Major Rivers in Gujarat

Gujarat is a state on India’s western coast with a 1,600-kilometre coastline—the country’s longest, most of it on the famous Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat has a population of 60.4 million people. It is the 5th largest state in terms of land and the 9th largest in terms of population in India. Gujarat has a diverse range of geographic features and sceneries. It has a myriad of rivers flowing across its alluvial plains. Narmada, Tapi, and Sabarmati are the three main rivers of Gujarat. Gujarat’s greatest river is the Narmada, followed by the Tapi. The longest river in the state is the Narmada.

Gujarat’s major rivers

Gujarat is endowed with numerous rivers that decorate the entire state. The areas surrounding the rivers have been developed for tourism, commercial, and government uses. The local population reveres and worships these rivers, as they do all of India’s river systems. The main rivers of Gujarat are listed below, along with some information about them.

Sabarmati

The river Sabarmati is one of the three main rivers of Gujarat, flowing through its alluvial plains. It stands at an elevation of 762 metres above mean sea level in the Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan state. The river is 371 kilometres long from its source to its mouth in the sea. It emerges in the Udaipur district and drains into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea.

The Sabarmati is a monsoon-dominated river with hardly any flow after the monsoon. The principal tributaries are the Hathmati, Wakal, Harnav, Watrak, and Sei rivers. It is a major water source for industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes in the surrounding areas. 

Narmada

The Narmada river is among the three main rivers of Gujarat. The river’s source is the Narmada Kund, from whence it flows down, falling over a cliff as the Kapildhara waterfalls, before making its journey down the hill. The river flows west for 1,312 kilometres before entering the Arabian Sea. It pours into the ocean through the Gulf of Khambhat at a distance of 30 kilometres west of Bharuch, Gujarat. 

The Narmada river, Gujarat’s longest river, is prominent in Central India and is also known as Rewa. Narmada establishes the traditional divide between South and North India. Along with the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Sindhu, and Kaveri, the Narmada is considered by Hindus one of India’s seven sacred rivers. 

Tapi

The Tapi or Tapti is an important river in central India that travels westward before pouring into the Arabian Sea. It flows to the southern part of the Narmada River. The river travels through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh and is 724 kilometres long.

The important tributaries of Tapi are Suki, Arunavati, Gomai and the Aner joining it from the right. The Amravati, Vaghur, the Buray, the Bori, the Panjhra, the Girna, the Mona, the Purna and the Sipna join it from the left. Agriculture covers most of the basin, accounting for approximately 66.19 per cent of the total area. Water bodies cover around 2.99 per cent of the basin’s area.

Machchhu

At an elevation of 220 metres above sea level, the Machchhu river begins in the Jasdan hills near the Khokhra village of Surendranagar district. It is one of Saurashtra’s north-flowing rivers in Gujarat. Machchhu and its tributaries run 52 per cent through steep areas and 48 per cent through plains. The river nourishes the taluka of Morbi, Malia, Jasdam, Wankaner, and Rajkot. Machchhu drains around 2515 sq km, with more than 75% of it falling within the Rajkot district. 

From its source to its discharge point into the little Rann of Kachchh, this north-flowing river is 141.75 kilometres long. On both banks of the river, Machchhu receives various tributaries. There are six significant tributaries of the Machchhu river with a total length of more than 25 kilometres. Four tributaries join from the right (Jamburi, Machchhori, Benia, and Maha) and two from the left (Asoi and Beti). 

Aji 

The primary source of water supply in Rajkot district, the Aji river, is the smallest river in Gujarat. Its length is only 102 kilometres. The Aji river emerges from the hills situated in Lodhika and Sardhar. It flows through most parts of Rajkot before pouring into the Arabian Sea.

Mahi

Mahi is one of India’s major interstate west-flowing rivers having a total length of 583 km. It originates in the Mahi Kanta hills, on the northern slopes of the Vindhyas in Madhya Pradesh. Initially, the river travels north through the districts of Dhar and Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. It then turns left and passes through the Ratlam district before turning northwest and entering the Banswara in Rajasthan. From here, it continues southwest until entering Panchmahal in Gujarat. 

The river then continues to flow in the same direction through Gujarat’s Kheda district. The Mahi River is India’s only river that passes twice through the Tropic of Cancer, first in Madhya Pradesh and again in Rajasthan before entering Gujarat.

Many people worship the river Mahi. You’ll find numerous temples and places of worship along its banks. Due to the size of the river, it is commonly referred to as Mahisagar. Gujarat’s Mahisagar district derives its name from this holy river. 

Conclusion

Gujarat’s rivers contribute to and improve the country’s appeal. Narmada, Tapi, and Sabarmati are the three main rivers of Gujarat. Other major rivers include the Mahi, the Machchhu, the Aji, the Saraswati, the Rupen, and the Hiran rivers. The Kutch district of Gujarat has the most number of rivers which is 97 in total. The Narmada, Tapi, and Purna rivers are all perennial.