The Ganges also known as the Ganga is the longest river in India.

Originating in the Himalayas from the Gangotri glacier it is the most sacred river for Hindus.

It is worshipped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It is considered the goddess of purification and forgiveness.

The Ganga is mentioned in Hindu Scriptures and Texts like the Vedas, the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas.

Rives are very important for the development and economy of a country.

That is why many ancient civilizations evolved and thrived along the bank of rivers. Indus Valley Civilization at Indus, Egypt at the Nile, Babylon at Tigris, and Mesopotamia between Euphrates and Tigris.

Even in such a modern and scientific world, many cities are famous only because of their rivers such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ayodhya, Varanasi, etc.

Rivers in India

As mentioned earlier also, rivers play a very vital role in the development of a country.

Fortunately, India is blessed with major eight river systems and over 400 rivers. All these rivers play a very crucial and important role in the lives of Indian People.

The Ganges is the longest river in India and also the largest river in India followed by the Godavari.

Originating from the Gangotri glacier, the main stem of the Ganges begins at Devprayag at the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi.

The Ganga is a transboundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh. Ganga is called the Padma in Bangladesh.

It is joined by Jamuna, the lower stream of the Brahmaputra, and eventually the Meghna for the major estuary of the Ganges Delta. And then it discharges into the Bay of Bengal.

The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna system is the third largest river on earth by discharge.

Ganga covers a distance of 2525 km before it discharges in the Bay of Bengal. It flows through the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Major tributaries of the river Ganga are Gomti, Ghaghara, Yamuna, Son, Gandak, and Koshi

The river is home to many faunas, including 143 fish species, 90 land and water proficient species, the gharial, mugger crocodile, and the Ganges delta is home to the saltwater crocodile. Numerous aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles in the Ganges basin.

The river’s most famed faunal member is the freshwater Ganges river dolphin which is India’s national aquatic animal.

List of Top 10 Longest Rivers in India

Note: The total distance of the Indus River is 3180 km. It originates from Mount Kailash near Mansarovar Lake and then crosses Ladakh, Gilgit, and Baltistan, and then enters Pakistan. 

However, the distance covered within India is only 1,114 km, which makes it the sixth longest river in India.

Similarly, the total length of the Brahmaputra is 2900 km but the distance covered by it in India is only 916 km. Thus, occupying seventh place in the list of top 10 longest rivers in India.

Read More: Deepest River in India – The Brahmaputra