Godavari River

Godavari
गोदावरी
Godavari
గోదావరి (Dakshin Ganga)
River
The Mouth of the Godavari river (East) emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
Country India
States Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh
Region South India, West India
Tributaries
 - left Purna, Pranahita, Indravati, Sabari, Taliperu
 - right Pravara, Manjira, Pedda Vagu, Manair, Kinnerasani
City Rajamundry
Source
 - location Brahmagiri Mountain, Tryambakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
 - elevation 920 m (3,018 ft)
 - coordinates
Mouth
 - location Antarvedi into Bay of Bengal, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
 - coordinates  [1]
Length 1,465 km (910 mi)
Basin 312,812 km2 (120,777 sq mi)
Discharge for Polavaram (1901-1979)
 - average 3,061.18 m3/s (108,105 cu ft/s) [2]
 - max 34,606 m3/s (1,222,099 cu ft/s)
 - min 7 m3/s (247 cu ft/s)
Path of the Godavari through the South Indian Peninsula

The Godavari (Marathi: गोदावरी, Telugu: గోదావరి) is a river that runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India (only after the Ganges), that runs within the country and also the longest river in South India. It originates near Trimbak in Nashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.[3]

The Godavari River is a major waterway in central India, originating in the Western Ghats Trimbakeshwar, in the Nashik Subdivision or District Of Maharashtra and flowing eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state of Maharashtra. It is known as dakshin ganga (Southern Ganges). It enters Andhra Pradesh at Basara in Adilabad district. While passing through telangana region of Andhra Pradesh it touches a small village called Dharmapuri which is a pilgrimage village with many ancient Hindu temples and river Godavari serving as spiritual place in true sense for bathing in Godavari river spread over rocks and sand. While crossing the Deccan Plateau and then turns to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay of Bengal through two mouths.[4] Basara, on the banks of Godavari in Adilabad District, is home to a famous temple for Goddess Saraswati and is the second temple for the Goddess in India.

Rajahmundry, is the largest city on the banks of Godavari. At Rajahmundry, Godavari is in its widest form having a width of approximately 5 km from Rajahmundry to the other bank at Kovvur.

The Sri Ram Sagar Project which was constructed on this river (1964–69) serves the irrigation needs of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts.

Although the river arises only 80 kilometres from the Arabian Sea, it flows 1,465 km to empty into the Bay of Bengal. Just above Rajamundry, there is a dam that provides water for irrigation. Below Rajahmundry, the river divides into two streams that widen into a large river delta which has an extensive navigable irrigation-canal system, Dowleswaram Barrage that links the region to the Krishna River delta to the southwest.[5]

The Godavari River has a drainage area of 312,812 km² that includes more than one state which is nearly one-tenth of India and is greater than the areas of England and Ireland put together. The Pravara, Indravati, Wainganga, Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers, discharge an enormous volume of water into the Godavari system. Its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira River, Bindusara River and Sabari River.[6]

Contents

Major towns and cities along the river

In Maharashtra:

In Andhra Pradesh:

Dams and bridges along the river

A barrage was built on the river at Dowleswaram by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1852. As it was damaged in 1987 floods, it was rebuilt as a barrage and roadway during 1987 and named after him. The roadway connects Dowleswaram in East Godavari and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari.

There is also a big dam built just after the source of the river at Trimbakeshwar. The dam is in the town of Gangapur, which literally means a town on a river. The dam provides drinking water to the residents of Nashik and also supplies water to the thermal power station situated downstream at Eklahara, which provides power to the town.

There is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River named Sriram Sagar Project on the borders of Adilabad and Nizamabad District. It is in the town of Pochampad, 60 km away from Nizamabad. It irrigates 4 districts of Northern Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power.

The Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is one of the largest earthen dam in India. This dam was built to address the problem of drought in Marathwada region and problem of flood along the bank of river. Two 'left' and 'right' canals provide the irrigation to fertile land up to Nanded district. This dam has major contribution in industrial development of Aurangabad Maharashtra.

There are 3 railway bridges spanning the river between East Godavari and West Godavari districts.

  1. Havelock bridge (Named after the then Madras Governor)
  2. Rail-cum-road bridge
  3. New railway bridge

Construction for this bridge started in 1876, and was completed in 1897. It was constructed under the supervision of F.T. Granville Walton who had constructed the Dufferin Bridge over the Ganges, and Granville Mills, British engineers. Spanning over 3 km in length, it linked the East Godavari and West Godavari districts. The brige has been a vital link enabling trains to run between Chennai and Howrah. Trains continued to ply over the bridge for a century until 1997, when train services over the bridge were suspended after the construction of 2 additional bridges.

This bridge constructed over a quarter of a century ago, serves as both a Railway bridge and as a roadway between the East Godavari and West Godavari Districts.

This bridge completed in 1997, was built upstream of the earlier bridges.

Significance

Religious significance

The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several pilgrimage centers on its banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladeva (5000 years ago) and more recently Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters as an act of worship.

Godavari is considered the Dhakshin (Southern) Ganges and Rajahmundry Dhakshin Kasi. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Crores of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves of all their sins.

Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring the Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along the river Ganges. Since the Ganges was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.

Ecology

The Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove formation in the country. Part of this has been declared as the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its reptiles. They also provide an important habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also act as barriers against cyclones, tropical storms and tidal waves thus protecting the nearby villages.

The Krishna Godavari basin is one of the main nesting sites of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle.

Godavari is the second largest river in India after river Ganges.

other

one of the ships of the Indian Navy has been named INS Godavari after the river.

Places of interest

Like any other major rivers in India, the banks of this river also has many pilgrimage sites.

See also

References

  1. ^ Godāvari River at GEOnet Names Server
  2. ^ "Sage River Database". http://www.sage.wisc.edu/riverdata/scripts/station_table.php?qual=32&filenum=865. Retrieved 2011-06-16. 
  3. ^ "River Godavari". rainwaterharvesting.org. http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Crisis/river-godavari.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-12. 
  4. ^ "Ponnaiyar". Person unknown. http://www.whereincity.com/india/tamilnadu/rivers.php. Retrieved 2006-12-09. 
  5. ^ "Godavari River". http://columbia.thefreedictionary.com/Godavari+River. Retrieved 2006-11-12. 
  6. ^ "Rivers of Western Ghats". http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/documents/rivers.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-09. 

External links