The Ganga River is one of the most important rivers in India. It is not just a river but also a holy place for many people. The Ganga River System is a big part of the river system of India, and it is often asked about in exams like SSC, Banking, RRB NTPC, UPSC, and state-level exams. This river starts from the Himalayas and flows through many Indian states before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
In this post, you will learn about the origin, main tributaries, important cities, and how the Ganga helps people. We have shared easy notes that will help you understand and remember facts quickly.
These notes are great for revision and exam preparation. So, let’s explore the Ganga River System and learn more about the river system of India to boost your score in geography!
Let’s understand this river system in a simple and clear way!
What is a River System?
A river system is like a family of rivers that work together.
It includes:
- Main River – The biggest river, like the “parent.”
- Tributaries – Smaller rivers or streams that join the main river. These are like the “children” or “branches.”
- River Basin – The area of land where all the water flows into the river system.
Example:
- The Ganges is the main river.
- Rivers like Yamuna, Ghaghara, and Kosi are its tributaries.
- All of them join together and carry water to the Bay of Bengal.
🫨 The Ganga River System is the largest river system in India.
Introduction to the Ganga River
The Ganga River (also called Ganges) is one of the most important rivers in India.
- The Ganga is the longest river in India.
- It starts high up in the Himalayan Mountains in a place called Uttarakhand.
- It flows across northern India and finally goes into the Bay of Bengal.
- The river is 2,525 kilometers long, which is very long!
- It flows through India and Bangladesh.
- In Bangladesh, the Ganga is called the Padma River.
- The river supports agriculture, drinking water, transport, and biodiversity.
Source of the Ganga River
- The Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas.
- The main source is the river Bhagirathi.
- Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda at Devprayag – from here, it is called Ganga.
🧠 Memory Tip:
🔠 “Bhagirathi + Alaknanda at Devprayag = BAD ➝ Ganga starts!”
(BAD = Bhagirathi + Alaknanda at Devprayag)
Origin of the Ganga River in a Nutshell
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin (Starting point) | Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand |
| Initial Name | Bhagirathi |
| Merges with | Alaknanda River at Devprayag |
| Final Name | Ganga |
Ganga Basin Key Facts
- A basin is the land area drained by a river and its tributaries.
📍 What is the Ganges Basin?
- The Ganges Basin is a large area of land where rainwater and rivers flow into the Ganges River. It is part of a bigger river system called the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basin.
- The Ganga Basin is the largest river basin in India.
- It covers about 26% of India’s total area.
🌍 Where is it?
The Ganges Basin is spread across four countries:
- India
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Tibet (China)
🏔️ What surrounds it?
- North: The Himalaya Mountains form the boundary with the Brahmaputra River.
- West: It touches the Indus River Basin and Aravalli Hills.
- South: Bordered by the Vindhya Mountains and the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
- East: The Ganges joins with the Brahmaputra River and flows into the Bay of Bengal.
🗺️ Which Indian states are in the Ganges Basin?
| State | Area in km² |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 294,364 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 198,962 |
| Bihar | 143,961 |
| Rajasthan | 112,490 |
| West Bengal | 71,485 |
| Haryana | 34,341 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 4,317 |
| Delhi and others | Small areas |
Other countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan are also part of this basin.
Course of the Ganga River
Let’s divide the course into 3 main parts:
1. Upper Course (Mountain Region)
- Starts from Gangotri Glacier
- Flows through steep valleys in Uttarakhand
- Has fast flow and waterfalls
2. Middle Course (Plains Region)
- Enters plains at Haridwar
- Flows through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
- River becomes wider and slower
- Good for irrigation and farming
3. Lower Course (Delta Region)
- Flows into West Bengal
- Forms the Sundarbans Delta – World’s largest delta
- Finally empties into the Bay of Bengal
Where Does Ganga End?
- In Bangladesh, the Ganga (Padma) meets the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.
- Together, they form the Sundarbans Delta – the largest delta in the world.
- Finally, it flows into the Bay of Bengal.
Major Tributaries of the Ganga
Let’s divide them into Left Bank and Right Bank tributaries:
➤ Left Bank Tributaries (join from the north/east side):
| Tributary Name | Origin Location |
|---|---|
| Ramganga | Uttarakhand |
| Gandak | Nepal |
| Kosi | Nepal |
| Ghaghara | Tibet/Nepal |
| Mahananda | Darjeeling hills |
➤ Right Bank Tributaries (join from the south/west side):
| Tributary Name | Origin Location |
|---|---|
| Yamuna | Yamunotri Glacier |
| Tons | Uttarakhand |
| Son | Amarkantak Plateau |
| Chambal | Madhya Pradesh |
| Betwa | Vindhya Range |
| Ken | Madhya Pradesh |
States Covered by the Ganga River
The Ganga flows through the following Indian states:
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
👉 It also flows into Bangladesh, where it is called the Padma River.
Major Cities on the Banks of the Ganga River
The Ganga River flows through many important cities in India. These cities are famous for history, religion, trade, and culture.
Important Cities (from North to South)
| 🌆 City | 📝 State | 🌟 Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | Uttarakhand | Yoga, temples, and adventure sports |
| Haridwar | Uttarakhand | Ganga Aarti, Kumbh Mela, and holy baths |
| Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | Big industrial city |
| Allahabad (Prayagraj) | Uttar Pradesh | Sangam (where Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet) |
| Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | One of the oldest cities, famous ghats and temples |
| Patna | Bihar | The Capital of Bihar, historical sites |
| Bhagalpur | Bihar | Silk production and education |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | Big metro city, old capital of British India |
Importance of the Ganga River
The Ganga is extremely important for:
- Irrigation: Helps grow crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane.
- Drinking Water: Used by millions.
- Transport: Used for boats and trade.
- Culture & Religion: Holy river in Hinduism.
- Biodiversity: Home to Ganga dolphin, gharial, and many fish species.
Threats to the Ganga
Unfortunately, the Ganga is facing some problems:
- ❌ Pollution (waste from cities and industries)
- ❌ Overuse of Water
- ❌ Sand Mining
- ❌ Loss of Biodiversity
Government Efforts to Save the Ganga
To protect this sacred river, the Indian Government started:
🌊 Namami Gange Programme
- Launched in 2014
- Focus on cleaning, conserving, and rejuvenating the Ganga
- Involves sewage treatment, riverfront development, and public awareness
Quick Revision Notes
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin | Gangotri Glacier |
| Confluence | Devprayag (Bhagirathi + Alaknanda) |
| Total Length | 2,525 km (1,569 mi) |
| Major Tributaries | Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Ramganga, Gomti |
| States Covered | Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal |
| Delta | Sundarbans |
| Mouth | Bay of Bengal |
| Pollution Control Project | Namami Gange |
Exam Booster Tips
💡 Remember Facts Like:
- Where does the Ganga originate?
➤ Gangotri Glacier - Where does Bhagirathi meet Alaknanda?
➤ Devprayag - Which is the largest tributary?
➤ Yamuna - Which delta is formed by the Ganga?
➤ Sundarbans Delta
Practice Questions
✅ 1. Where does the Ganga originate?
A) Amarkantak
B) Yamunotri
C) Gangotri Glacier
D) Narmada Valley
Answer: ✅ C) Gangotri Glacier
✅ 2. Which of the following is a right bank tributary of Ganga?
A) Gandak
B) Yamuna
C) Kosi
D) Mahananda
Answer: ✅ B) Yamuna
✅ 3. Ganga is known as ______ in Bangladesh.
A) Meghna
B) Brahmaputra
C) Padma
D) Sunder
Answer: ✅ C) Padma
✅ 4. What is the meeting point of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda?
A) Haridwar
B) Rishikesh
C) Devprayag
D) Gangotri
Answer: ✅ C) Devprayag
✅ 5. The Ganga ends in which water body?
A) Arabian Sea
B) Bay of Bengal
C) Indian Ocean
D) Andaman Sea
Answer: ✅ B) Bay of Bengal
💪 Final Words – You’ve Got This!
The Ganga River System is not just a geography topic – it’s a symbol of life, culture, and sustainability. Knowing it helps you not only in exams but also in understanding India’s natural heritage.
✨ So, keep learning with interest. Visualize the river’s journey and relate it to real places on the map. That’s how top scorers study!
