Top 10 Longest Rivers in India: List of Largest Rivers in India

Ganga is the longest river in India with a length of 2525 km as it flows entirely through the mainland. It flows through south and east directions through the Gangetic plain of North India and originates from Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand.

The Water in Indian rivers originates from towering Himalayan peaks and journeys that traverse through cities, fertile plains, and vast deltas, play a very important role in the country’s history, culture, and environment

In this article, we have discussed the List of the Longest Rivers in India with their Length (in Km), origin, and more.

List of Top 10 Longest Rivers in India

The following is the list of Longest Rivers in India based on length in Kilometers:

Sr.No.	River	Length in India(km)	Total Length(km)
1	Ganga	2525	2525
2	Godavari	1464	1465
3	Krishna	1400	1400
4	Yamuna	1376	1376
5	Narmada	1312	1312
6	Indus	1114	3180
7	Brahmaputra	916	2900
8	Mahanadi	890	890
9	Kaveri	800	800
10	Tapti	724	724

1. Longest Rivers in India: Ganga River (2525 Km)

• Length: 2,525 kilometers
• Origin: Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand

The Ganges is the longest river in India and also the largest river in India followed by Godavari (1465 kms) that flows in the south and east direction through the Gangetic plain of North India. It receives the right bank tributaries Yamuna, Son, Damodar, and Punpun, and the left bank tributaries Gomti, Gharghara, Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda. The left bank tributaries originating in Nepal contribute to the majority of the river’s volume.It continues into Bangladesh where it is called as Padma. The Padma combines with the Jamuna (Brahmaputra) to form the mainstream of the Ganges.

Flow: Flows through North India, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal.

2. Second Longest Rivers in India: Godavari River (1464 Km)

• Length: 1,465 kilometers
• Origin: The river emerges from the Trimbak Plateau of the Western Ghats in the Nashik district of Maharashtra

Godavari is second-longest river in India and longest in the southern India. It is also known as the ‘Dakshina Ganga‘ and covers about 10% of total geographical area of India. Near its confluence with the Bay of Bengal, the Godavari forms a vast delta, similar to the Ganges delta. The left bank tributaries are Pranhita, Purna, Sabari and Indravat river and the right bank tributaries are Manair, Pravara, and Manjira.

Flow: The Godavari flows through central and southern India, covering states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

3. Third Longest Rivers in India: Krishna River (1400 Km)

• Length: 1,400 kilometers
• Origin: The Krishna River originates in the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar town, Maharashtra.

It is the third longest river of India and in terms of river basin area and water inflows it is the fourth-largest following the Indus, Ganges, and Godavari. The Krishna River is joined by various tributaries, including the Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi, Ghataprabha, and Malaprabha rivers. Each tributary contributes to the river’s water volume and influencing the local geography.

Flow: The Krishna River flows eastward through the Indian states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka before merging into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh.

4. Yamuna River (1376 Km)

• Length: 1,376 kilometers
• Origin: The Yamuna River emerges from the Yamunotri Glacier, which is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, in the western Himalayas.

It is the longest tributary of India and largest tributary of river Ganga by discharge. At Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj it merges with the Ganga. The right bank tributaries are Betwa, Chambal, and Ken and the left bank tributaries of Yamuna are Sharda and Hindon.

Flow: It flows primarily southwards through several states including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and merges with the Ganges at Prayagraj (Allahabad).

5. Narmada River (1313 Km)

• Length: 1,312 kilometers
• Origin: The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in the Maikal Range of the eastern Satpura Range, near the border of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

It is longest west-flowing river in India. Narmada flows through rift valley situated between Satpura and Vindhya ranges. It forms estuaries instead of delta. It is one of only two rivers of India (another is Tapi)that flows from east to west. Narmada is also known as the “Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat”. The right bank tributaries are Choral, Hiran, and Tendoni and left bank tributaries are Sher, Karjan, and Banjar.

Flow: The Narmada River flows through the western states of India, starting from Madhya Pradesh and emptying into the Arabian Sea in the Gulf of Khambhat while touching parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

6. Indus River (1114 Km)

• Length: 1114 Killometers
• Origin: The Indus River originates in Tibet, China, near Lake Mansarovar. It flows from the Tibetan Plateau and then descends into Pakistan.

Indus is an antecedent river, that has maintained its course through rising terrain, cutting through the Himalayas and other mountain ranges in its path. It is the longest in terms of its total length, covering 3,180 kilometers, but its course within India is just 1,114 kilometers, with the majority of it flowing through Pakistan. The Indus River Basin is one of the world’s largest, covering parts of China, India, and Pakistan. The right bank tributaries are Gilgit, Zhob, Shyok, Hunza, and Gomal and left bank tributaries Zanskar, Jhelum, Suru, Chenab, Soan, and Luni.

