Bhagirathi River

2026-02-12T06:35:25Z

82.132.223.24:

{{Short description|River in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{About|one of the [[headwaters|headstream]]s of the [[Ganges]]|the distributary in West Bengal|Hooghly River|the 2012 film|Bhagirathi (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Bhāgīrathī River
| native_name = {{native name|sa|भागीरथी}}
| name_other =
| name_etymology = "Bhagirathi" ([[Sanskrit]], literally, "caused by [[Bhagiratha]]")
| image = Bhagirathi River at Gangotri.JPG
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = Sacred bathing [[ghats]] on Bhagirathi River at Gangotri
| map = Bhagirathi river map.JPG
| map_size =
| map_caption = Map showing the Himalayan headwaters of the Bhagirathi river. The numbers in parentheses refer to the altitude in meters.
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Uttarakhand]],
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = [[Garhwal division]]
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = [[Uttar Kashi District]], [[Tehri District]]
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 = 
| length = {{convert|205|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location =
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|257.78|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|3800|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| source1 = [[Gaumukh]] (''gau'', cow + ''mukha'', mouth), about {{convert|18|km|abbr=on|1}} from the town of [[Gangotri]]
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|30.925449|N|79.081480|E}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3892|m|abbr=on}}
| source_confluence = [[Alaknanda River]]
| source_confluence_location =
| source_confluence_coordinates =
| source_confluence_elevation =
| mouth = [[Ganges River|Ganges]]
| mouth_location = [[Devprayag]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|30.146315|N|78.598251|E}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|475|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|6921|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra = <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080825234641/http://gov.ua.nic.in/brvda/court_order6.html Catchment Area Treatment:], Bhagirathi River Valley Development Authority, Uttaranchal</ref>
}}

The '''Bhāgīrathī''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɑː|.|g|iː|.|r|ə|.|θ|iː}}) is a turbulent [[Himalaya]]n river in the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]], and one of the two [[headstream]]s of the [[Ganges]], the major river of Northern India and the holy river of [[Hinduism]]. In the Hindu faith, history, and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the [[headstream|source stream]] of the Ganges. However, in [[hydrology]], the other headstream [[Alaknanda River|Alaknanda]], is considered the source stream on account of its great length and discharge. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at [[Devprayag]] in [[Garhwal division|Garhwal]] and are thereafter known as the Ganges.

==Etymology==
In [[Hindu texts]], Bhagiratha was a descendant of King [[Sagara (Hinduism)|Sagara]] of the [[Suryavamsha]], or Solar Dynasty. He played an important role in the descent of the Ganges.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Eck |first=Diana L. |title=India : a sacred geography |publisher=Harmony Books |year=2012 |location=New York |pages=216–221 |oclc=}}</ref> The story of [[Bhagiratha]] is narrated in the ''[[Ramayana]]'', ''[[Mahabharata]]'', and the ''[[Puranas]]''.<ref>Mankodi, Kirit (1973) "Gaṅgā Tripathagā"''Artibus Asiae'' 35(1/2): pp. 139-144, p. 140</ref><ref name=":1" />

Wanting to show his sovereignty, [[King Sagara]] performed a ritual known as [[ashvamedha]], where a horse was left to wander for one year. However, [[Indra]] stole the horse to prevent the ritual from being successful. Learning that the horse had disappeared, King Sagara sent his sixty thousand sons to look for it. They eventually found the horse at the ashram of sage Kapila.<ref name=":1" /> Thinking that sage Kapila had stolen the horse, the sons interrupted him while he was in deep meditation. This infuriated sage Kapila and with his ascetic's gaze burned all sixty thousand sons to ashes.<ref name=":1" /> King Sagara sent his grandson, [[Amshuman]], to ask sage Kapila what could be done to bring deliverance to their souls.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sudipta |url= |title=Ganges : the many pasts of an Indian River |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2019 |isbn= |location=New Haven |pages=56 |oclc=}}</ref>

Sage Kapila advised that only the water of the Ganges, which flowed in the heavens, could liberate them. Bhagiratha, Amshuman's grandson, undertook ascetic practices and won the favour of [[Brahma]] and [[Shiva]]. Brahma allowed the goddess [[Ganga (goddess)|Ganga]] to descend upon the earth, while Shiva broke Ganga's fall in the coils of his hair so that her force would not shatter the earth.<ref name=":2" />

