maharashtra state where it takes origin, the river has an extensive course,
the upper basin (origin to its confluence with Manjira).

Within Nashik District the river assumes a north-easterly course till it flows into
the Gangapur Reservoir created by a dam of the same name. The reservoir
along with the Kashypi Dam provides potable water to Nashik, one of the
largest cities located on its banks.

The river upstream from Nashik, flows on a rocky bed undulated by a series of
chasms and rocky ledges, resulting in the formation of two significant
waterfalls – the Gangapur and the Someshwar waterfalls,
waterfalls, more popularly
known as the Dudhsagar Waterfall.

Below Nashik is the confluence of the Godavari and one of its tributaries,
the Darna river.

A few kilometres after its meeting with the Darna, the Godavari swerves to the
north-east, before the Banganga, from the north-west, meets it on the left.

Beyond this the river serves as a natural boundary between the following
districts :

Ahmednagar and Aurangabad: Along the boundary here, it receives its first
major tributary the Pravara River.The river at Paithan has been impounded by
the Jayakwadi Dam forming the Nath Sagar Reservoir.

Kalsubai located in Godavari basin, is the highest peak in Maharashtra.

Dnyaneshwar Udyan

Dnyaneshwar Udyan is one of the largest gardens in Maharashtra resembling

the Brindavan Gardens of Mysore. It is spread over 125 hectares and is
situated on the banks of Nathsagar Lake formed due to Jayakwadi Dam.

It is located near the town of Paithan which is 50 km south of Aurangabad.

Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary

The Nath Sagar reservoir creates 30 island of various sizes in the shallow
waters, with trees for roosting, this provides an ideal shelter for migratory
birds. Close to the dam a bird sanctuary has been created.

As mentioned above, the Godavari is also called Dakshinganga.

Within the last taluka of the district Parbhani, Purna, the river drains a major

tributary of the same name: Purna.

It then exits into the neighboring district of Nanded , it is impounded by the
Vishnupuri Dam and thus with it, bringing Asia's largest lift irrigation projects to
life.

It then runs into the controversial Babli project The Babhali project / barrage is
a controversial reservoir project being constructed by Maharashtra across the
river Godavari, disputed by Telangana.

soon ends its course within Maharashtra, albeit temporarily, at its merger with
a major tributary – Manjira.

The river after flowing into Telangana, re-emerges to run as a state boundary
separating the Mancherial, Telangana from Gadchiroli, Maharashtra.

At the state border, receiving tributary – the Pranhita and subsequently

the Indravati.

Within Telangana[edit]
Godavari enters into Telangana in Nizamabad district at Kandakurthy where Manjira, Haridra rivers joins Godavari
and forms Triveni Sangamam. The river flows along the border between Nirmal and Mancherial districts in the north
and Nizamabad, Jagityal, Peddapalli districts to its south. About 12 km (7.5 mi) after entering Telangana it merges
with the back waters of the Sriram Sagar Dam. The river after emerging through the dam gates, enjoys a wide river
bed, often splitting to encase sandy islands. The river receives a minor but significant tributary Kadam river. It then
emerges at its eastern side to act as state border with Maharashtra only to later enter into Bhadradri Kothagudem
district. In this district the river flows through an important Hindu pilgrimage town – Bhadrachalam.
The river further swells after receiving a minor tributary Kinnerasani River and exits into Andhra Pradesh.

Within Andhra Pradesh

The river at Papi Hills near Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh.

Within the state of Andhra Pradesh, it flows through hilly terrain of the Eastern Ghats known as the Papi hills which
explains the narrowing of its bed as it flows through a gorge for a few km, only to re-widen at Polavaram. Before
crossing the Papi hills, it receives its last major tributary Sabari River on its left bank. The river upon reaching the
plains begins to widen out until it reaches Rajamahendravaram City. Arma Konda (1,680 m (5,510 ft)) is the highest
peak in the Godavari river basin as well as in Eastern Ghats.[21]
Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage was constructed across River
Godavari in Rajamahendravaram City.At Rajamahendravaram, the Godavari splits into two branches which are
called Vriddha Gautami (Gautami Godavari) and Vasishta Godavari. Again the Gautami branch splits into two
branches namely Gautami and Nilarevu. Similarly, the Vasishta splits into two branches named Vasishta and
Vainateya. These four branches which join the Bay of Bengal at different places, are forming a delta of length
170 km (110 mi) along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and is called the Konaseema region. This delta along with the
delta of the Krishna River is called the Rice Granary of South India.[22]
Tributaries[edit]
The major tributaries of the river can be classified[23] as the left bank tributaries which include
the Purna, Pranhita, Indravati and Sabari River covering nearly 59.7% of the total catchment area of the basin and
the right bank tributaries Pravara, Manjira, Manair together contributing 16.1% of the basin.
Pranhita is the largest tributary covering about 34% of its drainage basin. Though the river proper flows only for
113 km (70 mi), by virtue of its extensive tributaries Wardha, Wainganga, Penganga, the sub-basin drains all
of Vidharba region as well as the southern slopes of the Satpura Ranges. Indravati is the 2nd largest tributary,
known as the "lifeline" of the Kalahandi, Nabarangapur of Odisha & Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Due to their
enormous sub-basins both Indravati and Pranhita are considered rivers in their own right. Manjira is the longest
tributary and holds the Nizam Sagar reservoir. Purna is a prime river in the water scarce Marathwada region
of Maharashtra.

