Godavari River
The Godavari (IAST: Godāvarī, [ɡod̪aːʋəɾiː]) is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra. It flows east for 1,465 kilometres (910 mi), draining the states of Maharashtra (48.6%), Telangana (18.8%), Andhra Pradesh (4.5%), Chhattisgarh (10.9%) and Odisha (5.7%). The river ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal through an extensive network of distributaries. Measuring up to 312,812 km2 (120,777 sq mi), it forms one of the largest river basins in the Indian subcontinent, with only the Ganga and Indus rivers having a larger drainage basin. In terms of length, catchment area and discharge, the Godavari is the largest in peninsular India, and had been dubbed as the Dakshina Ganga (Southern Ganges).
| Godavari River | |
|---|---|
Path of the Godavari through the South Indian Peninsula | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| State | Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha |
| Region | West India and South India |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Brahmagiri Mountain, Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India |
| • coordinates | 19°55′48″N 73°31′39″E |
| • elevation | 920 m (3,020 ft) |
| Mouth | Bay of Bengal |
• location | Antarvedi, Konaseema district Andhra Pradesh, India |
• coordinates | 17°0′N 81°48′E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 1,465 km (910 mi) |
| Basin size | 312,812 km2 (120,777 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Godavari Delta, Bay of Bengal |
| • average | 3,505 m3/s (123,800 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Rajahmundry (80 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 308,946 km2 (119,285 sq mi) |
| • average | (Period: 1998/01/01–2023/12/31)3,740.5 m3/s (132,090 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 79 m3/s (2,800 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 12,045 m3/s (425,400 cu ft/s) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Polavaram (1901–1979) |
| • average | 3,061.18 m3/s (108,105 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 7 m3/s (250 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 34,606 m3/s (1,222,100 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Banganga, Kadva, Shivana, Purna, Kadam, Pranahita, Indravati, Taliperu, Sabari |
| • right | Nasardi, Pravara, Sindphana, Manjira, Manair, Kinnerasani |
The river has been revered in Hindu scriptures for many millennia and continues to harbour and nourish a rich cultural heritage. In the past few decades, the river has been barricaded by several barrages and dams, keeping a head of water (depth) which lowers evaporation. Its broad river delta houses 729 persons/km2 – nearly twice the Indian average population density and has a substantial risk of flooding, which in lower parts would be exacerbated if the global sea level were to rise.