What are the features of east and west flowing rivers of Peninsular plateau?

The peninsula drainage system precedes the Himalayan drainage system. This is evident in the maturity of the wide, large, stepped flat valleys and rivers. The Western Ghats, which run near the west coast, serve as a basin between the major peninsular rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal and the small streams that flow into the Arabian Sea. With the exception of the Narmada and Tapi rivers, most of the major rivers on the peninsula flow from west to east.

East and  West Flowing rivers of Peninsular plateau

Peninsular River System

The peninsula drainage system is prior to the Himalayan drainage system. This is evident in the maturity of the wide, large, stepped flat valleys and rivers. The Western Ghats, which run near the west coast, serve as a basin between the major peninsular rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal and the small streams that flow into the Arabian Sea. With the exception of the Narmada and Tapi rivers, most of the major rivers on the peninsula flow from west to east. The Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, and Son rivers, which rise in the northern part of the peninsula, belong to the Ganges river basin. The other major river systems on the peninsula are the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri Rivers. Rivers on the peninsula are characterized by stable streams, meandering, non-permanent streams of water. The exceptions are the Narmada and Tapi rivers that flow through the Lift Valley.

Comparison of East and West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

The comparison of east and west-flowing peninsular rivers is as follows:

• The peninsula rivers that flow to the east flow into the Bay of Bengal. The river west of the peninsula flows into the Arabian Sea. 
• The river on the peninsula that flows to the east is longer than the river that flows to the west. 
• The two major peninsular rivers to the west are the Narmada and Tapi Rivers. The main peninsular rivers that flow east are Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Kaveri. 
• West-flowing rivers such as the Narmada and Tapi Rivers form the estuary. The rivers that flow east of the peninsula form a delta.

East vs West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

East Flowing Rivers	West Flowing Rivers
The Mahanadi, the Godavari, and the Kaveri are important east-flowing rivers.	West-flowing rivers include Narmada and Tapi majorly.
The east-flowing rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal.	The West-flowing rivers drain into the Arabian Sea.
These rivers tend to form a delta on the eastern coast.	These rivers do not form delta but form estuaries.
These rivers have a developed and large tributary system.	These rivers are devoid of any developed tributary system.

Key Features of East and West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

Godavari – Rivers on the Peninsula Flowing East

Godavari rivers on the peninsula flowing east features are:

• The longest river on the Indian Peninsula is the Godabari River. 
• The Godavari River is also known as Dakshinganga. 
• The length of the Godavari River is 1500 km. 
• The Godavari River flows to Maharashtra in the Nasik district on the slopes of the Western Ghats. 
• The Godavari River flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. 
• The Godavari River basin is located in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. About 50% of the Godavari River basin is in Maharashtra. 
• The main tributaries of the Godavari River are the Penganga, Wainganga, and Pranhita Rivers.

Narmada and Tapi Rivers-River Flowing West 

Godavari rivers on the peninsula flowing west feature are:

• The Narmada River originates in Madhya Pradesh in the Amarkantak Hills and flows west. 
• The Narmada River basin is part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 
• Some of the notable scenic spots created by the Narmada River are the “Duadar Falls” and “Marble Rocks” near Jabalpur. The tributary flows at right angles to the Narmada River, and the tributary of the Narmada River is very short. 
• The Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura Range is the headwaters of the Tapti River. 
• The Tapi River is much shorter than the Narmada River. The areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh cover the Tapti River basin.

Related Links

1. The Peninsular River System
2. The Peninsular Plateau
3. How was Great Peninsular Plateau formed?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. What are the east-flowing and west-flowing rivers of the Peninsular Plateau?

Answer-

The east-flowing rivers include Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri and west flowing rivers include Narmada and Tapi.

Q 2. What are the two features of the rivers of the Peninsular Plateau?

Answer-

A large number of peninsular rivers tend to be seasonal as their flow depend on rainfall and the rivers are shorter and shallower courses.

Q 3. What are the west-flowing rivers of the Peninsular Plateau?

Answer-

There are two important west flowing rivers called Narmada and Tapi.