>Niceguyedc at 08:29, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T08:29:06Z

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{{Short description|River in north India}}
{{Other uses|Beas (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Beas River

| image = Beas_River_at_Kullu,_Himachal_Pradesh.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = The Beas River in Himachal Pradesh
| map = Beas (rivière).png
| map_size =
| map_caption = The Beas river flows into the Satluj and feeds into the [[Indus River|Indus]] ([http://u.osmfr.org/m/373604/])
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption=

| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 = Municipality
| subdivision_name5 = of the [[Indus River|Indus]]

| length = {{convert|470|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= Mandi Plain
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|499.2|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max =

| source1 = Beas Kund
| source1_location = [[Himalayas]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|32|21|59|N|77|05|08|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = [[Sutlej River]]
| mouth_location = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|31|09|16|N|74|58|31|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|20.303|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The '''Beas River''' ([[Sanskrit]]: {{IAST|Vipāśā}}; '''Hyphasis''' in [[Ancient Greek]]) is a river in north [[India]].<ref>''The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province and Kashmir''. Sir James McCrone Douie. 1916, p. 25</ref> The river rises in the [[Himalayas]] in central [[Himachal Pradesh]], India, and flows for some {{convert|470|km}} to the [[Sutlej River]] in the Indian state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://gurdaspur.nic.in/html/profile.htm#river|title= About District|access-date= 17 May 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050802074716/http://gurdaspur.nic.in/html/profile.htm#river|archive-date= 2 August 2005|url-status= dead}}</ref>
Its total length is {{convert|470|km}} and its [[drainage basin]] is {{convert|20,303|km2|sqmi|0}} large.<ref name="JainAgarwal2007">{{cite book|last1=Jain|first1=Sharad K.|last2=Agarwal|first2=Pushpendra K.|last3=Singh|first3=Vijay P.|title=Hydrology and water resources of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&pg=PA481|access-date=15 May 2011|date=5 March 2007|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-5179-1|page=481}}</ref>

As of 2017 the river is home to a tiny isolated population of the [[Indus dolphin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Signs of hope as population of endangered Indus River dolphin jumps in Pakistan |publisher=WWF |url=http://wwf.panda.org/?318636/Signs-of-hope-as-population-of-endangered-Indus-River-dolphin-jumps-in-Pakistan&utm_ |access-date=2017-12-17 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Veda Vyasa]] is the eponym of the river Beas, the author of Indian epic [[Mahabharata]]; he is said to have created it from its source lake, the Vyas Kund.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wasini Pandey
| first = Bindhy
| title = Geoenvironmental hazards in Himalaya
| work = Pg.58
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QqVcAEfQrjIC&q=Beas+Vyas&pg=PA58
| access-date = 2009-05-29}}</ref>

Before Veda Vyasa, the Vipasa river was known as Saraswathi. Rishi Vashishta, the Great Grandfather of Vyasa tried to jump into this river from an overlooking hillock, to sacrifice his soul. He tied himself with several cords to drown himself. However, the river altered form to become a sandbed, saving him. And in this course, the cords got broken, so Vashistha named the river Vipasa, which means cord-breaker.<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy Mahabharata Adi Parva Page 407.</ref> On account of this incident, the great Rishi opted to settle near the river, and made it a residence for some years. Thereby, it became known as Vashisht (after Vashishta). We can find Vashishta Brahmarishi Temple in this village.

Vashistha, at that time, already had his lineage through his son Shakti, who in turn was the father of Parashar Rishi. Parashar is considered the father of Hindu Jyothisha (astrology) vide his authorship of Parashar Hora Shashtra. Veda Vyasa is the son of Parashar.

After settling near the river, Rishi Vashishta sired a different branch of descendants. He worshiped Lord Shiva at this place, giving rise to the name of "Rajeshwar" for Lord Shiva in the region.