• Deomali peak located in the Godavari basin is the highest peak (1672 m msl) in Odisha state.

Flora and fauna[edit]

See also: Wildlife sanctuaries of India, Tiger reserves of India, and List of national parks of India

• The Krishna Godavari Basin is one of the main nesting sites of the endangered olive ridley sea turtle. Godavari
is also a home to the endangered fringed-lipped carp (Labeo fimbriatus).[25]
• The Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove formation in the country.
Part of this has been declared as the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for reptiles. They also provide an
important habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also act as barriers against cyclones,
tropical storms, and storm surges, thus protecting the nearby villages.
• The Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary is another haven for birds located near the town of Paithan spread across the
back waters of the NathSagar Reservoir formed by impounding the Godavari by the massive Jayakwadi Dam.
Its 341 km2 area is dotted by islands within the reservoir which serve as nesting sites for the birds.[26]
• The Nandurmadmeshwar Bird Sanctuary is located along the back waters of the Godavari river near Nashik at
its confluence with Kadva River.[27] It is known as the Bharatpur of Maharashtra for the wide diversity of bird life
that it harbours.
The following are few other wildlife sanctuaries located in the river basin.

• Bor Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located in Wardha District in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

It is notable that Bor Tiger Reserve and some adjacent protected areas will be merged with Pench Tiger
Reserve (Maharashtra) as a 'Satellite core area', to more than double the area of that well established tiger
reserve.

Bor Tiger Reserve is centrally located among several other Bengal tiger habitats including: Pench Tiger
Reserve, Maharashtra, 90 km2 (35 sq mi) to the northeast; Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve,
125 km2 (48 sq mi) to the east northeast; Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, 75 km2 (29 sq mi) to the east
southeast; Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve, 85 km2 (33 sq mi) to the southeast; Melghat Tiger Reserve,
140 km2 (54 sq mi) to the west northwest and Satpura National Park and Tiger Reserve,160 km2 (62 sq mi) to
the northwest.

• Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary

• Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary located in Eturnagaram village in Mulugu
district in Telangana, India. It is located 250 km (160 mi) away from Hyderabad.
• Telangana has splendid wildlife reserves, one of such is the Eturnagaram wildlife sanctuary, which is
100 km (62 mi) from Warangal.
 • The sanctuary is located near the Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana border.
• It is one of the oldest sanctuaries of Telangana. In the year 1952 on 30 January the erstwhile Hyderabad
Government because of its rich bio-diversity declared it as a sanctuary.
• The land is undulating from steep slopes to gentle slopes from west to east. Three-quarters of the area
consist of a plain while the rest is hilly with many streams and springs. Godavari river passes through the
sanctuary. The vegetation here is tropical dry deciduous with teak and other trees of good quality standing
60 ft (18 m) and above. The biennial festival of Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is held in the sanctuary.[2][3]

• Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary

• Indravati National Park

Indravati National Park is a national park located in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state of India.[1] It derives its
name from the nearby Indravati River. It is home to one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo.
Indravati National Park is the finest and most famous wildlife parks of Chhattisgarh. It is one among the three
project tiger sites in Chhattisgarh along with Udanti-sitanadi, Indravati National Park is located in Bijapur district of
Chhattisgarh. The park derives its name from the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the
northern boundary of the reserve with the Indian state of Maharashtra. With a total area of approximately
2799.08 km2, Indravati attained the status of a national park in 1975 and a tiger reserve in 1983 under the
famous Project Tiger of India, to become one of the most famous tiger reserves of India.

• Kanger Ghati National Park

• Kanger Ghati National Park (also called Kanger Valley National Park) was declared a national park in
1982 by the Government of India.
• Among the various protected areas in the country, the Kanger Valley National Park near Jagdalpur, in
the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is one of the densest national parks, well known for its biodiversity,
landscape, waterfalls, subterranean geomorphologic limestone caves, and home for the Bastar hill myna,
the state bird of Chhattisgarh.
• Located amidst the 34-km-long scenic Kanger Valley, a biosphere reserve, Kanger Valley National Park is
one of the most picturesque national parks of India.[original research?] Spread over an area of approximately 200
square kilometres (77 sq mi) consisting mainly of hilly terrain, the park derives its name from the Kanger
River, which flows throughout its length.
• The Kanger Valley National Park is noted for its highly heterogeneous land formations ranging from low flat
and gentle areas to steep slopes, plateaus, valleys and stream courses. The vast undulating terrain of the
Kanger Valley National Park harbours diverse habitats which offer an ideal site for diverse kinds of flora and
fauna, thus making it a hotspot of biodiversity in central India.
• The park also has a sizable tribal population and is an ideal destination for wildlife enthusiasts, nature
lovers, researchers, anthropologists and for anyone who wants to discover the very best
of Chhattisgarh wildlife and unique tribes of the region.
• In fact, the Kanger Valley is the only region in the Peninsular India where one of the last pockets of virgin
and untouched forests are still left.

Tirathgarh Waterfalls[edit]
Tirathgarh Waterfalls can be termed as "Milky Fall" because of the white colour of the water as it descends down
the rocky slope giving an impression as if milk is falling.
It is located around 38 km from Jagdalpur in the renowned eco tourism site of Kanger Valley National Park. The
Tirathgarh Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in Chhattisgarh.[citation needed] Water cascading from the hills
surrounding the falls provides splendid views.[original research?] Splashing streams of water come down at speed from a
height of more than 100 feet on the river Mugabahar which originates in a lake not very far away from this point.[citation
needed]
The area surrounding the fall features green forests.[citation needed]
The water flowing through the various streams and crossing numerous paths along the way in a zigzag manner and
finally ending up in the falls is a treat to watch. Besides the natural environment associated with this place,
Tirathgarh Falls is also an important religious place featuring a temple which is dedicated to Shiva Parvati.[citation
needed]
Every year, thousands of tourists and devotees come here from within the state and across India for the views
of Tirathgarh Falls as well as to offer prayers at the temple.[citation needed] The best season to visit this place is in the
months of October through February.[2]

Kotumsar Caves[edit]
Kotumsar Caves are situated at a distance of about 40 km (25 mi) from Jagdalpur. Kotumsar Caves are about 35
meters below ground level and around 1371 meters long.
Kotumsar Cave is a subterranean limestone cave located near the banks of Kanger River in the western portion of
the national park. It was discovered by the local people around year 1900 and explored by a renowned geographar
Shri Sankar Tiwari in 1951 and it is one of the best known caves in Chhattisgarh as well as in India.
The floor of the cave consists of soil/clay, pebbles, rocks and water pools with several lateral and downward
passages. Perpetual darkness and constant temperature (28 °C + 1 °C) prevails inside the cave. For entry into the
cave, cement concrete steps, Steel steps and railings are available near the entrance side.
These caves have got the distinction of being India's first most biologically explored cave. As they are underground,
there is pitch-darkness inside. It features stalactite and stalagmite formations. Entry to the caves is through the
narrow stairs and visitors have to pass through tall, narrow chambers for gaining access to the main hall that
features superb acoustics. The caves feature five chambers having several blind wells. Lots of tribal tales are also
associated with it and are also known as Gupanpal or Kutamsar Caves. The stalactites found inside the cave have
been an interesting research topic for scientists and even arouse the curiosity among the visitors.[citation needed]
Kotumsar cave harbours a variety of fauna like bats, frogs, snakes, crickets, spiders, fishes, millipedes etc. Fishes
and frogs are found in the ditches of the cave where as bats, spiders, crickets are found on the ceilings and walls of
the cave. Dr. Jayant Biswas has well documented the biology of the cave organisms living in Kotumsar Cave
There is lack of oxygen when going deep into the caves. In view of which, for safety reasons, entry beyond certain
points has been restricted.
The cave is closed from 15 June to 31 October during rainy season. The cave needs removal of debris before
tourist season.[3]

Kailash Caves[edit]
Kailash Caves are located in the Kanger Valley National Park area near Mikulwada. The caves are located around
40 km from Jagdalpur. Discovered recently in 1993, the caves are around 250 meters long and are situated at an
altitude of 40 meters above the ground level. It features stalactite and stalagmite formations that offer stunning
sight.
Access to the cave is through a narrow opening and at the end of the cave is a huge stalagmite formation in the
shape of Shivlinga. The hollow walls of the cave, when struck by hand, make incredible musical sounds.[3]

Bhainsa Darha[edit]
It is located at a distance of 65 km from Jagdalpur. Kanger river is full of deep gorges so darha (water pools)
maintain very hygienic quality of water. Crocodiles are mainly found in these darhas. One of the famous ones is
Bhainsa Darha.
It is surrounded by mountains with thick greenery from all sides. The watch tower situated at Bhainsa Darha gives
an awesome view of lake. Bhainsa Darha lake has crocodiles and tortoises.
It takes a drive of about two hours to reach Bhainsa Darha. The best time to visit is during winter season.
Remember during rainy season roads are closed. It is risky to travel by bike as roads are not good. It is a dense
forest so if a vehicle gets punctured then no one will be there to help you. Also no mobile coverage. So you are
trapped. Always prefer 4 wheeler especially going with family.[4]

Kanger Dhara[edit]
Kanger Dhara is located inside the Kanger Valley National Park, 36 km from Jagdalpur. For reaching Kanger Dhara,
one should get the applicable permission and tickets from the District Forest Office located at the entry to the park.
It is a picnic spot where individuals and families alike spend time.[citation needed] Small cascading falls give visitors
enough space to take a bath.[citation needed]
The best season for visiting the park is from winters up to summers, after which the park closes for the tourist from
the beginning of monsoons in the month of July.
Being in the laps of Kanger Valley, Kanger Dhara waterfalls is actually produced by the Kanger River due to
presence of undulating rocks present there. Geologists suggest that the area was a sedimentary terrain, later
intruded by Igneous rock bodies, due to which, the area has got such folded structures.
Just at the beginning of the downstream of Kanger river, when the river falls from undulating folded rocks, it
presents a view of small cascades of water fall, which forms the Kanger Dhara.[citation needed]

Dandak Cave[edit]
Similar to Kotumsar Cave, one can see the stalactites and stalagmites in fantastic formations.

• Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary

Kawal Tiger Reserve is located at Jannaram mandal of Mancherial District (Old Adilabad district)
in Telangana state of India.[1][2] Govt of India declared Kawal wildlife sanctuary as Tiger Reserve in 2012.[3] The
reserve is the oldest sanctuary in the northern Telangana region of the state. It is well known for its
abundant flora and fauna. This sanctuary is catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the
south of the sanctuary.[4]

• Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary

Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest located in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana state of India.
The wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 635.40 km2 (157,010 acres) with the picturesque Kinnerasani
Lake with densely forested islands in the middle of the sanctuary. It is 15 km (9.3 mi) from the district
Headquarter Kothagudem and 25 km (16 mi) from Temple Town Bhadrachalam

• Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is a sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, India. It covers 673 square kilometers. It was
established in November 1999, under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The sanctuary protects part of
the Kolleru Lake wetland, which gained Ramsar Convention for International importance in 2002.[1][2]

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary covers mainly two districts of Andhra Pradesh they are Krishna and West
Godavari districts and between the River Krishna and River Godavari deltas spread over 10 to 25 km
from Eluru City.[3]

• Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary

Manjira wildlife sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary and reservoir located in Sangareddy district of Telangana
State, India.[2] Originally a crocodile sanctuary, today more than 70 species of birds are spotted here and is
home for the vulnerable species mugger crocodile. The reservoir, located in the sanctuary, provides drinking
water to Hyderabad and Secundarabad.[1][2]

In 1974, the mugger crocodile had reached the threshold of extinction in Telangana. In Manjira, only four pairs
of mugger crocodile were left. To conserve the mugger crocodile, Andhra Pradesh Government established a
crocodile sanctuary at this present day site. In the mid-1980s, Manjira became a popular destination for bird
watchers and an annual waterbird count was initiated. This led its conversion into a wildlife sanctuary. Today
there are about 400 to 600 crocodiles in the sanctuary.Its a watchable tourist destination. A crocodile breeding
program is also carried out here.[1]

• Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary

 Nagzira wildlife sanctuary is located between Bhandara-Gondia district of Maharashtra.Nearest National
Highway is NH-53. Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is locked in the arms of nature and adorned with a picturesque
landscape, luxuriant vegetation and serves as a living outdoor museum to explore and appreciate nature. This
sanctuary has a number of fish, 34 species of mammals, 166 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and four
species of amphibians.[1] The invertebrate fauna includes, besides a number of insects and ant species.
Wild animals found here are the tiger, Indian gaur, sambar, nilgai, chital, wild boar, sloth bear, Barking
Deer, Mouse Deer and wild dog. Nearly 30,000 tourists visits this sanctuary annually. Wild animals to spot are
the tiger, panther, bison, sambar, nilgai, chital, wild boar, sloth bear and wild dog. There are also tigers, leapord
and one elephant named Rupa.[1]

As per the Biogeography classification adopted by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, this sanctuary is
classified as follows. i) Bio-geographic Kingdom - Paleotropical ii) Sub Kingdom - Indomalaysian iii) Bio-
geographic Zone - 6 – Deccan Peninsula iv) Biotic Province - 6 B – Central Deccan. This Bio-geographic zone
is one of the least protected bio-geographic zones in India, rich in floral and faunal diversities. Hence it needs
high degree of protection. Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary is within the Central Deccan Plateau dry deciduous
forests ecoregion.

