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{{short description|Major river in southwest India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Bhima River
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| name_other = Chandrabhaga River
| name_etymology = 
| image = NUT 7560C.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Bhima at Pandharpur
| map = Bhima.png
| map_size =
| map_caption = Bhima river course [http://u.osmfr.org/m/377470/]
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]], [[Telangana]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 = 
| length = {{convert|861|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location = [[mouth]]
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max = 
| source1 = [[Bhimashankar]]
| source1_location = [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|19|4|19|N|73|32|9|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|945|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = [[Krishna River]]
| mouth_location = between [[Karnataka]] and [[Telangana]] about 24 km north of [[Raichur]], [[India]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|16|24|36|N|77|17|6|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|336|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|70614|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = [[Ghod River|Ghod]], [[Sina River|Sina]], [[Kagna River|Kagna]], [[Welu River|Welu]], [[Amarja]]
| tributaries_right = [[Bhama River|Bhama]], [[Indrayani River|Indrayani]], [[Mula-Mutha River|Mula-Mutha]], [[Nira River|Nira]], [[Manganga]]
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The '''Bhima River''' ({{Indic Transl|mr|Bhīmā Nadī|bʱiːmɑː}}, also known as '''Chandrabhaga River''') is a major river in [[Western India|Western]] and [[South India]]. It flows southeast for {{convert|861|km|mi}} through [[Maharashtra]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Telangana]] states, before joining the [[Krishna River]]. After the first 65 kilometers in a narrow valley through rugged terrain,<ref name="Hyderabad State">{{cite book|author=Khan, Mirza Mehdy |year=1909|chapter=Rivers|title=Hyderabad State|series=Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series |location=Calcutta|publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=zXBB1nZYoLIC&pg=PA97 97–98]|oclc=65200528|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXBB1nZYoLIC}}</ref> the banks open up and form a fertile agricultural area which is densely populated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geoanalyzer.britannica.com/ebc/article-9357199 |title=Bhima River |publisher=Britannica Concise article |access-date=2006-12-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102131650/http://geoanalyzer.britannica.com/ebc/article-9357199 |archive-date=2013-01-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The river is prone to drying up during the summer season.{{clarify|translation problem?|date=January 2023}} In 2005, it caused severe flooding in [[Solapur]], [[Bijapur district, Karnataka|Vijayapura]] and [[Gulbarga district|Kalburgi]] districts. The river is also referred to as Chandrabhaga River, especially at [[Pandharpur]], as it resembles the shape of the [[Moon]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==Course==
[[File:Sangameshwar tulapur.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Confluence of the [[Indrayani River]] and the Bhima River at [[Tulapur]].]]
The Bhima River flows southeast for a long journey of {{convert|861|km|mi}}, with many smaller rivers as tributaries. It originates near [[Bhimashankar Temple]] in the Bhimashankar hills in [[Khed Taluka, Pune|khed Taluka]] on the western side of the [[Western Ghats]], known as Sahyadri, in [[Pune District]], Maharashtra state, at {{Coord|19|04|03|N|073|33|00|E|display=inline}}.<ref>{{Citation|date=February 1962|title=Ahmadnagar, India, Sheet NE 43-02|series=Series U-502|publisher=United States Army Map Service|format=topographic map, scale 1:250,000|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ne-43-02.jpg}}</ref> It flows through [[Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary]] where it enters [[Khed Taluka, Pune|Khed Taluka]] and is soon joined by its tributary, the Aria River from the right (west) which flows into the Chas Kaman Reservoir.<ref>The mouth of the Aria River is at {{Coord|18|59|15|N|073|44|05|E|display=inline}} {{Citation|date=May 1960|title=Poona India, Sheet NE 43-06|series=Series U-502|publisher=United States Army Map Service|format=topographic map, scale 1:250,000|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ne-43-06a.jpg}}</ref> Upstream on the Aria is the Rajgurunagar-Kalmodi Dam impounding the Kalmodi Reservoir. The Chas Kaman Reservoir is impounded by the Chas Kaman Dam,<ref>{{Coord|18|57|35|N|073|47|06|E|display=inline}}</ref> the most upstream dam on the Bhima River proper. The village of [[Chas, Khed|Chas]] is on the left bank some 16 km below the dam.<ref>{{Coord|18|55|18|N|073|50|00|E|display=inline}}</ref> Some 5 km along the river below the bridge on the Bhirma at Chas, the Kumandala River meets from the right.<ref>{{Coord|18|53|21|N|073|50|54|E|display=inline}}</ref> From there it is 8 km along the river to the railroad bridge at the town of [[Rajgurunagar (Khed)]] on the left bank. 18 km further along the river, the Bhima River enters from the right<ref>{{Coord|18|44|16|N|073|56|40|E|display=inline}}</ref> just above the village of [[Pimpalgaon Tarf Khed|Pimpalgaon]] on the left bank. From there to [[Siddhegavhan]] along the river is 10 km. Siddhegavhan is the last village in [[Khed Taluka]] on the left bank.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delimitation of PC and AC – 2004 Khed Taluka, Pune District, Maharashtra (Administrative Units)|publisher=Pune District|url=http://pune.gov.in/puneCollectorate/DistrictAdmin/tahsil%20maps/Khed.tif|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509215313/http://pune.gov.in/puneCollectorate/DistrictAdmin/tahsil%20maps/Khed.tif|archive-date=2013-05-09}}</ref>