[[Vedas|Rig-veda]] calls the river ''Vipāś'', which means unfettered,<ref name=r1>
[[Max Müller|Müller, Max.]] [https://ia601600.us.archive.org/BookReader/BookReaderImages.php?zip=/1/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.276610/2015.276610.India-What_jp2.zip&file=2015.276610.India-What_jp2/2015.276610.India-What_0179.jp2&scale=4&rotate=0 ''India: what Can it Teach Us?: A Course of Lectures Delivered Before the University of Cambridge''] (1883)
</ref>
in later [[Sanskrit]] texts it's been called ''Vipāśā'',
[[Yāska]] identifies it with Argrikiya<ref name=r1/>

[[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greeks]] called it ''Hyphasis'' ({{lang-el|Ύφασης}}),<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_144.gif Beas] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', v. 7, ''p. 138.''.</ref> [[Pliny the Elder|Plinius]] called it Hypasis, an approximation to the vedic ''Vipāś''. Other classical names are Hynais, Bipasis, Bibasis.<ref name=r1/>

In modern times it's also been called Bias or Bejah.<ref name=r1/>

==History==
[[File:Delay on the road - Upper Beas River near Manali.jpg|thumb|250px|Delay on the road - Upper Beas River near [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]].]]
[[File:Beasriverhp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Beas River in [[Himachal Pradesh]]]]
[[File:Beas River at Pathankot 6069.jpg|thumb|250px|Beas River in Pathankot]]
[[File:Bridge across the Beas River, south of Dharamsala.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge across the Beas River, south of [[Dharamsala]].]]
[[File:View from top of Kangra Fort overlooking Beas river.jpg|thumb|250px|View from top of [[Kangra Fort]] overlooking Beas river]]
The Beas River marks the easternmost border of [[Alexander the Great]]'s conquests in 326 BCE. It was one of the rivers which created problems in Alexander's invasion of India. His troops mutinied here in 326 BCE, refusing to go any further; they had been away from home for eight years. Alexander shut himself in his tent for three days, but when his men did not change their desires he gave in, raising twelve colossal altars to mark the limit and glory of his expedition.<ref>''Travels into Bokhara'', Lieut. Alex. Burnes FRS, London, John Murray, 1834, page 6</ref><ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11738/ |title = The Empire and Expeditions of Alexander the Great |website = [[World Digital Library]] |date = 1833 |access-date = 2013-07-26 }}</ref>

According to the ''Kavyamimansa <ref>Kavyamimansa of Rajasekhara, ch. XVII, P. 94</ref>'' of [[Rajashekhara (Sanskrit poet)|Rajasekhara]], the kingdom-territories of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara]] monarch [[Mahipala I]] extended as far as the upper course of the river Beas in the north-west.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest|author=Rama Shankar Tripathi|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|year=1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Tnh2QjGhMQC&pg=PA262|pages=262–264|isbn=812080404X}}</ref>

In the 20th century, the river was developed under the Beas Project for irrigation and [[hydroelectric]] power generation purposes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infrastructure built in the post independence period |publisher= Govt of Punjab |url=http://irrigation.punjab.gov.in/OldVersion/canal_administration_postindependance.html |access-date=17 February 2020}}</ref> The second-phase [[Pong Dam]] was completed in 1974 followed by the first-phase {{Convert|140|km|mi|0}} upstream, [[Pandoh Dam]] in 1977. The Pong Dam served initially to primarily provide irrigation below [[Talwara]] but was soon developed as well for power generation; its power station has a 360 MW installed capacity. The Pandoh Dam diverts the river through a system of tunnels and channels to the 990 MW Dehar Power Station on the [[Sutlej River]], connecting both rivers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Developmental History of Beas Project|url=http://bhakra.nic.in/english/history_bsl_development.asp|publisher=Bhakra Beas Management Board|access-date=27 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426005156/http://bhakra.nic.in/english/history_bsl_development.asp|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=India: National Register of Large Dams 2009 |url=http://www.cwc.nic.in/main/downloads/National%20Register%20of%20Large%20Dams%202009.pdf |publisher=Central Water Commission |access-date=22 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721165130/http://www.cwc.nic.in/main/downloads/National%20Register%20of%20Large%20Dams%202009.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>