When Ganga descended, Bhagiratha took her through the mountains, foothills, the plains of India, and to the sea where she liberated the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara.<ref name=":1" /> Due to Bhagiratha's role in the descent of the Ganges, the source stream came to be known as Bhagirathi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Earle Jr. |title=The Ganges river |publisher=Mitchell Lane Publishers |year=2013 |location=Hockessin, Del. |pages=9 |oclc=}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Gopal |first=Madan |url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada |title=India through the ages |publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |year=1990 |editor=K.S. Gautam |page=[https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/76 76]}}</ref>

==Course==
The Bhagirathi River is mythologically known to be the source stream for the Ganges River. In hydrology, the Alaknanda is the source stream for the Ganges River due to its length and discharge. The Alaknanda River, including its tributaries, is {{Convert|664.5|km|miles|abbr=on}} and the Bhagirathi River, including its tributaries, is {{Convert|456.5|km|miles|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":0" />

The [[headwaters]] of the Bhagirathi River are formed at [[Gaumukh]] at the foot of the [[Gangotri glacier]]. From Gaumukh the river reaches the town of Gangotri. Kedar Ganga River joins Bhagirathi River at Gangotri.

From Gangotri, Bhagirathi River travels down a deep gorge and arrives at Bhaironghati. Jadh Ganga River joins Bhagirathi River at Bhaironghati.

The river continues to travel to Harsil and crosses the Bhagirathi Granite. Kakora Gad River and Jalandhari Gad River join Bhagirathi River near Harsil. It then enters a wide valley and meets two tributaries (Siyan Gad and another small River) near Jhala.

The Bhagirathi river continues to flow downwards to Uttarkashi, where River Asi Ganga joins, and then through Dharasu, Chinyalisaur, and the old town of Tehri. The old town of Tehri sat at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers. It was formerly known as Ganesh Prayag. Construction of the Tehri Dam totally submerged the old town of Tehri, and the population was shifted to the town of New Tehri.

From Tehri, the Bhagirathi river reaches Devprayag via the Himalayas. At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi River converges with the Alaknanda River and travels onward as the Ganges River.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Singh |first=Sandeep |title=Alakhnanda–Bhagirathi River System |date=2018 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2984-4_8 |work=The Indian Rivers: Scientific and Socio-economic Aspects |series=Springer Hydrogeology |pages=108 |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Dhruv Sen |place=Singapore |publisher=Springer |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-2984-4_8 |isbn=978-981-10-2983-7 |access-date=2022-04-08|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Tributaries===
The Bhagirathi River is joined by several [[tributaries]]; these are, in order from the source:
*Kedar Ganga at [[Gangotri]] (elevation {{convert|3049|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''[[Jahnavi River|Jadh Ganga]]'' at [[Bhaironghati]] (elevation {{convert|2650|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Kakora Gad'' and ''Jalandhari Gad'' near [[Harsil]] (elevation {{convert|2745|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Siyan Gad'' near [[Jhala]] (elevation {{convert|2575|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Asi Ganga'' near [[Uttarkashi]] (elevation {{convert|1158|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''[[Bhilangna River]]'' near [[Tehri|Old Tehri]] (elevation {{convert|755|m|ft|abbr=on}}).

The ''Bhilangna'' itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier (elevation {{convert|3717|m|ft|abbr=on}}) approximately {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Gaumukh.

The controversial [[Tehri dam]] lies at the confluence of the Bhagirathi River and the Bhilangna, at {{coord|30|22|32|N|78|28|48|E}}, near Tehri. [[Chaukhamba|Chaukhamba I]] is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin.

