Rivers
Himachal provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The major river
systems of the region are the Chandrabhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas,
the Sutlej and the Yamuna. These perennial rivers are fed by snow and rainfall
and are protected by a fairly extensive cover of natural vegetation.
The Beas (Vedic name Arjikiya and in later Sanskrit
Vipasa) rises in the Pir
Panjal range near the Rohtang Pass and flows some 256km in
Himachal. The river
is formed by a number of tributaries, the important being the Parbati, the Hurla,
the Sainj, the Uhl, the Suheti, the Luni, the Banganga and the Chaki. The
northern and eastern tributaries of the Beas are snow fed and perennial, while
the southern affluent are seasonal. During August, increase in inflow sometimes
results in floods.
The Chandrabhaga or Chenab (Vedic name
Askni), the largest river (in volume of
water)
is formed after the meeting of 2 streams, Chandra and Bhaga at Tundi, in
Lahul. It flows 122kms and has a catchments area of 7500sq.km. in Himachal,
before entering Kashmir. The Chandra passes through barren land where there are
no signs of life.
The Ravi (Vedic name Purushni and in later Sanskrit
Iravati) is born in Bara Banghal, Kangra district as a joint stream formed by the glacier fed Bhadal and
Tantgari. The river has a length of about 158km and has a catchment area of
about 5451km. Chamba lies on its right Bank.
The Su tlej
(Vedic name Saturdi and in later Sanskrit Shatadru) originates in distant
Tibet. It cuts through both the great Himalayan and the Zaskar ranges and
crosses the Indo-Tibetan border near Shipkila. Then the river Spiti joins it
from the north. Passing through precipitous gorges and narrow valleys it
emerges from the mountains at Bhakra. The catchment area of Sutlej in Himachal
is 20,000sq.km.
The
Yamuna has its origin in Yamunotri in Uttar Kashi (Uttar Pradesh). Its total
catchment area in Himachal is 2320sq.km. Its main tributaries are the Tons, the
Giri and the Bata.
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