Flow: It flows predominantly southwest through Tibet and northern India before entering Pakistan. In Pakistan, it flows through the provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh, ultimately emptying into the Arabian Sea.

7. Brahmaputra River (916 Km)

• Length: 2,900 kilometers
• Origin: The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet, China, here it is called as the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river and flows through China, North east India, and Bangladesh. Originating in the Himalayas’ Kailash Ranges in Tibet it flows for approximately 2900 kilometer. It enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and within India it covers distance of 916 kilometers. The right bank tributaries are Manas, Subansiri, Kameng, Jaldhaka, Teesta and left bank tributaries are Lohit, Dibang, and Dhansiri.

After entering Bangladesh, it is known as the Jamuna and later joins the Padma (the Ganges in India) before eventually flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Majuli or Majoli, situated in the Brahmaputra River, Assam, became India’s first river island district in 2016.

Flow: It flows eastward through Tibet, enters India, and then takes a sharp turn to the south, running through the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It continues into Bangladesh, here it is called as the Jamuna, and finally merges with the Ganges to form the world’s largest delta in the Sundarbans.

8. Mahanadi River (890 Km)

• Length: 858 kilometers
• Origin: The Mahanadi River emerges from the hills of Chhattisgarh. It flows from the eastern part of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

It was called ‘the distress of Odisha’ and was also known for “Hirakund Dam“. The right bank tributaries areParry and Ong and left bank tributaries are Hasdeo, Mand, Ib. The Mahanadi Basin covers a substantial area in eastern India, primarily in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Flow: The Mahanadi River flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

9. Cauvery River (800 Km)

• Length: 800 Kilometers
• Origin : The Cauvery River originates in the Western Ghats at Talakaveri in Karnataka. This source is considered sacred and has a temple dedicated to it.

It is the third largest river after Godavari and Krishna in southern India. The river divides into numerous distributaries, creating a vast delta known as the “southern India’s garden”. The right bank tributary is Lakshmana Tirtha and other important tributaries, are Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavathi and Kabini River.

Flow: The river flows in a southern direction and finally empties into the Bay of Bengal in the Palk Strait.

10. Tapi River (724 Km)

Length: 724 kilometers

Origin: The Tapi River emerges from Multai in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

It is the second largest river of India and flows in the west direction into the Arabian sea. It is fed by several tributaries, including the Girna, Purna, Panzara, and Penganga rivers.

Flow: The river flows westward through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and finally empties into Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea).

Ganga River System in India in 2023

The longest river in India in 2023 is Ganga. The Ganga river system is the largest in India It is a transboundary river of India that flows through India and Bangladesh. The origin of the Ganga is from the Gangotri Glacier near Gaumukh in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, where it is called as Bhagirathi. The Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag and hereafter, it is known as the Ganga. It flows through the Gangetic plain of North India in the south and east direction. It passes through several states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, and continues in Bangladesh and where it is known as the Padma. It combines with the Jamuna to form the Ganges, which finally empties into the Bay of Bengal. The major tributaries of the Ganges River are the Gandak, Yamuna, Son, Kosi, and Ghaghara rivers.

Top 10 Longest Rivers In India – FAQs

1. Which is the Longest River in India in 2023?

The longest river in India is Ganga that flows for 2,525 kilometers through northern India and Bangladesh before emptying in the Bay of Bengal. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas and is the most significant river of India both for its basin and cultural significance.

2. Which River is the Longest Tributary of the Ganges?

The longest tributary of the Ganges is Yamuna river. It is the fourth-biggest rivers in the country and its major tributaries are Chambal , Betwa, Sindh, Ken, Hindon, Sharda.

3. Which is the Second Longest River in India?

The second longest river in India is Brahmaputra River, also called as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China. It originates in Tibet, China, and enters India through Arunachal Pradesh. It flows for about 2,900 kilometers, before emptying in Bay of Bengal.

4. Which is India’s Largest River in South India?

India’s largest river in South India is Godavari River, also known as the “Dakshin Ganga”. It originates in the Maharashtra and flows for 1465 km. It flows through states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

5. Which is the Longest River in India by Volume?

The longest river in India by volume Brahmaputra River, also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in its upper reaches. It carries a substantial volume of water as it flows through India. It originates in Tibet, China, and enteris India through Arunachal Pradesh before continuing its course through Assam.