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{{Short description|River in East Central India}}
{{distinguish|Mahananda River}}
{{for|the film|Mahanadhi (film)}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Mahanadi River
(ମହାନଦୀ)
(महानदी)
| name_native =
| name_nat
ive_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology =

| image = The Mahanadi River , Chhattisgarh.png
| image_size =
| image_caption = Mahanadi in [[Chhattisgarh]]
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Mahanadi is a major river with its delta on the east coast

| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = Parts
| subdivision_name2 = [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Odisha]]
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = [[Dandakaranya]], [[Dakshina Kosala Kingdom]], [[Coastal plain|Coastal Plains]]
| subdivision_type4 = Administrative<br />areas
| subdivision_name4 = [[Raipur district|Raipur]], [[Janjgir]], [[Raigarh district|Raigarh]] ,<br/> [[Sambalpur]], [[Subarnapur district|Subarnapur]], [[Boudh district|Boudh]], [[Anugul district|Anugul]], [[Cuttack district|Cuttack]], [[Cuttack district|Banki]], [[Jagatsinghpur district|Jagatsinghpur]], [[Nayagarh district|Nayagarh]], [[Jharsuguda district|Jharsuguda]] ([[Odisha]])
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| subdivision_name5 = [[Rajim]], [[Sambalpur]], [[Cuttack]], [[Sonepur, Odisha|Sonepur]], [[Birmaharajpur]], [[Subalaya]], [[Kantilo]], [[Boudh]], [[Banki, Odisha|Banki]]

| length = {{convert|900|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=EB/>
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= [[False Point]], [[Odisha]]
| discharge1_min = {{convert|1125|cuft/s|m3/s|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="DS405.1.I34_V16_437" />
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max = {{convert|56700|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="DS405.1.I34_V16_437" />

| source1 =
| source1_location = Nagri-Sihawa, Dhamtari, [[Dandakaranya]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[India]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|20.11|N|81.91|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|890|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth =
| mouth_location = [[False Point]], [[Jagatsinghpur]], [[River delta|Delta]], [[Odisha]], [[India]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|20|17|43|N|86|42|39|E|source:GEOnet|display=title,inline}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|132100|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=EB/>
| tributaries_left = [[Seonath River|Seonath]], [[Mand River|Mand]], [[Ib River|Ib]], [[Hasdeo River|Hasdeo]], [[Kelo river|Kelo]]
| tributaries_right = [[Ong River|Ong]], [[parry river|parry]], [[Jonk River|Jonk]], [[Telen River|Telen]]
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The '''Mahanadi''' is a major river in East Central [[India]]. It drains an area of around {{Convert|132100|km2}} and has a total length of {{Convert|900|km}}. Mahanadi is also known for the [[Hirakud Dam]].<ref name=EB>{{cite web |title=Mahanadi River (river, India) |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Mahanadi-River |website=britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=23 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The river flows through the states of [[Chhattisgarh]] and [[Odisha]] and finally merged with [[Bay of Bengal]].

== Etymology ==
The word Mahanadi is a compound of the [[Sanskrit]] words ''maha'' ("great") and ''nadi'' ("river").<ref>{{cite book |author=Dharmendra Nath Shastri |title=Studies in indology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B585AQAAIAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Institute of Indology |page=146 }}</ref>

In different era, this river was known by several names, such as:
*Ancient era – Kanaknandini
*[[Dvapara Yuga]] – Chitrotpala (Similar name in Matsya Purana)
*[[Treta Yuga]] – Nilotpala (Similar name in vayu Purana)
*Mahabharata era – Mahanad
*[[Kali Yuga]] – Mahanadi or Mahashweta

== Course ==
=== Source and Upper Course ===
Like many other [[season]]al Indian rivers, the Mahanadi too is a combination of many mountain streams and thus its precise source is impossible to pinpoint. However its farthest [[headwaters]] lie {{Convert|6|km}} from Pharsiya village in Nagri Sihawa {{Convert|442|m}} above sea level about 11 km, in a dense patch of forest, south of Sihawa town in [[Dhamtari district]] of [[Chhattisgarh]].<ref name="DS405.1.I34_V16_437">[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_437.gif Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 16, page 431 – Imperial Gazetteer of India – Digital South Asia Library]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&pg=RA1-PA607&lpg=RA1-PA607&dq=sondur+reservoir&source=bl&ots=KTvmcUEv8P&sig=0zWN0IU-AQfGuLb6FleIsloR_8o&hl=en&ei=yKHmSYnjHeHJtgeAnu3UBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#PRA1-PA598,M1Hydrology and Water Resources of India by Sharad K. Jain, Pushpendra K. Agarwal, Vijay P. Singh]</ref> The hills here are an extension of the [[Eastern Ghats]] and are a source of many other streams which then go on to join the Mahanadi.

