Peninsular Rivers Of India, Evolution, Significance & MCQs

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This article is about the Peninsular rivers of India. Here, you will learn about the rivers of this system, their evolution and significance. Moreover, at the end of the article, you will also get to solve some important MCQs on the topic.

Also Check: Himalayan Rivers Of India

Peninsular Rivers | Peninsular Drainage System

The peninsular rivers of India include the river systems of Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers. 

Features of Peninsular Drainage System

The important features of Peninsular Drainage System are:

  1. It is older than the Himalayan drainage system. It is evident from broad, largely-graded shallow valleys.
  2. Most of them are characterized by fixed course, absence of meanders and no perennial flow of water.

The rivers of Peninsular drainage system can be divided into two broad categories. They are;

(1) rivers flowing into Bay of Bengal: they include Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery etc.

(2) rivers flowing into Arabian Sea: they include Narmada, Tapi etc.

A brief account of these rivers is given below.

Rivers flowing into Bay of Bengal | Rivers flowing from West to East

1. Mahanadi

It originates near Sihawa in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, South of Amarkantak Plateau.

It is the third largest of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna, and the largest river of Odisha state.

Its left bank tributaries are Hasdeo, Ib, Mand and Seonath, and its right bank tributaries are Tel, Ong and Jonk.

Hirakud dam, which is the longest dam in India, is constructed on this river.

2. Godavari River

It is the largest Peninsular river system and is also called Dakshin Ganga.

It originates from Trimbakeshwar in Nasik district of Maharashtra, and it flows for a length of 1465 km. To the south of Polavaram, it forms a picturesque gorge.

The Pravara, Manjira and Maner are right bank tributaries.

The Purna, Pranhita, Indravathi and Sabari are important left bank tributaries.

Polavaram Irrigation Project, Kaleshwaram, Sadarmatt Anicut, Inchampalli project, Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) are some important projects on this river.

Godavari has a huge cultural and religious significance and Kumbh Mela is celebrated on its banks in Nasik.

3. Krishna 

It is the second largest east-flowing peninsular river which rises near Mahabaleshwar in Sahyadri.

It flows through Maharashtra (303 km), North Karnataka (480 km) and the rest of its 1300 km journey in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and then flows into Bay of Bengal.

Bhima, Musi and Munneru are its left bank tributaries, and Ghatprabha, Malprabha and Tungabhadra are its right bak tributaries.

It has been mentioned in Puranas as Krsnavena, in Yoginitantra as Krsnaveni, and in Jatakas as Kanhapenna.

4. Cauvery | Kaveri

Kaveri rises in the Brahmagiri hills 1,341m of Kodagu district in Karnataka.

It is also known as “Ponni” in Tamil and is considered sacred in South India.

Krishna river flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls.

It empties into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.

Krishna shows less fluctuation in water levels as compared to other peninsular rivers and carries water almost through out the year.

This river has led to a water usage dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Its right bank tributaries are Lakshmantirtha, Suvarnavati, Noyil, Bhavani, Kabini, and Amaravathi.

Its left bank tributaries are Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Shimsa, and Harangi.

Rivers flowing into Arabian Sea | Rivers flowing from East to West

1. Narmada

It originates on the western flank of the Amarkantak plateau, and flows through a rift valley between Satpuras and Vindhyas.

It is also known as Rewa and acts as a traditional boundary between North and South India. It flows into Gulf of Khambat.

It forms Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur and Sardar Sarovar Project has been constructed on this river.

Hiran, Tendori, Barna, Kolar, Man, Uri, Hatni, and Orsang are its right bank tributaries.

Burner, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Chhota Tawa, Kundi, Goi, and Karjan are its left bank tributaries.

2. Tapi | Tapti

Tapi river originates from Multai in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in Satpura range.

It also flows in a rift valley and ultimately flows into Arabian sea.

It flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. 

Vaki, Gomai, Arunavati and Aner are its right bank tributaries.

Nesu, Bori, Girna, Waghur, Purna, Mona and Sipna are its left bank tributaries, with Purna being its principal tributary.

