Rajasthan Geography

River System of Rajasthan

The location of the great indian watershed and the existence of the Aravalli axis greatly influence the drainage system of Rajasthan. The drainage to the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea gets divide due to the Great Indian watershed which runs along the Aravali axis from the Sambhar lake southward to Ajmer. Before proceeding towards the southwest of Udaipur city the line runs to southwest, a few kilometers east of Beawar and to Deogarh and Kumbhalgarh. It farther extending and runs to southeast to Bari Sadri from Choti Sadri to Pratapgarh.

Most of the smaller streams and their tributaries drain towards west and south of the Aravalli axis. Rivers Luni, Sukri, Banas, Sabarmati and Mahi are most significant streams and these are non-perennial in nature. On the eastern side of the watershed, the river Chambal is joined by the river Banas along with its main tributaries like Khari, Moshi and Morel on the left bank and Berach, Bajasen and Golwa on the right. The river Chambal ultimately joins the river Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh.

The inland drainage system is one of the most characteristic features of the drainage system of Rajasthan which is nearly 60.2 per cent of the area of the state. Nearly all this area lies west of the Aravalli range. In this part Kanti basin, Sota and Sahibi basin, Barrah basin of the Luni basin are found in large number of separate drainage basins. The desert tract in the western part soaks all the water of these rivers.

The river Luni which rises from Ana Sagar at Ajmer is the only significant water course in this area and it flows towards the southwest and passes through the districts of Jodhpur, Barmer and Jalore in the semi-arid tract to the west of the Aravalli range. This river has a small catchment area of about 32 sq km at the source in Talod Road. A small tributary joins from the Pushkar valley and the basin of the river widens. Near Ajmer, the river flows down the Aravalli slope and after 10km flows towards the southwest.

This river drains the total catchment area of about 34,866.40 sq kilometers. As it is a rain-fed stream the river is choked with advancing sands at many places during the dry season. When the river is carrying maximum water during the monsoon season it is not able to cut the Aeolian deposits (Aeolian deposits are materials deposited by the wind. The wind may even cause erosion. Windborne particles are transported to form dunes, sand sheets and loess in other places). It receives many smaller hill torrents (Hill torrents is special kind of rainwater harvesting in which water is harvested from the mountains and diverted to the agricultural fields) from the western slope of the Aravalli range like Lalri, Ghuhia, Bandi, Sukri, Jawai, Jojri and Sagai.

All these streams contribute to the sub-soil within its bend. Up to Balotra the water of river Luni is sweet but lower down it becomes more and more saline till the river drains near the Rann of Kutch. The river Luni increases in width at Jodhpur district rather than deepening the bed. This is because the floods develop so quickly due to the nature of rainfall that the river has no time to rub the bed. The River Luni spills over the country and occasionally damages the railway line to which it actually runs parallel from Luni Junction to Gole during the rainy season.

The southern and the eastern part of Rajasthan (south, southeast and east) the Aravalli range receives more than 80 cm rainfall and has some important streams.

The river chambal is the largest and it is joined by some tributaries like the Banas, Kali Sindh and the Parbati. The river Chambal is a perennial river (perennial river is a stream or river that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year round during years of normal rainfall) while its tributaries might occasionally turn completely dry and exhibit their stony beds.

The river Chambal rising from the northern flanks of the Vindhyan scarps near Manpur (884.4 m) in the south of Mhow runs for about 325 km through a long narrow and steep gorge which overhangs the valley on both the sides rising about 60m to 90 m above the valley floor. The river falls at 505 m near Chaurasigarh to Kota.

The river Chambal is joined by its first major tributary – river kali Sindh near Monera village. Another tributary Parbati joins about 48 km downstream. Taking a straight course for about 212 km, it bends southeast at Pinahat and flows to join the river Yamuna near Murad ganj, after a total run of about 965 kilometres. For a length of about 153 km the river flows entirely in Rajasthan. The river forms the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from Palia to Pinahat for about 241 km. it forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Before joining the river Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. In Rajasthan two other tributaries Kurai and Banas join the Chambal River on the left bank.

The Banas River flows through the heart of the Mewar Plains. Its chief tributaries are Berach, Kothari, Khari, Dhoond and Morel. The river Banas rises from the catchment area lying between Kankroli and Nathdwara and flows towards the east as far as Mandalgarh and further it flows towards the northeast up to Tonk where it again turns towards the east and finally this river turns at right angles and flows south to join the river Chambal. The upper reaches of this stream are hilly and have good rainfall.

What is the catchment area of a river?

A drainage basin or catchment basin is an extent or an area of land where all surface water from rain, melting snow or ice converges to a single point at a lower elevation, usually the exit of the basin where the waters join another body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean.

River Basin Areas in Rajasthan State

S.No.NameBasin Area(Sq.Km.)
1Shekhawati9691
2Ruparail2550
3Banganga9949
4Gambhiri4934
5Parvati1891
6Sabi4615
7Banas46902
8Chambal31229
9Mahi16598
10Sabarmati4118
11Luni69580
12West Banas1835
13Sukdi994
14Nallah of Jalore1775
15Outside Basin135603
                         Total=342264

Source: Tahal Report, Irrigation Department, Government of Rajasthan

Important Geographical Terms

  1. Affluent: stream that feeds, or flows, into a larger stream.
  2. Confluence: place where two rivers join and flow together.
  3. Continental divide: A continental divide is drainage divides on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea. point or area that separates which directions a continent’s river systems flow.
  4. Distributary: stream that branches off from the main stem of a river or other flowing fluid.
  5. Downstream: in the direction of a flow, toward its end.
  6. Drainage basin: an entire river system or an area drained by a river and its tributaries.
  7. Fork: branch or tributary of a river, usually having the same name as the river itself.
  8. Freshwater: water that is not salty.
  9. Headwater: source of a river.
  10. Mainstream: largest river or channel in a watershed or drainage basin.
  11. Mouth: place where a river empties its water. Usually rivers enter another body of water at their mouths.
  12. Potamologist: person who studies rivers.
  13. Province: division of a country larger than a town or county.
  14. Runoff: overflow of fluid from a farm or industrial factory.
  15. Source: beginning of a stream, river, or other flow of water.
  16. Stream: body of flowing water.
  17. Tributary: stream that feeds, or flows, into a larger stream.
  18. Watershed: entire river system or an area drained by a river and its tributaries.

List of Cities/Town which located on River Bank

S.No.Name of RiverCity/Town Located
1.ChambalKota, Dholpur, Rawatbhata
2.KalisindhJhalawar
3.JawaiPali
4.LuniAjmer, Balotara (Barmer) and Bilada
5.BanasNathdwara, Tonk and Kankroli
6.KhariAsind(Bhilwara)
7.JojadiNagaur
8.MahiDungarpur
9.GhaggarHanumangarh, Suratgarh
10.JawaiArinpura (Sirohi)
11.MejaDablana
12.BerachChittorgarh
13.BadiPali

River System of Rajasthan

  1. Rivers that drain in the Bay of Bengal
  2. Rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea
  3. Inland Rivers

1. Rivers that drain in to the Bay of Bengal

About Bay of Bengal: Bay of Bengal, large but relatively shallow embayment of the northeastern Indian Ocean, occupying an area of about 839,000 square miles (2,173,000 square km). It lies roughly between latitudes 5° and 22° N and longitudes 80° and 90° E. It is bordered by Sri Lanka and India to the west, Bangladesh to the north, Myanmar (Burma) and the northern part of the Malay Peninsula to the east. According to the definition of the International Hydrographic Bureau, the southern boundary extends from Dondra Head at the southern end of Sri Lanka in the west to the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra in the east. A number of large rivers—the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri (Cauvery) on the west and the Ganges (Ganga) and Brahmaputra on the north—flow into the Bay of Bengal. The Andaman and Nicobar groups, which are the only islands, separate the bay from the Andaman Sea. The climate of the Bay of Bengal is dominated by the monsoons.

1. Chambal River: In the ancient time, it was called “Charmanyavati”.

  • It originates from Janapao hills near Maanpur in Mahu, Madhya Pradesh.
  • It enters in Rajasthan near Chaurasigarh and makes the border of Kota and Bundi.
  • It passes through Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dhaulpur and finally meets Yamuna River in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Gandhi sagar, Jawahar sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Kota Barrage Dams are built on this river.
  • Banas, Kalisindh and Parvati rivers are the tributaries of Chambal River.
  • Total length of chambal river is 965 Km & the length in Rajasthan is 370Km.

  Parwati- Kalisindh-Chambal link: The proposed Parwati- Kalisindh-Chambal link is one of the big projects being planned in the basin which will divert surplus waters of Parwati and Kalisindh to the Rana Pratap Sagar or Gandhi Sagar dam.

