For India, many of its rivers are not merely rivers. They are holy rivers and are rivers revered as goddesses, intertwined with religion and life rituals. Six of India's holy rivers are also its longest rivers.
The most sacred Hindu river, the banks of this gently-flowing pavitr nadi have for centuries supported enormous populations, entire civilisations, providing valuable water for drinking, cooking, bathing, pujas, agriculture, and industry. It rises in the Himalayas at 14,300 ft and flows across much of the breadth of India.
Total length: 2,525 km
Origin: Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
Known as Dakshin Ganga, the beautiful Godavari is crucial water artery of southern India and its water basin encompasses 10 per cent of the area of India. Some of the famous temples on its banks are: Draksharama Temple, the Sri Chalukya Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, and the Sri Veera Venkata Sathyanarayana Swamy Vari Devasthanam Annavaram.
Total length: 1,465 km
Origin: Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
The Krishna River or Krishnaveni, which flows on a simple west to east trajectory, across the Deccan Plateau, has a rather large outflow that makes it a vital means for irrigation in South India.
Total length: 1,400 km
Origin: Near Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
The largest tributary of the Ganga, its holy water sustains several religious towns, like Mathura, cities and states in north India, including the capital as it meanders down from the Himalayas. It merges with the Ganga at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad.
Total length: 1,376 km
Origin: Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
Outflow: The Ganga
The elegant Narmada is one of the few Indian rivers of that flows westward into the Gulf of Khambat, near Bharuch, in Gujarat. It widens as it passes Jabalpur and its banks grow higher. It is a lifeline in this region that has only several seasonal rivers.
Total length: 1,312 km
Origin: Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh
Outflow: Arabian Sea
One of the world's longest rivers, the Indus was the cradle of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation. After arising from the Tibetan Plateau it flows past the Nanga Parbat in Kashmir and Ladakh and into Pakistan, hitting the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
Total length: 3,180 km, but only 1,114 km flows through India.
Origin: Tibetan Plateau near Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash
Outflow: Arabian Sea
India's widest river, the serene Brahmaputra, arrives in India at Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh. Every land it flows through has another name for the river -- Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Luit in Assam, Siang/Dihang River in Arunachal and Jamuna in Bengal.
Total length: 2,880 km, while in India its length is 916 km
Origin: Chemayungdung Glacier, Tibet
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
A vital river for the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the Great River, as it has been named, is the location of India's first post-Independence dam the Hirakud. Arising in the Eastern Ghats it eventually spends a majority of its kilometres flowing through Odisha.
Total length: 900 km
Origin: Sihawa, Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
Also called the Cauvery, it rises in the Western Ghats flowing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, althugh its water enrich Kerala too. Revered by the Tamils, she is known as Ponni or The Golden One.
Total length: 805 km
Origin: Talakaveri, Western Ghats, Karnataka
Outflow: Bay of Bengal
Also called the Tapi, it crosses three states as it goes on its journey westwards. One of the most famous temples on its banks is Galteshwar Mahadev Temple, Timba village, known for its tall Shiva murti.
Total length: 724 km
Origin: Multai, Madhya Pradesh
Outflow: Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea