Rivers have not only provided a lifeline to the people of India but have also in various ways served as their spiritual home. Because of this, rivers have always been revered in India where people think that the waters of rivers contain healing, meditative and spiritual powers. Here are India’s ten holiest and most revered rivers.
River Ganges
One of India’s most revered rivers is the Ganges. It rises in the Himalayas and flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before entering the Bay of Bengal. Ganga is India’s most sacred river and worshiped as goddess Ganga in Hinduism.
Godavari River
South India’s Godavari River is most significant river. The river also referred as Dakshin Ganga or Ganga of South India and is considered sacred by Hindus. A number of ancient temples are located on the banks of Godavari.
Yamuna River
Yamuna River is India’s third holiest river. It originates in the Himalayas at Yamunotri and joins the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad. It is one of the Ganges River’s biggest tributaries. The cities of Delhi, Agra and Mathura are situated on the banks of this holy river.
Narmada River
Narmada river which is also known as Maa Rewa in India and is also one of the ten holy rivers of India. It starts from Maikal ranges in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh and flows through Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh before joining Bay of Bengal. Amarkantak, Omkareshwar and Maheshwar are just few of the significant religious sites and Ghats that can be found in the Narmada basin and valley.
Krishna River
A significant river in South India is Krishna River. It starts in the Maharashtra state at Mahabaleshwar and travels through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Brahmaputra River
One of India’s longest and holiest river is the Brahmaputra. This river travels through Assam and Arunachal Pradesh before joining bay after leaving Mansarovar. In China, it is known as the Tsangpo River, in Bangladesh as the Jamuna River and in Arunachal Pradesh as the Dihang River.
Saraswati River
Saraswati River is historic river that dates back to the Vedic era. It joins Triveni Sangam and comes from the Shivalik ranges in the Himalayas. Three rivers converge at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad one of which is the Saraswati river.
Shipra river
One of the main rivers in Madhya Pradesh is Shipra River. The holy city of Ujjain is located on its banks. Every 12 years, Ujjain hosts the Kumbh Mela festival on the banks of this river.
Kaveri River
Kaveri is a significant river in South India flows through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka after rising in the Brahmagiri hills. The beautiful Shivasamudram Falls is the second-largest waterfall in India is on this river. Hindus frequently travel to Tiruchirappalli, a city located on the banks of the river Kaveri.
Tapti River
In Madhya Pradesh state’s Betul district, Tapti River has its beginnings. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are all affected by the Tapti River.