2. Banas River

The river Banas – “the hope of forest” raises in the Khamnor hills or Aravalli’ about five kilometres from the fort of Kumbhalgarh and flows southward until it terms toward east to northeast after the confluence of the streams viz. Berach on the right bank and Kothari on the left bank: finally leaving Mewar near the cantonment of Deoli.

  • It originates from Khamnor hill near Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand.
  • It travels through Gogunda plateau, Nathdwara, Rajsamand, Rel Magara, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, Tonk and Sawai Madhopur district. Banas join the Stream of Chambal River in sawai madhopur.
  • It is also called ‘Hope of Forest (Van Ki Asha)’.
  • Bedach, Kothari, Khari, Mainal, Bandi, Dhundh and Morel are the tributaries of Banas River.

Kothari is a second major left hand tributary of Banas; it rises in the Aravalli near Debari, after completing its 90 miles journey, it joins the Banas near Nandarai. Apart from these northern rivers, the other tributaries of Banas are Khari which form the northern frontier of Mewar with its tributary known as Mansi.

Banas River Basin:Banas lies completely within Rajasthan and has the largest catchment area (45,833 square km) in Rajasthan. Banas drains the east slope of the central portion of the Aravalli Range and the basin includes part of Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Tonk, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur districts.

3. Kali Sindh River

  • It originates in dewas in Madhya Pradesh.
  • It passes through Jhalawar and Baran districts and meets Chambal River in Nonera.
  • It is tributary of Chambal & it meet near Nonera village in Baran.
  • Paravan, Ujaad, Niwai and Aahu are its tributary rivers.

     Parban River is a tributary of Kali Sindh and it originates in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. Parban flows through Sehore, Shajapur and Rajgarh districts in Madhya Pradesh. It covers Jhalawar, Kota; Baran districts of Rajasthan and meets Kali Sindh in Baran district of Rajasthan.

4. Parvati River

  • It originates in Sihor region of Madhya Pradesh and flows in Baran and meets Chambal River in Sawai Madhopur.
  • Origin- Northern slopes of Vindhyan Range and length in State- 65 Km
  • It is the tributary of Chambal and it meet near Poh village.

5. Berach River

Berach, the main tributary of Banas, rises to the north of Udaipur and is first known as Ahar after the village of this name. It flows at first southeast past Bedla and close to Udaipur into the lake called Udai sagar and is called Udai sagar-ka-Nala. Beyond it, is known as Berach; near Chittorgarh it receives the water of Gambhiri, then it turns north east and falls into Banas at the place known as Triveni Sangam, little west of Mandalgarh.

  • It Originates from Gogunda hills, North of Udaipur
  • It flows in Udaipur and Chittorgarh districts.
  • It is also known as Aayar River
  • It is a tributary of Banas River & it meet near Bigod.

It is also known as Aayar River. It is called Berach after appearing from Udai Sagar Lake near Udaipur. It flow northeast through Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts and joined the Banas near Bigod village of Bhilwara.

Berach has historical significance with banks of Ahar having thrown up evidences of settlements dating back to the Harappan and pre-Harappan era’s cultural levels, thus exhibiting connection with Indus Valley civilization. Additionally, evidences of big palaces were found at Nagri, an ancient site around 16 km from Chittorgarh.   

6. Mez River

  • Originates from Bhilwara and meets Chambal near Lakheri in Bundi.
  • Mej River is a left bank tributary of Chambal River.
  • It originates near Mandalgarh in Bhilwara and joins Chambal in Kota. The catchment area of Mej River extends over Bhilwara, Bundi and Tonk districts of Rajasthan.

7. Vapani (Bahyani) River

  • This river originates near Haripura village of Chittorgarh district and meets Chambal near Bhaisroadgarh.

8. Gambhiri River

  • The origin of this river is from the hills of Sawai Madhopur district and drain in to Karauli and Bharatpur.
  • Dam- Panchna Dam in Sawai Madhopur Band Baretha has been built over it to tame water of this river.
  • It is a tributary of Yamuna River & it meet in Agra district.
  • It changes its course in many years.

9. Banganga River

  • It originates from Bairath hills of Jaipur district and it moves towards the east in Sawai Madhopur and then in Bharatpur meets in the Yamuna river.
  • Banganga River basin is located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan state with a total catchment area of 8,878.7 sq km. It is bounded by Ruparail and Sabi in its north; and the Shekhawati Basin in its west and the Gambhir and Banas River Basins in its south-southwest. The eastern border is marked by the Yamuna River Basin in Uttar Pradesh. Administratively, Banganga River Basin extends over parts of Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur Districts.