• Navegaon National Park

Navegaon National Park is a National park located in the Arjuni Morgaon subdivision of Gondia district in state
of Maharashtra, India. The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Navegaon is home to almost 60% of the bird species
found in entire Maharashtra. Every winter, flocks of migratory birds visit the lake. The national park has diverse
type of vegetation ranging from dry mixed forest to moist forest. The forest type is 5 A/C3. Southern tropical dry
deciduous forest.[1]

• Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary

• Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Papikonda National Park is located in the Papi Hills in East Godavari and West Godavari districts
of Andhra Pradesh, and covers an area of 1,012.86 km2 (391.07 sq mi).[1][2] It is an Important Bird and
Biodiversity Area and home to some endangered species of flora and fauna.[3] No part of Papikonda remains
outside East and West Godavari districts after 2014 and after the construction of Polavaram Dam.

• Pench National Park

Pench National Park is in Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh in India and includes Pench Tiger
reserve. It derives its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park
into almost equal western and eastern halves, the well-forested areas of Seoni and Chhindwara districts
respectively. It was declared a sanctuary in 1965 but raised to the status of national park in 1975. In 1992, it was
established as a tiger reserve.
The national park consists of dry deciduous forests and much fauna and flora including tigers, various types
of deer and birds.[1] In 2011, the park won the "Best Management Award". This park is accessible from Pauni on
National Highway 7 and has two famous entry gates, Turiya and Karmajhiri.[2]

History[edit]
The area of the present Pench Tiger Reserve has been described in Ain-i-Akbari, and is the setting of Rudyard
Kipling's The Jungle Book.[

Pench forest reserve, is one of the places that may have inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.[4] The
Pench National Park provided the location used by the BBC for the innovative wildlife series Tiger: Spy in the
Jungle, a three-part documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough which used concealed cameras, placed
by elephants, in order to capture intimate tiger behavior and also retrieved footage of various other fauna in the
reserve. The programme aired for the first time in March 2008 and ended a month later.
• Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary

Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary located 15 km (9.3 mi) from Medak and 115 km
(71 mi) from Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Spanning over 130 square kilometres (50 sq mi), in the districts
of Nizamabad and Medak,[2] it was a former hunting ground of the Nizam that was declared a wildlife sanctuary
in the early 20th century. It is named after the Pocharam lake, formed from the bunding of the Allair from 1916-
1922. The sanctuary has an ecotourism center for visitors. It is home to many species of birds and mammals.

• Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary

• Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in India. It is
Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park. Created in 1995, the Reserve includes the Tadoba National
Park and the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. The Reserve consists of 577.96 square kilometres (223.15 sq mi)
of reserved forest and 32.51 square kilometres (12.55 sq mi) of protected forest.[1]

• Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Waterfalls
See also: List of waterfalls of India

Duduma Waterfalls is 175 metres (574 ft) high and one of the highest waterfalls in southern India. It is located on
the Sileru River which forms boundary between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states. The following are a few other
waterfalls located in the river basin:

• Bogatha
• Bogatha Waterfall is a waterfall located on the Cheekupally stream in Koyaveerapuram G, Wazeedu
Mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana.[1] [2] It is located 120 kilometers from Bhadrachalam,90 kilometers from
Mulugu, 140km away from Warangal and 329 kilometers from Hyderabad. The newly
constructed Eturnagaram bridge on NH 202 reduced the travelling distance to 329km from 440km.
• Of the waterfalls in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, Telangana state, it is the second largest waterfall in
the Telangana region.[1
• Chitrakoot
• The Chitrakote Falls (alternative spellings Chitrakote; Chitrakot; Hindi: िच कोट जल पात) is a
natural waterfall located to the west of Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on
the Indravati River. It is located at a distance of 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the west of Jagdalpur.
• The height of the falls is about 29 metres (95 ft).[1][2] It is the widest fall in India.[3] Because of its width and
wide spread during the monsoon season, it is often called the Niagara Falls of India.[4]
• Kuntala
• Kuntala Waterfall is a waterfall in the indian state of Telangana, located on Kadam river in Neredigonda
mandal of Adilabad district.[1] It is the highest waterfall in the state with a height of 150 feet (45 meters).[2]
• These waterfalls are in the dense forests inhabited by the Gonds. Kunta in Gondi and Telugu language
means pond. Kuntalu means several ponds. The waterfall originates from a confluence of several ponds
that lead to the river.[3]
• Formed by the Kadam River, Kuntala falls cascades down through two steps and can be seen as two
separate adjacent falls after the peak rains. It is one of the famous one day outings from Hyderabad. There
is a motorable road until the entry point of the falls, from where steps are available to reach the bottom of
the falls. The falls is about 10 minutes (one way) walk from the entry point.
• Pochera
• The Pochera waterfall was discovered lately.[when?] Pochera waterfall is unique and is varied from other
waterfalls.[how?] Situated amidst dense forests, this waterfall is 'one of a kind' in Telangana and rarely found
in India.[citation needed]
• Pochera Waterfalls River Godavari flowing from the neighbouring state flows down the Sahayadri Mountain
range. The river that runs in many narrow streams, at this point mingle together and falls from a height of
20m the sound of the splashing waters against rocks echoes the surroundings.[tone]
• The water that flows in separate and narrow streams unite and with gushing speed fall from a height of
20 m. The water thus collects on a platform of hill resembling a small lake.[citation needed]
• The forests that not intruded by modernization and industrialization the dense forests of the Sahayadri
Mountain sets a perfect treat to one and all.[to
• Sahastrakunda

