Peninsular Rivers
NCERT Class 9 • Contemporary India I • Chapter "Drainage" | NCERT Class 11 • India Physical Environment • Chapter "Drainage System"
Peninsular Rivers
Peninsular rivers are older, shorter and seasonal, fed mainly by rain. Most rise in the Western Ghats and flow east into the Bay of Bengal, building deltas. Only a few, notably the Narmada and Tapi, flow west into the Arabian Sea through rift valleys and form estuaries.
East Flowing Rivers
- Godavari is the largest peninsular river, called Dakshin Ganga; it rises near Nashik in Maharashtra.
- Its tributaries include Purna, Manjra, Wainganga, Penganga, Indravati.
- Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar; major tributaries are Koyna, Tungabhadra, Bhima.
- Kaveri rises in the Brahmagiri hills of Karnataka and is relatively less seasonal.
- Mahanadi rises in the Chhattisgarh highlands and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
- All four build deltas at their mouths.
- Subarnarekha and Damodar drain the Chotanagpur plateau; the Damodar was once called the "Sorrow of Bengal".
| River | Rises In | Drains Into |
|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Nashik, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar | Bay of Bengal |
| Kaveri | Brahmagiri hills | Bay of Bengal |
| Mahanadi | Chhattisgarh highlands | Bay of Bengal |
| Narmada | Amarkantak | Arabian Sea |
| Tapi | Satpura range | Arabian Sea |
West Flowing Rivers
- Narmada rises at Amarkantak and flows west through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.
- It makes the Dhuandhar falls near Jabalpur in the marble rocks.
- Tapi rises in the Satpura range and runs parallel to the Narmada, also in a rift valley.
- Both form estuaries, not deltas, because the rift valley is narrow and steep.
- Short swift streams like the Sharavati, Periyar and Bharatpuzha drain the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea.
Estuary — a funnel-shaped river mouth where the river meets the sea without depositing a delta.
Why Peninsular Rivers Differ
- They flow over hard rock, so their valleys are shallow and their beds are rocky.
- They have almost reached a graded profile, so erosion and deposition are both limited.
- Most have small catchments compared with the Himalayan rivers.
- They shrink sharply in summer because there is no glacier to feed them.
- The Western Ghats act as the main water divide of the peninsula.
- Their steady gradient and gorges make them useful for hydroelectric power, and several large multipurpose projects stand on them.
- Because flow is seasonal, sharing their water between states has often led to long-running disputes.
Delta and Estuary Compared
| Feature | Delta | Estuary |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Triangular, split channels | Funnel, single channel |
| Deposition | Heavy silt deposited | Silt carried out to sea |
| Indian example | Godavari, Krishna | Narmada, Tapi |
Exam me kaise aata hai
- Largest peninsular river — Godavari
- Narmada rises at — Amarkantak
- Which rivers form estuaries — Narmada and Tapi
- Dakshin Ganga is another name of — Godavari
UPSC/State PSC ke liye
- The Narmada and Tapi flow in rift valleys caused by faulting, which is why they flow west against the general eastward slope.
- Peninsular rivers have wide shallow valleys and almost graded profiles, so they show little downcutting.
Yahan confuse hote hain
✗ Krishna is the largest peninsular river | Godavari is the largest | ✓
✗ Narmada forms a delta | Narmada forms an estuary | ✓
✗ Tapi rises at Amarkantak | Tapi rises in the Satpura range | ✓
Ek nazar me
- Peninsular rivers are rain-fed, seasonal and older.
- East flowing: Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi — all build deltas.
- West flowing: Narmada and Tapi in rift valleys — estuaries.
- Damodar and Subarnarekha drain the Chotanagpur plateau.