Peninsular River System

The peninsula drainage system is prior to 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. The Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken, and Son rivers, which rise in the northern part of the peninsula, belong to the Ganges river basin. The other major river systems on the peninsula are the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri Rivers. Rivers on the peninsula are characterized by stable streams, meandering, non-permanent streams of water. The exceptions are the Narmada and Tapi rivers that flow through the Lift Valley.

Comparison of East and West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

The comparison of east and west-flowing peninsular rivers is as follows:

• The peninsula rivers that flow to the east flow into the Bay of Bengal. The river west of the peninsula flows into the Arabian Sea. 
• The river on the peninsula that flows to the east is longer than the river that flows to the west. 
• The two major peninsular rivers to the west are the Narmada and Tapi Rivers. The main peninsular rivers that flow east are Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Kaveri. 
• West-flowing rivers such as the Narmada and Tapi Rivers form the estuary. The rivers that flow east of the peninsula form a delta.

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.