After leaving Khed Taluka, the Bhima forms the boundary between [[Havali Taluka]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Havali Taluka Map|publisher=Pune District|language=mr|url=http://pune.gov.in/punecollectorate/pwd/haveli.pdf|access-date=2013-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510203830/http://pune.gov.in/punecollectorate/pwd/haveli.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> on the right (south) and [[Shirur Taluka]] on the left (north).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shirur Taluka Map|publisher=Pune District|language=mr|url=http://pune.gov.in/punecollectorate/pwd/shirur.pdf|access-date=2013-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510204835/http://pune.gov.in/punecollectorate/pwd/shirur.pdf|archive-date=2013-05-10|url-status=dead}}</ref> From the Bhima's intersection to the [[Indrayani River]],<ref>{{Coord|18|40|17|N|073|59|47|E|display=inline}}</ref> which also enters from the right, is 14 km along the river. At the confluence is the town of Tulapur on the right bank in Havali Taluka. The Bhima River, the Indrayani River and the [[Mula-Mutha River]] are the major tributaries of the Bhima that drain western Pune. After the Indrayani, about 4 km downstream, the Dhomal River enters from the right,<ref>{{Coord|18|39|45|N|074|01|37|E|display=inline}}</ref> at the village of Wadhu Budruk.<ref name="Poona-sheet">{{Citation|date=May 1960|title=Poona India, Sheet NE 43-06|series=Series U-502|publisher=United States Army Map Service|format=topographic map, scale 1:250,000|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ne-43-06a.jpg}}</ref> Shortly thereafter (3.5 km), the Bhima passes under the [[List of state highways in Maharashtra|SH 60]] bridge at the town of [[Koregaon Bhima]]. From Koregaon going east, downstream 16 km, is the confluence<ref>{{Coord|18|37|16|N|074|10|11|E|display=inline}}</ref> with the [[Vel River (Bhima)|Vel River]] (Wel River) from the left (north) and the village of [[Vitthalwadi, Shirur|Vittalwadi]]. The Vel River also arises in Ambegaon Taluka, east of the Bhima, and flows through Khed Taluka and into Shirur Taluka before flowing into the Bhima. With Vittalwadi on the left, the right side of the river leaves Haveli Taluka and enters [[Daund Taluka]].

From Vittalwadi the Bhima meanders northwest and 14 km after the Vel River enters from the left, the [[Kamania River]] (Kamina) enters from the left<ref>{{Coord|18|40|02|N|074|15|20|E|display=inline}}</ref> at the village of [[Parodi, Pune|Parodi]]. After the Kamania River enters, the river meanders back southeast for 23 km to the confluence with the [[Mula-Mutha River]] from the right<ref>{{Coord|18|33|37|N|074|20|40|E|display=inline}}</ref> at the village of [[Ranjangaon Sandas]]. The Mula-Mutha River flows from the city of Pune where it is a combination of the [[Mula River (India)|Mula River]] and the [[Mutha River]].<ref name="Hyderabad State" />

31 km after the Mula-Mutha River, the [[Ghod River]] enters from the left (north)<ref>{{Coord|18|30|31|N|074|32|51|E|display=inline}}</ref> across the Bhima from the village of Nanvij (Nanwij). The [[Ghod River]] is the last of the Western Ghat tributaries of the Bhima. Shirur Taluka stops at the Ghod River, and [[Shrigonda Taluka]] of [[Ahmednagar District]] continues on the left (northeast) side of the river. Downstream just 6 km from the Ghod River, is the city of [[Daund]] on the right (southwest) bank.<ref name="Poona-sheet" />

[[Chandani River|Chandani]], [[Kamini River|Kamini]], [[Moshi (Pune)|Moshi]], [[Bori River|Bori]], [[Sina River|Sina]], [[Man River|Man]], [[Bhogavati River]] and [[Nira River|Nira]] are the major tributaries of the river in [[Solapur District]]. Of these, the Nira River meets with the Bhima between [[Nira Narsingpur]] in [[Pune District]] and [[Malshiras Taluka]] in [[Solapur district]].

