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1. Satluj River
Vedic name of Satluj River – Sutudri
Sanskrit name of Satluj River – Shatadru
Origin of Satluj River- Rakas Tal / Rakshas Tal in Tibet
Length of Satluj River in Himachal- 320 km (total length 1448 km)
The catchment area of Satluj River in Himachal- 20000 sq km
Tributaries of Satluj River- Spiti, Ropa, Taiti, Kashang, Mulgaon, Yula, Wanger, Throng, Rupi, Tirung, Gayathing, Baspa, Duling, Soldang
Spiti River joins it at Namgya / Khab (Kinnaur district).
Baspa river joins it at karcham near Kalpa.
Nogli Khad joins it below Rampur Bushehr.
Dam on Satjuj River – Bhakra Dam, Kol Dam, Nathpa Jhakri (Sjvnl) Dam
Satluj River map
Salient features of Satluj River-
- It is known as Longchen khabag in Tibet.
- It is known as Heisidrus in Greek.
- Other names of Satluj river are Muksang, Zungri.
- Satluj river is the largest river in Himachal.
- Satluj river enters Himachal at Shipki la in Kinnaur.
- Satluj river flows in Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, mandi, solan & Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
- Prominent places on Satluj river’s bank – Nangiya, Kalpa, Rampur, Tattapani, Sunni, Bilaspur.
- Spiti river leaves Kinnaur district & enters Shimla district at Chauhra, enters Mandi at Firnu, enters Bilaspur at Kasol, and leaves Himachal at Bhakra village to enter Punjab.
- It divides Himachal Pradesh into 2 halves – also known as red/yellow river.
2. Beas River
Vedic name of Beas river- Arjikiya
Sanskrit name of Beas river- Vipasha
Origin of Beas river- Beas kund (in pir panjal ranges) near rohtang pass
Length of Beas river in Himachal- 256 km (total length 460 km)
The catchment area of Beas river in Himachal- 1200 sq km
Tributeries of Beas river- parbati sainj tirthan manala su malana suketi bangan ga baner luni manuni harla uhl solang neugal gaj chakki awa hansa son patlikuhl phojal sarvari binwa spin kunah hatheli bakar maan sujan dehar chhonc h
Dam on Beas River – Largi Dam, Pandoh Dam, Pong Dam
Beas River Map
Salient features of Beas river-
- The Greek name of Beas River – Hyphasis
- Beas River flows in districts Kullu, mandi, Hamirpur, Kangra
- Beas Riverenters mandi at Bajaura
- Beas River enters Kangra at Sandhol & leaves it near Mirthal
- Prominent places at Beas River’s bank – Kullu, Manali, Mandi(on its left bank), Nadaun, Sujanpur Tihra, Pandoh, Dehra and Gopipur
- Parvati river is the largest tributary of the Beas river & meets the Beas river at Shamshi / Bhunter
- Sainj & Tirthan meet Beas river at Larji (district mandi) – Kangra & Kangra fort are situated on the bank of Banganga
3. Ravi River
Vedic name of Ravi river – Purushani
Sanskrit name of Ravi river – Iravati
Origin of Ravi river – Bara Bhangal (distt. kangra) as a joint stream formed by Badal and Tenggiri streams
Length of Ravi river in Himachal – 158 km (total length 720 km)
The catchment area of the Ravi river in Himachal – 5451 sq km
Tributaries of Ravi river- Budhil, Nai River (Dhona), Siul River, Seva River, Tant Giri River, Bhadal River
Dam on Ravi River – Baira Siul Dam, Bassi Dam, Chamera I Dam, Chamera II Dam, Chamera III Dam, Karchham-Wangtoo Dam, Malana I Dam, Sawra- Kuddu Dam
Ravi River Map
Salient features of Ravi river-
- The Greek name of the Ravi river – Hydraster
- Prominent places on Ravi river’s bank – Chamba (on the right bank), Bharmour.
- Ravi river leaves Chamba at Kheri to enter Punjab – flows through Kangra, Chamba.
4. Chenab River
Vedic name of Chenab river- Asikni
Sanskrit name of Chenab river – Chandrabhaga
Origin of Chenab river – formed by the confluence of Chandra & Bhaga streams (at Tandi) which rise from opposite sides of Baralacha la pass in Lahaul Spiti.
Length of Chenab river in Himachal – 122 km (total length 1200 km)
The catchment area of Chenab river in Himachal – 7500 sq km
Tributaries of Chenab river – Chandra Bhaga, Miyar, Saichar, Tavi
Chenab River Map
Salient features of Chenab river –
- Chenab river is the largest river in Himachal in terms of water density/volume of water.
- Chenab river flows through Lahaul Spiti and Chamba.
- Chenab river enters Chamba at Bhujind & leaves at Sansari Nala to enter Poddar valley of Kashmir – also known as Ashiqan da Dariya.
5. Yamuna River
Vedic name of Yamuna river – Kalindi
Origin of Yamuna river – Yamunotri, Garhwal hills, Uttarakhand.
Length of Yamuna river in Himachal – 22km (total length 1525 km).
The catchment area of Yamuna river in Himachal – 2320 sq km.
Tributaries of Yamuna river – Tons, Patsari, Pabbar, Giri, Markan da Jalal,
Yamuna River Map
Salient features of Yamuna river-
- Smallest & easternmost river of Himachal.
- Mythical relation to the sun ( also known as Suryasuta i.e. daughter of the sun).
- Yamuna river enters Himachal Pradesh at Khodra Majri and leaves at Tajewala to enter Haryana (both in Distt Sirmour).
- Bank city of Yamuna river – Paonta sahib.
River map of Himachal Pradesh
Additional facts about rivers in Himachal Pradesh
- Swan River (known as ‘River of Sorrows’) in Una district – also known as the sorrow of Una/ som Bhadra—divided Una into 2 parts.
- Out of these 5 major rivers- the origin of 2 outside Himachal.
- Tons river is formed by the confluence of Rupin & Supin streams at Naitwar (in Uttarakhand) & joins the Yamuna river at Kalsi.
- Patsari & Andhra rivers are tributaries of the Pabbar river (Chander Nahan lake) which itself is a tributary of tons.
- Giri River (Kuppar peak, Jubbal) divides Sirmour into 2 halves ( cis & trans-Giri).
- Bata, Asni & Jalal rivers are tributaries of the Giri river.
- Nahan is situated on the bank of the Markanda river.
- Jalal river originates from the Dharati ranges.
- Giri river merges with Yamuna river at Mokkampur (Paonta sahib).
- Spiti river originates from Kunzum la ( a mountain pass connecting Lahaul to Spiti).
- Manikaran, Kheerganga & Kasol have located on the bank of the river Parvati.
- Ranjit Sagar dam on Ravi river.
- Jalandhar – doab is situated between the Beas River and Sutlej Rivers.
