Major Rivers, Dams & Lakes of India
India's drainage system is split into Himalayan rivers (perennial, snow-fed) and Peninsular rivers (rain-fed, mostly seasonal). The tables below cover the rivers, dams and lakes most frequently asked in SSC, RRB, Banking and State PCS exams.
Major rivers of India
| River | Origin | Length (approx.) | Drains into |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indus | Mansarovar, Tibet | 3,180 km | Arabian Sea |
| Ganga | Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | 2,525 km | Bay of Bengal |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | 1,376 km | Joins Ganga at Prayagraj |
| Brahmaputra | Angsi Glacier, Tibet (as Yarlung Tsangpo) | 2,900 km (total) | Bay of Bengal |
| Sutlej | Rakshastal Lake, Tibet | 1,450 km | Joins Indus |
| Chambal | Janapao Hills, Madhya Pradesh | 960 km | Joins Yamuna |
| Narmada | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | 1,312 km | Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat) |
| Tapti (Tapi) | Multai, Madhya Pradesh | 724 km | Arabian Sea |
| Mahanadi | Sihawa, Chhattisgarh | 858 km | Bay of Bengal |
| Godavari | Trimbak, Maharashtra | 1,465 km | Bay of Bengal |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | 1,400 km | Bay of Bengal |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Talakaveri, Karnataka | 800 km | Bay of Bengal |
| Tungabhadra | Western Ghats, Karnataka | 531 km | Joins Krishna |
Narmada and Tapti are the two major peninsular rivers that flow westward into the Arabian Sea.
Important dams
| Dam | River | State |
|---|---|---|
| Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Bhakra Nangal Dam | Sutlej | Punjab–Himachal border |
| Sardar Sarovar Dam | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Hirakud Dam | Mahanadi | Odisha |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Dam | Krishna | Telangana–Andhra Pradesh |
| Srisailam Dam | Krishna | Andhra Pradesh |
| Mettur Dam | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu |
| Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) | Kaveri | Karnataka |
| Tungabhadra Dam | Tungabhadra | Karnataka |
| Indira Sagar Dam | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh |
| Pong Dam | Beas | Himachal Pradesh |
| Idukki Dam | Periyar | Kerala |
| Mullaperiyar Dam | Periyar | Kerala |
| Rihand Dam | Rihand (Son tributary) | Uttar Pradesh |
Hirakud Dam (Odisha) is among the longest earthen dams in the world. Sardar Sarovar is on the Narmada in Gujarat.
Major lakes
| Lake | State / UT | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wular Lake | Jammu & Kashmir | Largest freshwater lake of India |
| Dal Lake | Jammu & Kashmir | Freshwater |
| Pangong Tso | Ladakh | Brackish, partly in China |
| Tso Moriri | Ladakh | High-altitude saline |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Largest brackish-water lagoon of India |
| Pulicat Lake | Andhra Pradesh / Tamil Nadu | Brackish lagoon (2nd largest) |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | Largest inland salt lake |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur | Famous for floating phumdis |
| Vembanad Lake | Kerala | Longest lake of India |
| Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | Largest freshwater lake (peninsular) |
| Hussain Sagar | Telangana | Man-made |
| Sukhna Lake | Chandigarh | Man-made |
Quick Revision Facts
- Ganga is the longest river that flows entirely within India.
- Brahmaputra is known as Tsangpo in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
- Wular Lake (J&K) is the largest natural freshwater lake of India.
- Chilika Lake (Odisha) is the largest brackish-water lagoon and a Ramsar site.
- Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) is the largest inland salt lake of India.
- Vembanad (Kerala) is India's longest lake at ~96 km.
- Loktak Lake's floating biomass islands (phumdis) host Keibul Lamjao National Park — the only floating national park.
- Bhakra Nangal on the Sutlej was Pt. Nehru's 'temple of modern India'.
Quick Quiz — Rivers, Dams & Lakes
5 random questions from our bank. Refresh or retake for a new set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which river is the longest in India?
The Ganga is the longest river flowing entirely within India (~2,525 km). The Brahmaputra and Indus are longer overall but flow significantly outside India.
Which two peninsular rivers flow westward?
Narmada and Tapti — both drain into the Arabian Sea via rift valleys.
Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Wular Lake in Jammu & Kashmir.
On which river is Sardar Sarovar Dam built?
On the Narmada river, in Gujarat.
Want more practice?
Attempt our daily quiz and full-length mock exams to convert revision into ranks.