3. Luni

Luni is the largest river system of Rajasthan, west of Aravali.

It is formed by confluence of two streams named Sabarmati and Saraswati. The confluence occurs at Govindgarh.

It is also known as Lavanavari river meaning Salt river.

It ends in Rann of kutch and it is ephemeral in nature. It does not flow into Arabian Sea.

Jawai, Sukdi, Sukdi, Sayla, Bandi, Bandi (Hemavas), Mithril, Khari, Khari (Hemavas), Jawai, Guhia, Sagi are its left bank tributaries.

Jojdi is its only right bank tributary.

So, this was all about the Peninsular rivers of India. We are sure that you have found this article very useful. If you did, then share this article with your friends.

MCQs On Peninsular Rivers Of India

Now is the turn to solve some important MCQs on peninsular rivers of India. Lets go.

On which of the following rivers are the Gersoppa falls located?

  1. Sharavati
  2. Krishna
  3. Mahi
  4. Indravati

Sharavati

Which of the following is/are the feature/s of peninsular rivers?

  1. They are much older than the himalyan rivers.
  2. They are generally not navigable.
  3. They are mostly perennial in nature.
  1. only 1 and 2
  2. only 1 and 3
  3. only 2 and 3
  4. all of them

only 1 and 2

The dam on which of the following rivers is supposed to have caused earthquakes (River Induced Seismicity) in its respective region:

  1. Koyna
  2. Musi
  3. Bhima
  4. TungaBhadra

Koyna

Which of the following is true about Krishna River?

  1. Ghatprabha and Tungabhadra are its left bank tributaries.
  2. it is the second largest east flowing river of the Peninsula.
  1. Both of them
  2. None of them
  3. Only 1
  4. Only 2

Only 2

Which of the following is not a tributary of Godavari river?

  1. PenGanga
  2. WainGanga
  3. Indaravati
  4. Ib

Ib

Which of the following is true about Godavari river?

  1. it is also called Dakshin Ganga
  2. It rises from Tibekeshwar In Nashik district of Maharashtra
  3. Manjra is its important left bank tributary
  1. only 1 and 2
  2. only 2 and 3
  3. only 1 and 3
  4. all of them

only 1 and 2

Which of the following are the right bank tributaries of Mahanadi river?

  1. Tel
  2. Ong
  3. Jonk
  4. Seonath
  1. all of them
  2. only 1,2 and 3
  3. only 2,3 and 4
  4. only 2 and 3

only 1,2 and 3

Which of the following is true about Mahanadi river?

  1. its source is in the northern foothills of Dandakaranya in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh
  2. Sardar Sarovar dam is constructed on this river
  3. Puri, a famous pilgrimage site, is located on one of its mouths.
  1. Only 1 and 3
  2. Only 1 and 2
  3. Only 2 and 3
  4. All of them

only 1 and 3

Amravati and Arunavati are the tributaries of:

  1. Tapi river
  2. Sharavati river
  3. Krishna river
  4. Kaveri river

Tapi river

Which of the following is true about Narmada river?

  1. It is located mainly in Madhya Pradesh.
  2. It originates from Maikala range near Amarkantak Plateau
  3. It is also known as Reva river
  1. all of them
  2. only 1 and 2
  3. only 2 and 3
  4. only 1 and 3

all of them

The river formed by the confluence of Koel and Sankh river is known as:

  1. Brahmani river
  2. Subarnrekha river
  3. Sharavati river
  4. Mahi river

Brahmani river

The largest river of peninsular India is?

  1. Mahanadi
  2. Godavari
  3. Krishna
  4. Narmada

Godavari

Which of the following rivers is not an west flowing river?

  1. Mahanadi
  2. Tapi
  3. Sabarmati
  4. Narmada

Mahanadi

Which one of the following is true about Luni River?

  1. It rises in the Aravalli range.
  2. It is originally brackish in nature.
  3. it loses itself into the Rann of Kutch
  1. only 1 and 3
  2. only 2 and 3
  3. all of them
  4. only 1 and 2

only 1 and 3

These were some MCQs on peninsular rivers of India. We are sure that you will find these MCQs very useful.

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