Saharsakund Waterfall is a waterfall near islapur in kinwat taluka of nanded district. This town is on the
boundary of Yavatmal and Nanded on Penganga river.

• Teerathgarh

The Teerathgarh Falls is a waterfall near Jagdalpur at Kanger Ghati in Bastar district in
the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

The Teerathgarh Falls is a block type waterfall on the Kanger River.

Dams[edit]
The main Godavari River up to the confluence with Pranhita tributary is dammed fully to utilize the available water
for irrigation. However, its main tributaries Pranhita, Indravati and Sabari which join in the lower reaches of the
basin, carry three times more water compared to main Godavari. In 2015, the water surplus Godavari River is linked
to the water deficit Krishna River by commissioning the Polavaram right bank canal with the help of Pattiseema lift
scheme to augment water availability to the Prakasam Barrage located in Andhra Pradesh. More dams are
constructed in the Godavari River basin than in any other river basin of India.[28] The following are the few dams
located in the river basin:

• Gangapur Dam : This is a large earth fill dam with gross water storage of 215.88 million cubic metres,[29] and
located 10 km (6.2 mi) upstream from Nashik city. The reservoir known as the Gangapur Bandh Sagar provides
drinking water to the Nashik city and also supplies water to the thermal power station situated downstream
at Eklahare.
• Jayakwadi dam : Located near Paithan, it is one of the largest earthen dams in India. This dam was built to
address the dual problems of flooding along the banks, during monsoon months, and that of drought, rest of the
year, in the Marathwada region. Two 'left' and 'right' canals provide the irrigation to fertile land up to Nanded
district. This dam has contributed to industrial development
of Aurangabad and Jalna, Maharashtra.[30] Majalgaon Dam is also constructed under Jayakwadi stage 2 to
expand the irrigation potential further in Parbhani, Nanded and Beed districts.
• Vishnupuri barrage: Asia's Largest Lift Irrigation project, the Vishnupuri Prakalp[31] has been constructed on the
river at a distance of 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city Nanded.
• Ghatghar Dam was built for hydro power generation by diverting the water of Pravara tributary outside Godavari
river basin to a west flowing river which joins Arabian sea.
• Upper Vaitarna reservoir was built across west flowing Vaitarna river merging some part of Godavari river
catchment area. Godavari water impounded in this reservoir is diverted outside the river basin for Mumbai city
drinking water supply after generating hydro power.
• Sriram Sagar Dam : This is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River on the borders of Adilabad and
Nizamabad District. It is near the town of Pochampad, 60 km away from Nizamabad. It has been described
 by The Hindu as a "lifeline for a large part of Telangana".[32] It serves the irrigation needs
in Karimnagar, Warangal, Adilabad, Nalgonda, and Khammam districts and also generates power.
• Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage was built by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1852. It got damaged in 1987 floods, and rebuilt as a
barrage cum roadway soon after and named after him. The roadway connects Rajamahendravaram City in East
Godavari and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari. The irrigation canals of this barrage also form part of National
Waterway 4.

Hydro power stations[edit]

The Godavari River is one of the rivers whose water energy is least harnessed for generating hydro
electricity.[33] The 600 MW capacity Upper Indravati hydro power station is the biggest hydro power station which
diverts Godavari River water to the Mahanadi River basin.[34] The following is the list of hydro electric power stations
excluding small and medium installations.

Hydroelectric power stations on Godavari river

Name of the project Rated Power (in MW)

Upper Indravati 600

Machkund 120

Balimela 510

Upper Sileru 240

Lower Sileru 460

Upper Kolab 320

Pench 160

Ghatghar pumped storage 250

Polavaram (under construction) 960

Polavaram Project, is an under construction multi-purpose National project on the Godavari River in the West
Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been accorded national project
status by the Union Government of India[2][3] and will be the last to be accorded the status.[4] It's reservoir back water
spreads[5] up to the Dummugudem Anicut i.e. approx 150 km back form Polavaram Spillway on main river side and
approx 115 km in Sabari River side.It is located 40 km to the upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton
Barrage in Rajamahendravaram City. Thus back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States.[6][7] It
gives major boost to tourism sector in Godavari Districts as the reservoir covers the famous Papikonda National Park,
Polavaram Hydro electric project(HEP) and National waterway 4 are in under construction at left side of the river, The
famous and feasible route to reach these nature and man made beauties is Rajahmundry - Seethanagaram road,
Which is also lead to famous Papikondalu.

