1. The rivers in South India are called the Peninsular rivers.
2. Most of these rivers originate from the Western ghats.
3. These rivers are seasonal and are mainly fed by rain.
4. Based on the direction of flow the Peninsular rivers are divided into East flowing rivers and West flowing rivers.
East flowing rivers:
1. Mahanadi: Originates near Sihawa in Raipur district of Chattisgarh.
- Flows through Odisha, Jharkand, Chattisgarh (851 km in length)
- Major tributaries: Seonath, Telen, Sandur and lb.
- Distributaries: Paika, Birupa, Chitartala, Genguti and Nun.
- These distributaries forms the Delta of Mahanadhi, one of the largest delta in India.
- This river flows into Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Godavari:
- It is the longest river (1,465km) among the peninsular rivers covers 3.13 lakh km2 area.
- Originates in Nasik district of Maharashtra.
- Flows through the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh ends into Bay of Bengal.
- Major distributaries: Puma, Penganga, Pranitha, Indravathi, Tal and Salami.
- Distributaries: Near Rajahmundry divides into two channels. Vasishta and Gautami and form one of the largest delta.
- Fresh water lake: Kolleru is located in the deltaic region of Godavari.
(iii) Krishna:
- It is the second longest peninsular river (1400 km) covers 2.58 lakh sq km area.
- Originates from a spring in Mahabaleshwar in the Western ghats of Maharashtra.
- Flows through Andhra Pradesh
- Major tributaries: Bhima, Peddavagu, Musi, Koyna and Thungabhadra.
- Joins in Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladevi.
(iv) Kaveri:
- Originates at Talakaveri – Kudagu hills of Karnataka (800km).
- It is also known as Dakshin Ganga or Ganga of the South.
- Main Tributaries: Hemavathi, Kabini, Bhavani, Arkavathy, Amaravathi, Harangi etc.
- Distributary – Coleroon
- Sacred lslands made by river Kaveri: Sri ranagpattinam(Kamataka) Srirangam (TamilNadu) Waterfalls – Sivasamudram.
- Flows through Karnataka and TamilNadu.
- Enters TamilNadu through Hoghenekkal Falls (Dharmapuri).
- Drains into Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar.
West Flowing Rivers:
(i) Narmadha:
- Origin: Araarkantak Plateau (Madhya Pradesh)
- Length: 1312 km covers an area of 98,796 sq km.
- Largest among the West flowing rivers.
- Tributaries: Burhner, Halon, Heran, Banjar, Dudhi, Shakkar, Tawa, Bama, Kolar.
- States benefited: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.
- Ends into Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay.
- Forms 27 km long estuary.
(ii) Tapti:
- Rises near Multani in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Length: 724 km. Covers an area of 65,145 sq km.
- Tributaries: Vaki, Gomai, Arunnavati, Aner, Nesu, Buray, Panjhra and Bori.
- Outfalls into the Arabian Sea through Gulf of Cambay.
- States: Flows through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Since all these rivers flow in the plateau region they are swift and are useful for hydro power generation.