Bhima merges into the [[Krishna River|Krishna]] along the border between [[Karnataka]] and [[Telangana]] about 24 km north of [[Raichur]]. At the point where the two rivers meet, the Bhima is actually longer than the Krishna in length.
<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhima River Pushkaralu 2018 Ghats in Telangana |url=http://triptrees.com/bhima-river-pushkaralu-2018-ghats-in-telangana/ |website=Trip Trees |publisher=Trip Trees |access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref>

== Tributaries ==
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Sina River]], Maharashtra
* [[Nira River]], Pune, Maharashtra
* [[Mula-Mutha]] River, Pune, Maharashtra
* Chandani River
* Kamini River
* [[Kukadi River]], Maharashtra
* Man River
* [[Bhogavati River]], Maharashtra(Tributary of Sina)
* [[Indrayani River]], Pune, Maharashtra
* [[Ghod River]], Pune, Maharashtra
* [[Bhama Asakhed Dam|Bhama River]], Maharashtra
* [[Pavana River]], Pune, Maharashtra
*[[Bori River]], Maharashtra
* [[Kagna River]], Karnataka<ref>Rudraiah, M., Govindaiah, S., & Vittala, S. S. (2008). Morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the sub-basins of Kagna river basin, Gulburga district, Karnataka, India. ''Journal of the Indian society of remote sensing'', 36, 351-360.</ref>
* Benitura River
{{div col end}}

== Bhima basin ==
The total area of the Bhima basin is 70,614 km<sup>2</sup>. The population living along the banks of Bhima is approximately 12.33 million people (1990) with 30.90 million people expected by 2030. Seventy-five percent of the basin lies in the state of [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/dialogue/index.asp?id=776|title=Bhima River Basin, India|access-date=2006-12-11
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610152228/http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/dialogue/index.asp?id=776 |archive-date = 2007-06-10}}</ref>

== Temples ==
[[File:Pundalik temple.jpg|thumb|upright|Temples on the bank of Bhima in Pandharpur]]
* [[Bhimashankar]] one of the twelve esteemed [[Jyotirling]]a shrines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantemples.com/Maharashtra/bhima.html|title=Bhimashankaram|publisher=templenet|access-date=2006-12-11}}</ref>
* Siddhatek, [[Ashtavinayak#Siddhivinayak|Siddhivinayak]] Temple of [[Ashtavinayak]] [[Ganesh]]
* [[Vithoba|Vitthal]] Temple in [[Pandharpur]].
* [[Mallikarjun Temple chinmalli kalaburagi]]
* Sri Dattatreya Temple, [[Ganagapura]], Gulbarga district, Karnataka.
* Shri Kshetra Ghattargi Bhagamma, Ghattargi, Gulbarga District, Karnataka.
* Sri Kshetra Hulakantheshwar Temple, Heroor (B), Gulbarga District, Karnataka.
* Sri Kshetra Rasangi [[hanuman|Balabheemasena]] Temple in Rasanagi, [[Jevargi]] [[Taluka]], [[Kalaburagi district]], [[Karnataka]]
* Sri Kshetra Kolakoor [[Sri|Siddhabasaveshwara]] Temple in Kolakoor, [[Jevargi]] [[Taluka]], [[Kalaburagi district]], [[Karnataka]]
* Honagunta Chandrala Parameshwari Temple, Honagunta near Shahbad, [[Kalaburagi district]]
* Chandrala paramweshwari temple at [[Sannati]], Karnataka
* [[Kanaganahalli]] Buddhist site, Karnataka