Krishna River

The Krishna River is the fourth-biggest river in terms of water inflows and river basin area in India,
after the Ganga, Godavari and Brahmaputra.

The river is almost 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) long.

The river is also called Krishnaveni.

It is one of the major sources of irrigation for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh.[3]

Sources
The Krishna river originates in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar at an elevation of about
1,300 metres, in the state of Maharashtra in central India.

The Krishna river's source is at Mahabaleshwar near the Jor village Satara District, Maharashtra in
the west and empties into the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi (near Koduru) in Andhra Pradesh, on
the east coast.

It flows through the state of Karnataka before entering Telangana State.

The delta of this river is one of the most fertile regions in India and was the home to
ancient Satavahana and Ikshvaku Sun Dynasty kings.

Vijayawada is the largest city on the River Krishna.

Tributaries
Right-bank tributary Town, District, State of confluence Left-Bank Tributary

Venna River Sangam Mauli, Satara, Maharashtra

Urmodi river Kashil, Satara, Maharashtra

Tarali/Kali Ganga river Umbraj, Satara, Maharashtra

Mand river Umbraj, Satara, Maharashtra

Tasawade, Satara, Maharashtra Kolamba river

Koyna River Karad, Satara, Maharashtra

Bramhanal, Sangli, Maharashtra Yerla river

Warna River Haripur, Sangli, Maharashtra

Panchganga River Narsobawadi, Sangli, Mahrashtra

Dudhaganga Yadur, Belgaum, Karnataka

Hippargi barrage

Ghataprabha River Almatti, Bagalkot District, Karanataka

 Almatti Dam

Malaprabha River Kudala Sangam, Bagalkot District, Karanataka

Basava Sagar Reservoir

Ammapur, Kalburgi, Karnataka Doni River

Kadlur, Raichur, Karnataka Bhima River

Jurala dam

Lower Jurala dam

Tungabhadra River Alampur, Mahaboobnagar, Telangana

Srisailam temple Srisailam Dam

Srisailam tail pond weir

Nalgonda district, Telangana Dindi River

Nagarjuna Sagar dam

Chityala, Nalgonda Haliya River

 Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond dam

Wazirabad, Nalgonda, Telangana Musi River

Pulichintala dam, Suryapet district

Mukteswarapuram, Krishna district Paleru River

Amaravathi village, Guntur district Munneru River

Ibrahimpatnam, Krishna district Polavaram right bank canal

Kondaveeti vagu[4] Ibrahimpatnam, Krishna district Budameru diversion channel

Amaravati city Prakasam Barrage Vijayawada city

National Waterway 4 Prakasam Barrage National Waterway 4

The largest tributary of the Krishna River is the Tungabhadra River with a drainage basin measuring
71,417 km2 (27,574 sq mi), running for about 531 km (330 mi), but

the longest tributary is the Bhima River, which makes a total run of 861 km (535 mi) and has an
equally large drainage area of 70,614 km2 (27,264 sq mi).

Three tributaries Panchganga, Warna and Yerla meet Krishna river near Sangli. These places are
considered very holy. It is said that Lord Dattatreya spent some of his days at Audumber on the
banks of river Krishna.

Kudalasangama (also written as Kudala Sangama). It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from
the Almatti Dam in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state.
The Krishna and Malaprabha River rivers merge here.

The Aikya Mantapa or the holy Samādhi of Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect of Hindu
religion along with Linga, which is believed to be self-born (Swayambhu), is here and river flow east
towards Srisailam (another pilgrim center) Andhra Pradesh.

Sangameswaram of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh is a famous pilgrim center for Hindus where
Tungabhadra and Bhavanasi rivers join the Krishna river.

The Sangameswaram temple is now drowned in the Srisailam reservoir, and visible for devotees
only during summer when the reservoir's water level comes down.

Krishna Basin
Krishna Basin extends over an area of 258,948 km2 (99,980 sq mi) which is nearly 8% of the total
geographical area of the country. This large basin lies in the states
of Karnataka (113,271 km2), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra (69,425 km2).[7]

The principal tributaries joining Krishna are the Ghataprabha River, Malaprabha River, Bhima
River, Tungabhadra River and Musi River.

. As the water availability in the Krishna river was becoming inadequate to meet the water
demand, Godavari River is linked to the Krishna river by commissioning the Polavaram right bank
canal with the help of Pattiseema lift scheme in the year 2015 to augment water availability to
the Prakasam Barrage in Andhra Pradesh.[9] The irrigation canals of Prakasam Barrage form part
of National Waterway 4.

