Rivers
Bihar GK · नदियां
📋Quick Overview
Bihar's river system is divided by the Ganga into two categories: North Bihar rivers (Himalayan origin, flowing from Nepal) and South Bihar rivers (peninsular origin, plateau rivers). The Himalayan rivers carry huge silt loads and frequently change course, making North Bihar flood-prone, while South Bihar rivers are more stable but have seasonal flow.
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The Ganga flows approximately 445 km through Bihar, entering at Buxar in the west and exiting at Manihari in the east. It is the main artery of Bihar and divides it into North and South Bihar.
📖North Bihar Rivers (Himalayan / Nepal origin)
| River | Origin | Districts Covered | Joins Ganga At | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gandak (Narayani) | Nepal (Himalayas) | W.Champaran, E.Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali | Hajipur | Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar; irrigates Champaran |
| Kosi (Sapta Kosi) | Nepal Himalayas (7 tributaries: Indravati, Sun Kosi etc.) | Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Katihar | Kursela (Katihar) | 'Sorrow of Bihar'; 120km course shift in 250 years; Bhimnagar Barrage |
| Bagmati | Nepal (Shivpuri area, near Kathmandu) | Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur | Dhanaur (near Hajipur area) | Flows through Mithila heartland; frequent floods |
| Kamla-Balan | Nepal (Mahabharat range) | Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur | Near Badlaghat | Floods Madhubani, Darbhanga frequently |
| Burhi Gandak | Someshwar hills, Champaran (Bihar) | W.Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Khagaria | Khagaria | 320 km in Bihar; important for irrigation |
| Mahananda | Darjeeling/Nepal border area | Kishanganj, Purnea, Katihar | Manihari (near Ganga exit) | Flows through eastern Bihar tea/banana areas |
📖South Bihar Rivers (Peninsular / Plateau origin)
| River | Origin | Districts | Joins Ganga At | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son | Amarkantak (MP) — Son Muda spring | Rohtas, Arwal, Patna | Maner (Patna district) | Longest South Bihar river; Indrapuri Barrage for irrigation; Son Canal |
| Falgu (Niranjana + Mohane) | Jharkhand hills (Hazaribagh) | Gaya, Aurangabad, Gaya | Fatwa (Patna district) | Sacred for Pind Daan at Gaya; mythologically dried river (Sita's curse) |
| Punpun | Jharkhand (Palamu hills) | Aurangabad, Gaya, Patna | Fatuha (Patna) | Flood risk to Patna city; joins Ganga near Fatuha |
| Sakri | Jharkhand hills | Nawada, Nalanda | Joins Punpun | Small river, seasonal flow |
📝Key River Facts for Exams
- •Kosi Barrage: Bhimnagar, Nepal border (Bihar-Nepal border) — partially controls Kosi floods.
- •Gandak Barrage: Valmikinagar (W. Champaran) — also called Tribeniganj, provides irrigation to Bihar and Nepal.
- •Indrapuri Barrage: On Son river, Rohtas — part of Son Canal irrigation project for South Bihar.
- •Ganga river at Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) — Ganges water here used for Kanwar Yatra (Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar).