Key Features of East and West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

Godavari – Rivers on the Peninsula Flowing East

Godavari rivers on the peninsula flowing east features are:

• The longest river on the Indian Peninsula is the Godabari River. 
• The Godavari River is also known as Dakshinganga. 
• The length of the Godavari River is 1500 km. 
• The Godavari River flows to Maharashtra in the Nasik district on the slopes of the Western Ghats. 
• The Godavari River flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. 
• The Godavari River basin is located in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. About 50% of the Godavari River basin is in Maharashtra. 
• The main tributaries of the Godavari River are the Penganga, Wainganga, and Pranhita Rivers.

Narmada and Tapi Rivers-River Flowing West 

Godavari rivers on the peninsula flowing west feature are:

• The Narmada River originates in Madhya Pradesh in the Amarkantak Hills and flows west. 
• The Narmada River basin is part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. 
• Some of the notable scenic spots created by the Narmada River are the “Duadar Falls” and “Marble Rocks” near Jabalpur. The tributary flows at right angles to the Narmada River, and the tributary of the Narmada River is very short. 
• The Betul district of Madhya Pradesh in the Satpura Range is the headwaters of the Tapti River. 
• The Tapi River is much shorter than the Narmada River. The areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh cover the Tapti River basin.

Related Links

1. The Peninsular River System
2. The Peninsular Plateau
3. How was Great Peninsular Plateau formed?

The peninsula drainage system precedes the Himalayan drainage system. This is evident in the maturity of the wide, large, stepped flat valleys and rivers. The Western Ghats, which run near the west coast, serve as a basin between the major peninsular rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal and the small streams that flow into the Arabian Sea. With the exception of the Narmada and Tapi rivers, most of the major rivers on the peninsula flow from west to east.