==Dams==
There are twenty-two dams in the basin of Bhima River. The first dam is the Chas Kaman Dam in [[Khed Taluka]], [[Pune district]]. The largest dam by capacity is [[Ujjani Dam]], near Tembhurni, Solapur District. Total Water storage capacity of Bhima basin is about 300 [[tmcft|TMC]] in Maharashtra state. Nearly 30 barrages are constructed across the main Bhima river from the downstream of Ujjani dam in Maharashtra and Karnataka states to harness all the water available in the river in excess of [[Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal]] allocations. Bhima to Sina interlink (Jod Kalava) with 21 km tunnel from [[Ujjani Dam|Ujjani reservoir]] is constructed to supply water for vast lands in catchment area of [[Sina River|Sina tributary]] from main Bhima river.
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* '''Dams – Capacity [River]'''
* [[Ujjani Dam|Ujjani]] – 118 TMC [Bhima]
* [[Bhatghar Dam|Bhatghar]] – 23.50 TMC [Yelwandi]
* [[Mulshi Dam|Mulshi]] – 18.47 TMC [Mula]
* [[Varasgaon Dam|Varasgaon]] – 12.82 TMC [Mose]
* [[Dimbhe Dam|Dimbhe]] – 12.49 TMC [Ghod]
* [[Niradevghar Dam|Nira Devghar]] – 11.73 TMC [Nira]
* [[Panshet Dam|Panshet]] – 10.65 TMC [Ambi]
* [[Manikdoh Dam|Manikdoh]] – 10.17 TMC [Kukadi]
* [[Veer Dam|Veer]] – 9.41 TMC [Nira]
* [[Pavana River|Pavana]] – 8.51 TMC [Pawana]
* [[Bhama Asakhed Dam|Bhama Askhed]] – 7.67 TMC [Bhama]
* [[Chaskaman Dam|Chas Kaman]] – 7.58 TMC [Bhima]
* [[Ghod Dam|Ghod (Chinchani)]] – 5.47 TMC [Ghod]
* [[Pimpalgaon Joge Dam|Pimpalgaon Joge]] – 3.89 TMC [Aarala]
* [[Temghar Dam|Temghar]] – 3.71 TMC [Mutha]
* Andhra – 2.92 TMC [Indrayani]
* [[Yedgaon Dam|Yedgaon]] – 2.80 TMC [Kukadi]
* [[Khadakwasla Dam|Khadakwasala]] – 1.98 TMC [Mutha]
* Kalamodi – 1.51 TMC [Aarala]
* Vadaj- 1.17 TMC [Meena]
* Vadivale – 1.07 TMC [Indrayani]
* Visapur – .90 TMC [Hanga]
* Gunjavani – .69 TMC [Gunjavani]
* Nazare – .59 TMC [Karha]
* Kasarsai – .57 TMC [Pawana Basin]
* [[Walwan Dam|Walwan]] – [Indrayani]
* [[Chilewadi Dam|Chilewadi]] – [Kukadi Basin]
* Pushpawati – [Kukadi basin]
* Thitewadi – [Vel]
* Sina Nimgaon – 2.2 TMC Approx[Sina]
* [[Sina Kolegaon Dam|Sina Kolegaon]] – 5.0 TMC Approx.[Sina]
* [[Shirvata Dam|Shirvata]] – 5.0 TMC Approx.[Indrayani]
{{div col end}}

==Hydro power plants==
* [[Bhira Hydroelectric Project]] 300 MW (150 MW [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity|pumped storage]]) by [[Tata Power]] with water from [[Mulshi Dam]], [[Bhushi Dam]], [[Bhira Dam]], [[Walwan Dam]], [[Thokarwadi Dam]] and [[Shirvata Dam]]
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Khopoli hydro 72 MW by Tata Power<ref>{{cite web|title=Hydro Electric Projects in Maharashtra|url=http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Hydro_Electric_Projects_in_Maharashtra|access-date=9 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804200927/http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Hydro_Electric_Projects_in_Maharashtra|archive-date=4 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Bhivpuri hydro 78 MW by Tata Power
* [[Ujjani Dam]] 12 MW pumped storage
* [[Bhatghar Dam]] 16 MW
* [[Pawana Dam]] 10 MW
* [[Khadakwasla Dam]] 8 MW
* [[Veer Dam]] 9 MW
* [[Dimbhe Dam]] 5 MW
* [[Manikdoh Dam]] 6 MW
* [[Niradevghar Dam]] 6 MW
{{div col end}}
Most of the hydro power (450 MW from Bhira, Khopoli and Bhivpuri) is generated by diverting water from the Bhima river basin to west flowing [[Kundalika River|Kundalika]], [[Patalganga River|Patalganga]] and [[Ulhas River|Ulhas]] rivers respectively. The diverted water is nearly 42.5 TMC which is mostly going waste to Arabian sea after generating hydro power. State government is planning to reduce the use of Bhima river basin water for power generation and use river basin water fully for drinking and irrigation purposes inside the basin as the available water is inadequate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tata Power loses water resource to Bhima basin|url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/tata-power-loses-water-resource-to-bhima-basin/65266261|access-date=9 March 2018}}</ref> However, Bhira hydro station can be operated in pumped storage mode to generate peaking power without releasing water to Arabian sea.

== See also ==
{{portal|Environment|Ecology}}
*[[List of rivers of India]]
*[[List of major rivers of India|Rivers of India]]
*[[Bhima Pushkaram]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Bhima River}}
{{Wikivoyage|Western India}}
* [http://envis.maharashtra.gov.in/notifiedrivers/upperBhima.php Classification of Waters of Upper Bhima River Basin]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224423/http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/envtdata/gemsminars.php Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources]
* [http://envis.maharashtra.gov.in/notifiedrivers/lowerBhima.php Notified rivers]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007234159/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/31/stories/2006073102860300.htm Flood alert in villages along Bhima river]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070225133918/http://mpcb.mah.nic.in/images/pdf/EnvstatusreportPune.pdf Environmental Status of Pune Region, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board]

{{Western Ghats}}
{{Hydrography of Maharashtra}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Krishna River]]

Bhima River - Revision history

Ghazal Builders at 13:09, 16 November 2025