Agumbe which receives second highest rainfall (7,620 mm mean annual) in India, is located in the
Krishna river basin. Mullayanagiri peak in Karnataka at an altitude of 1,930 m (6,330 ft) above msl, is
the highest point of the Krishna basin.

Flora and fauna[edit]

Wide spread area near to the Krishna river holds the rich flora and fauna. The last surviving
Mangrove forests in the Krishna estuary have been declared as the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary.

The following are few other wildlife sanctuaries located in the krishna basin.

• Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

• Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary
• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary
• Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
• Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
• Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
• Chandoli National Park
• Kudremukh National Park
• Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park
• Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park
• Mrugavani National Park
• Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ranibennur Blackbuck Sanctuary
• Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary
• Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Bellary

Waterfalls[edit]
The following are few other waterfalls located in the river basin

• Ethipothala on Chandravanka river which is the tributary of river Krishna river

• Godchinamalaki on Markandeya river a tributary of Ghataprabha
• Gokak on Ghataprabha
• Mallela Theertham

Bridges[edit]
The Krishna River is spanned by several bridges along its course, some of which are listed below.

• Krishna Bridge, Wai, Maharashtra – This bridge, which is located in the Dharmpuri Peth area of
the town of Wai, is one of the oldest bridges that were built by the British in India. It spans the
Krishna over nine kamans (arches) and is made of black rock. The bridge serves as a flood mark
(when the water rises to the level of the road on the bridge) for the "Waikar" people.
• Irwin Bridge, Sangli – This is one of the oldest, historic and largest bridges over the Krishna that
were built by the British. The Irwin Bridge, which is built of reddish stone, has two passages
where one can climb down to the river in the middle of its span to view the water.
• Kudachi – Ugar Railway bridge built by the British in 1891.
• B. Soundatti Bridge, Raibag – This is also one of the oldest bridges built during the British rule.
This bridge connects Maharashtra to Karnataka state.
• Tangadagi Bridge, This is one of oldest bridges that connects the Bijapur and Bagalkot Districts of
Karnataka. God Neelambika Temple is there at the bank of Krishna River.
• Jambagi Bridge, Jamkhandi : Recently built bridge connects Athai , Bijapur and Jamkhandi.

Interstate water sharing

At present, the award of Bachawat tribunal dated 31 May 1976 is applicable for sharing the water available in
the river among the riparian states. The Brijesh Kumar tribunal award given on 29 November 2013 is
challenged by Andhra Pradesh in the Supreme Court and the case pending since then.[13] The newly created
state of Telangana also approached Supreme Court demanding a fresh tribunal hearing to secure its water
needs on equitable basis.[14]

Even though the river does not flow through Tamil Nadu, the Telugu Ganga Project is a canal system
that brings Krishna river water to that state's capital city of Chennai,

Dams
There are many dams constructed across the Krishna river.[15]

• Dhom Dam
• Hippargi barrage
• Almatti Dam
• Narayanpur Dam
• Bhima Dam
• Jurala Dam
• Srisailam Dam
• Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
• Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond
• Pulichinthala Dam
• Prakasam Barrage
• Tungabhadra Dam
• Rajolibanda barrage
• Sunkesula barrage
Hydroelectric power stations[edit]
Krishna river is one of the rivers whose water energy is harnessed to a large extent by various hydro
electric power stations in India.[16] The following is the list of hydro electric power stations excluding
small and medium installations.

Almatti Dam with its right bank power house

Hydroelectric power stations on Krishna river

Rated
Name of the project Comments
Power (in MW)

Koyna Hydroelectric Project 1,920

Power station with Pumped-storage

Mulshi Dam 300
hydroelectricity units

Thokarwadi Dam 72

Power station with Pumped-storage

Ujjani Dam 12
hydroelectricity units

Almatti Dam 290

Bhadra Dam 39
Hydroelectric power stations on Krishna river

Rated
Name of the project Comments
Power (in MW)

Tungabhadra Dam 127

Jurala Hydroelectric Project 240

Lower Jurala Hydro Electric Project 240

Power station with Pumped-storage

Srisailam Dam 1,670
hydroelectricity units

Power station with Pumped-storage

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam 960
hydroelectricity units

Nagarjuna Sagar tail pond 50

Pulichinthala Dam 120

Thermal power stations in Krishna river basin

Name of Power Station Rated Power (in MW)

Vijayawada Thermal Power Station 1,760

Hydroelectric power stations on Krishna river

Rated
Name of the project Comments
Power (in MW)

Raichur Thermal Power Station 1,470

Bellary Thermal Power station 1,700

Yermarus Thermal Power Station 1,600

Solapur Super Thermal Power Station 1,320

Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project 2,400

Yadadri Thermal Power Plant 400