<gallery class="center">
File:Bhagirathi flowing into devprayag.jpg|The turbulent Bhagirathi as it enters Devprayag.
File:Bhagirathi alaknanda ganges devprayag2008.jpg|The Bhagirathi (foreground) on its way to meet the sediment-laden Alaknanda, and to flow on as the [[Ganges]].
File:Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Confluence.jpg|Another view of the confluence at Devprayag.
File:Tehri dam india.jpg|[[Tehri Dam]], the 5th tallest dam in the world
</gallery>

==Dams==
There are 18 dams along the Bhagirathi River, either in operation, under construction or planned. These are, in order from the source:

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|+ Hydroelectric Dams on the Bhagirathi River<ref name="Dams, Rivers & People">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandrp.in/rivers/Bhagirathi_is_DISAPPEARING.pdf|title=Map of the Bhagirathi River showing dams|date=August 2008|work=Dams, Rivers & People|publisher=South Asian Network on Dams Rivers & People(sandrp.in)|access-date=7 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523215515/http://www.sandrp.in/rivers/Bhagirathi_is_DISAPPEARING.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<br>{{Nobold|<small>Abbreviations: MW: electrical output capacity ([[Megawatts]]), Ht: dam height (M) FRL: full reservoir level ([[Sea level|MSL]]), MWL: maximum water level (MSL), HRT: head race tunnel length (KM), TRT: tail race tunnel length (KM), TWL: tail water level (MSL), RBL: river bed level at dam site (MSL) </small>}}

!#!!Name!!Ht!!MW!!Status!!FRL!!MWL!!HRT!!TRT!!TWL!!RBL!!Coordinates
|-
| 1 ||Karmoli Dam|| ||140 ||planned || || ||8.6 || || || ||
|-
|2 || Gangotri Dam|| || 55 ||planned || || ||5.2 || || || ||
|-
|3 ||Jadhganga Dam|| ||50 ||planned || || || 1.1 || || || ||
|-
|4 ||Bhaironghati I Dam|| ||380 ||planned || || || || || || ||
|-
|5 || Bhaironghati II Dam|| ||65 ||planned || || || || || || ||
|-
|6 ||Harsil Dam|| ||210 ||planned || || ||5.06 || || || ||
|-
|7 ||Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project|| ||600 ||cancelled ||2,147 ||1,667 ||13.85 ||.51 ||1.665 || ||{{coord|30|58|6|N|78|41|56|E}}
|-
|8|| [[Pala Maneri I Dam]]||78 ||480 ||cancelled ||1,665||1,667||12.563 ||1.378 || || ||
|-
|9 ||[[Maneri Dam]]||38 ||90 ||operation || || || || 8.631 || || ||
|-
|10 ||[[Joshiyara Barrage|Joshiyara (Bhali) Dam]]|| ||304 ||operation || || || 16.0 || || || ||
|-
|11 || [[Bhilangana II Dam]]|| ||11 ||planned|| || || || || || ||
|-
|12 ||[[Bhilangana I Dam]]|| ||22.5 ||planned|| || || 2.0 || || || ||
|-
|13 || [[Tehri Dam]]||260.5 ||2,400||operation||830 || 835 ||1.634 || .8625|| || ||{{coord|30|22|40|N|78|28|50|E}}
|-
|14 ||[[Koteshwar Dam]]||97.5 ||400 ||operation || 612.50|| 615|| || || || ||
|-
|15 ||[[Kotli Bel 1A Dam]]||82.5 ||195 || construction || || || || || || ||
|-
|16 || [[Kotli Bel 1B Dam]]||90 ||320 || cancelled || || || || || || ||
|-
|17 ||[[Kotli Bel II Dam]]||82 ||530 || cancelled || || || || || || ||
|-
|}

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book |first=W. |last=Wilson |year=1860 |title= A summer ramble in the Himalayas: with sporting adventures in the Vale of Cashmere |url=https://archive.org/details/summerrambleinhi00wilsrich |publisher=Hurst and Blackett |location=London |oclc=58410561}} available on microfilm
* {{cite book |last=Heske |first=Franz |year=1937 |title=Im heiligen Lande der Gangesquellen (In the Holy Lands of the Source of the Ganges) |publisher= J. Neumann |location=Neudamm, Germany | oclc= 35036471|language=de}}
* {{cite book |author=Sharma, Man Mohan |year=1997 |title=Through the Valley of Gods: Travels in the Central Himalayas |edition=2 |publisher=Vision Books |location= New Delhi | oclc=4547622}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bhagirathi River}}

{{Hydrography of Uttarakhand}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Sacred rivers]]
[[Category:Rigvedic rivers]]
[[Category:Ganges|Bhagirathi]]
[[Category:Ganges basin]]

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Bhagirathi River