The Shahnehar canal takes off from the Shahnehar barrage/headwork which is located just downstream of Pong dam to supply water for irrigation needs and four cascading power houses at the canal drops before releasing water further downstream in the Beas river. These power stations, named Mukerian hydel (12 units), has 207 MW total generating capacity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Water Resources Projects in Indus Basin |url=http://117.252.14.242/rbis/india_information/iNDUS_PROJECTS.htm |access-date=17 February 2020}}</ref> At the confluence with the [[Sutlej]] river, [[Harike Wetland|Harike barrage]] was constructed to divert the combined water flows of both rivers to irrigation canals to serve [[Rajasthan]] and Punjab areas.

==Course==
The river rises {{convert|4361|m}} above sea-level on the southern face of [[Rohtang Pass]] in [[Kullu]]. It traverses the [[Mandi District]] and enters the [[Kangra District]] at Sandhol, {{convert|590|m}} above sea-level. During its lower course the Beas is crossed by numerous ferries, many of which consist of inflated skins (darais). Near Reh in Kangra District it divides into three channels, which reunite after passing Mirthal, {{convert|300|m}} above sea-level. On meeting the [[Sivalik Hills]] in [[Hoshiarpur]], the river sweeps sharply northward, forming the boundary with Kangra District. Then bending round the base of the Sivalik Hills, it takes the southerly direction, separating the districts of Gurdaspur and Hoshiapur. After touching the [[Jalandhar]] district for a short distance, the river forms the boundary between [[Amritsar]] and [[Kapurthala]]. Finally the Beas joins the river [[Sutlej]] at the south-western boundary of Kapurthala district of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] after a total course of {{convert|470|km}}. The chief tributaries are Bain, Banganga, Luni and Uhal.
The Sutlej continues into [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Pakistani Punjab]] and joins the [[Chenab River]] at [[Uch]] near Bahawalpur to form the [[Panjnad River]]; the latter in turn joins the [[Indus River]] at [[Mithankot]].

The water of the Beas river is allocated to India under the terms of the [[Indus Waters Treaty]] between India and [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTSOUTHASIA/Resources/223497-1105737253588/IndusWatersTreaty1960.pdf |title=The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 |website=World Bank |access-date=26 September 2016}}</ref> The mean annual flow is 14.203 million acre feet (MAF).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cwc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Ravi-%20Beas%20Waters%20Tribunal%20Report%201987.pdf|access-date=15 February 2020|publisher=Central Water Commission|title= Pages 261 and 291, The Ravi- Beas Water Tribunal Report (1987)}}</ref>

==Tragedy==
{{main|2014 Beas River Tragedy}}
On 8 June 2014, 24 engineering students and one tour operator drowned when the flood gates of the [[Larji Hydroelectric Project|Larji dam]] were opened.

== Pollution ==
On May 17, 2018, countless number of fishes and other aquatic animals were found dead in Beas river due to release of molasses from a sugar mill situated on its shore at Kiri Afgana village in Gurdaspur district. Locals have noted that the river color has changed to rust brown and dead fishes were floating in the river. Punjab Pollution Control Board have ordered the closure of the factory and an enquiry has been initiated. Besides sealing, the sugar mill has been charged a fine of Rs. 25 lakh for this negligence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/punjabs-beas-river-hundreds-of-fish-found-dead-probe-ordered-19924/|title=Water Pollution: In Punjab's Beas River, Hundreds Of Fish Die Due To Fluid Released From A Sugar Mill {{!}} News|date=2018-05-19|work=NDTV-Dettol Banega Swachh India|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Beas River}}

{{Five rivers of the Punjab}}
{{Hydrography of Himachal Pradesh}}
{{Hydrography of Punjab, India}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{PunjabGeography}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rigvedic rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers of Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Indus River]]
[[Category:Rivers of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indus basin]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]
[[Category:Rivers in Buddhism]]

Beas River - Revision history

>Niceguyedc at 08:29, 5 July 2021