For the first {{Convert|100|km}} of its course, the Mahanadi flows in a northerly direction and drains the [[Raipur district]] and touches eastern portions of [[Raipur]] city. It is a rather narrow river at this stage and the total width of its valley does not exceed 500–600 metres.

=== Middle course ===
After being joined by the Shivnath, the river flows in an easterly direction through the remaining part of its journey. It is joined by the Jonk and [[Hasdeo River|Hasdeo]] rivers here before entering into [[Odisha]] after covering about half of its total length. Near the city of [[Sambalpur]], it is dammed by the longest [[earthen dam]] in the world, the [[Hirakud Dam]]. A composite structure of the earth, concrete and masonry, the dam measures {{Convert|26|km}} including the Dykes. It spans two hills; the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in [[Asia]], with a reservoir holding {{Convert|784|km2}} at full capacity, with a shoreline of over {{Convert|675|km}}.<ref name="sambalpur">[http://sambalpur.nic.in/hirakud%20dam.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102205725/http://sambalpur.nic.in/hirakud%20dam.htm |date=November 2, 2008 }}</ref>

After the formation of [[Chhattisgarh]] State, the major portion of Mahanadi basin now lies in Chhattisgarh. Presently, only {{Convert|169|km2}} basin area of Hasdeo River in Anuppur District lies in [[Madhya Pradesh]].

Before the construction of the dam in 1953, the Mahanadi was about a mile wide at Sambalpur and carried massive amounts of silt, especially during the [[monsoon]]. Today, it is a rather tame river after the construction of the dam and is joined by the Ib, Ong, Tel and other minor streams. It then skirts the boundaries of the [[Baudh district]] and forces a tortuous way between [[ridge]]s and ledges in a series of [[rapid]]s until it reaches Dholpur, [[Odisha]]. The rapids end here and the river rolls towards the [[Eastern Ghats]], forcing its way through them via the {{Convert|64|km}} long [[Satkosia Gorge]]. The Satakosia Gorge ends at Badamul of Nayagarh. Dense forests cover the hills flanking the river here. The river enters the [[Odisha]] plains at Naraj, about {{Convert|14|km}} from [[Cuttack]], where it pours down between two hills that are a mile apart. A barrage has been constructed here to regulate the river's flow into [[Cuttack]].<ref name="rivers of India.in">{{cite web |url=http://www.riversofindia.in/rivers-flowing-into-bay-of-bengal/mahanadi-river.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201150024/http://www.riversofindia.in/rivers-flowing-into-bay-of-bengal/mahanadi-river.htm |archive-date=2012-12-01 |title=Details About Mahanadi River}}</ref>

=== Lower Course ===
[[File:Mahanadi-river-delta.jpg|thumb|250px|The Mahanadi River Delta at False Point.]]
The river traverses [[Cuttack district]] in an east–west direction. Just before entering Cuttack, it gives off a large [[distributary]] called the [[Kathjori]]. The city of Cuttack stands on the spit separating the two channels. The Kathjori then throws off many streams like the [[Kuakhai River|Kuakhai]], Devi and Surua which fall into the [[Bay of Bengal]] after entering [[Puri district]]. The Kathjori itself falls into the sea as the Jotdar. Other distributaries of Mahanadi include the Paika, Birupa, [[Chitroptala river]], Genguti and Lun.The Birupa then goes on to join the [[Brahmani River]] at Krushnanagar and enters the Bay of Bengal at Dhamra. The Mahanadi proper enters the sea via several channels near [[Paradeep]] at [[False Point]], [[Jagatsinghpur]]. The combined [[Mahanadi River Delta|Delta]] of the Mahanadi's numerous distributaries and the Brahmani is one of the largest in India.<ref name="sambalpur" /><ref name="Singh 2017 p. 311">{{cite book | last=Singh | first=D.S. | title=The Indian Rivers: Scientific and Socio-economic Aspects | publisher=Springer Singapore | series=Springer Hydrogeology | year=2017 | isbn=978-981-10-2984-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ridFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA311 | access-date=2019-08-13 | page=311}}</ref>

== Navigation ==
Prior to the construction of Hirakud Dam, the Mahanadi was navigable from its mouth up to [[Arang|Arrang]], about a {{Convert|250|km}} from its source. However numerous barrages apart from the Hirakud have put an end to that. Today, boats are restricted to the delta region and the Hirakud reservoir.<ref name="rivers of India.in" /><ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_438.gif Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 16, page 432 – Imperial Gazetteer of India – Digital South Asia Library]</ref> Fresh water crocodiles, Ganges and Bull sharks frequent Mahanadi.

== Trade and agriculture ==
The Mahanadi is an important river in the state of Odisha. This river flows slowly for about {{Convert|900|km}} and deposits more silt than any other river in the Indian subcontinent.

The cities of Cuttack and Sambalpur were prominent trading places in the ancient world and the river itself has been referred to as the Manada in Ptolemy's works.<ref name="McCrindle 1885 p. 71">{{cite book | last=McCrindle | first=J.W. | title=Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy | publisher=Thacker, Spink, & Company | year=1885 | url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5077 | access-date=2019-07-01 | page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.5077/page/n86 71]}}</ref> However today the Mahanadi valley is best known for its fertile soil and flourishing agriculture.<ref>[https://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/mahanadi.jsp ]{{dl|date=July 2021}}</ref>

== Water ==
[[File:Zobra bridge view.JPG|thumb|Jobra bridge view|alt=]]
Average annual surface water potential of 66.9 km³ has been assessed in this basin. Out of this, 50.0 km³ is usable water. Culturable area in the basin is about {{Convert|80000|km2}}, which is 4% of the total culturable area of the country.

Present use of surface water in the basin is 17.0 km³. Live storage capacity in the basin has increased significantly since independence. From just about 0.8 km³ in the pre-plan period, the total live storage capacity of the completed projects has increased to 8.5 km³. In addition, a substantial storage quantity of over 5.4 km³ would be created on completion of projects under construction. Additional storage to the tune of over 11.0 km³ would become available on execution of projects under consideration. The hydropower potential of the basin has been assessed as 627 MW at 60% load factor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/MAHANADI_projects.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222143314/http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/MAHANADI_projects.htm |archive-date=2014-02-22 }}</ref>

At its peak during the monsoon, the Mahanadi has a discharge rate of {{Convert|2000000|cuft}} per second,<ref name="DS405.1.I34_V16_437" /> almost as much as the much larger [[Ganges]]. However owing to its seasonal nature the river is mostly a narrow channel flanked by wide sand banks for most of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aquarians.hpage.co.in/mahanadi_54159339.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122063225/http://aquarians.hpage.co.in/mahanadi_54159339.html |archive-date=2012-11-22 |title=India: The Water Carriers}}</ref>

== Floods ==
[[File:1 Mahanadi River near Satkosia Tiger Reserve Tikarpara India 2012.jpg|thumb|Mahanadi River near [[Satkosia Tiger Reserve]], [[Odisha]]]]
[[File:Plum-headed parakeet at Tikarpara Odisha India December 2012.jpg|thumb|[[Plum-headed parakeet]] at Tikrapara on the bank of river Mahanadi.]]
The Mahanadi was notorious for its devastating floods for much of recorded history. Thus it was called 'the sorrow of Orissa'. However the construction of the [[Hirakud Dam]] has greatly altered the situation. Today a network of canals, barrages and check dams keep the river well in control. However heavy rain can still cause large scale flooding as evidenced in September, 2008 when 16 people died as the river breached its banks.

In 2011, September heavy down pour of rain caused flash flood and many mud dwellings in more than 25 villages above Hirakud Dam which were never affected before, both in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, have melted down due to back water that could not pass through the river.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/orissa-floods-mahanadi-flows-above-danger-mark-14-lakh-affected-81743.html|title=Orissa floods: Mahanadi in spate, 14 lakh affected-Politics News , Firstpost|date=12 September 2011}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* ''The Imperial Gazetteer of India''-William Hunter, 1901
* ''The Encyclopædia Britannica''-1911 Ed.
* ''The Columbus Encyclopedia''
*the river in central India the 1994 Tamil film [[Mahanadi (film)]]

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mahanadi River}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180428080957/http://www.riversnetwork.org/rbo/index.php/river-blogs/south-asia/item/3995 Rivers Network – Mahanadi river watersheds webmap]
* {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20070911102413/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/08/06/stories/1406219e.htm Odisha Govt. blamed for declining quality of river water]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041104145337/http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/efs/photoinfo.pl?PHOTO=STS087-707-60 Mahanadi River]
* [http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/River-Sutra-of-Cuttack-Kayaker/2016/04/09/article3367741.ece Kayaking on River Mahanadi]

{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{Hydrography of Odisha}}
{{Hydrography of Chhattisgarh}}
{{Mahanadi Basin}}
{{Eastern Ghats|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mahanadi River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Odisha]]
[[Category:Rivers of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Rivers in Buddhism]]

Mahanadi - Revision history

CleanupBot at 18:39, 7 October 2023