[Himachal GK] River System of Himachal Pradesh

River (Total Length)	Vedic Name	Sanskrit Name	Originated From	Major Tributaries	Distance Covered in H.P.
Satluj   (1448 km)	Sutudri   Or  Shutudri	Shatadru	Rakas Tal near  Mansarovar Lake	Baspa, Nogli, Spiti	320 Km.
Ravi  (720 km)	Parushani	Iravati   Or  Airavati	Bhandal & Tantgiri  Glaciers, Bara Banghal	Bhandal, Baira,  Siul, Tantgiri,  Chatrani	158 Km.
Beas  (460 km)	Arjikuja   Or  Aarijika   Or  Arjikya	Bipasha    Or Vipasha	Vyas Kund at  Rohtang Pass	Binwa, Banganga,  Chakki, Parbati,  Uhl, Luni, Sainj,  Tirthan, Harli	256 Km.
Chenab (Chandra- Bhaga)  (1200 km)	Chandrabhaga	Ashkini,    Or  Iskamati	Baralacha Pass	Chandra, Bhaga,  Miyar Naullah,  Saicher Naullah	122 Km.
Yamuna  (1525 km)	Kalindi    Or  Asita    Or  Yami	Yamuna	Kalinda Parbat,  Yamunotri in  Uttrakhand	Giri, Tons,  Pabbar,   Andhra	22 Km

                                                                         Fig: Himachal Pradesh River Map

Catchment Areas of Major Rivers:

S. No.	Name of River System	Area of Catchment  (in Km2)	Area in percentage
1	Sutlej	20,398	30.69%
2	Beas	13,663	24.50%
3	Chenab	7,850	14.20%
4	Yamuna	5,872	10.60%
5	Ravi	5,528	09.90%
6	Indus	1,450	02.60%
7	Markanda	360	00.60%
8	Ganga	290	00.50%
9	Ghaggar	262	00.50%
	Total:	55,673	100.00

Source: Forests of Himachal Pradesh, 1993

As is apparent from the details above, more than 95% of the State’s area is drained by five river systems i.e. the Sutlej, Beas, Chenab, Yamuna and Ravi.

Beas: Vedic name: Aarijika; Sanskrit name: Bipasha. The river rises from the Beaskund in the Pir Panjal range near the Rohtang Pass. The Beas runs for about 260 km in Himachal Pradesh before entering Punjab at Murthal. The tributaries that form River Beas are Parbati, Spin, Hurla, Malna, Chakki, Sainj, Uhl, Phung, Binwa, Banganga and Mankhad. Thanks to its snow-fed tributaries, water levels of this river increases greatly during the monsoons, sometimes resulting in floods. Pandoh Dam and Pong Dam are the major dams built on River Beas.

Chenab: Vedic name: Ashkini. Popularly known as Chandra Bhaga, the River Chenab originates from Tandi in Lahul Spiti where two rivulets namely Chandra and Bhaga meet to form this river. It is the largest river of the state in terms of the density of water. It flows for 122 km in the state before leaving it at Sansari Nullah and then entering Kashmir. The river runs through barren land where there is no human settlement.

Ravi: Vedic name: Parushini; Sanskrit name: Iravati. Ravi River originates at Bara Bangal of Kangra district, and flows through Bara Bansu, Tretha, Chanota and Ulhansa. It covers a distance of 158 km in Himachal Pradesh before entering Punjab state. Its famous tributaries are Budhil, siul, Baljeri, Chatrari and Baira. Barmaur, Madhopur and Chamba towns are situated on the banks of the river.

Satluj: Vedic name: Shutudri; Sanskrit name: Shatadru. It rises from Mansrovar Lake in Tibet. It enters at Shipki in Kinnaur district of Himachal. Sutlej flows through Shimla, Bilaspur before exiting from Bhakra village to enter into Punjab. The world’s largest dam, Bhakhra Dam, has been constructed on Sutlej River.

Yamuna: Vedic name: Kalindi. It rises from Yamnotri in Uttar Kashi, Uttarakhand and enters Himachal at Khadar Majri in Sirmaur district. Yamuna’s main tributaries are the Tons, Giri, Pabbar and Bata. The river itself is the largest tributary of the Ganga. The catchment area of Yamuna in Himachal is 2320sq.km.