Rivers in India

The Indian drainage system is also known as the Himalayan drainage system and the peninsular drainage system. Within the Indian drainage system, more than 90% of the rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal in the west, while the remaining rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea drain in the east.

The Indian drainage system consists of two parts (also known by these names) the Himalayan drainage system and the peninsular drainage system. There are two systems that consist of a list of east and west-flowing rivers in India that are roughly separated by the Western Ghats, Aravali hills, and the Yamuna-Sutlej divide. 

The rivers forming a part of the Himalayan drainage system or the east-flowing rivers in India are perennial whereas the rivers that are a part of the Peninsular Drainage system are seasonal.

Himalayan drainage system’s rivers are youthful, with several tributaries and the opposite is true for the peninsular drainage system. Both of the drainage systems have rivers that are east to west-flowing rivers in India.

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East Flowing Rivers in India

Himalayan rivers are formed from melting glaciers and are perennial. Only the Indus River is an exception to this norm of Himalayan rovers and flows from north to south. The major part of the Himalayan river system consists of the Indus and Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna system. Many people might have a doubt about which river flows from east to west. Well, only a few rivers break the trend of the Indian drainage system and flow from east to west in the Arabian Sea. Below is the list of east and west-flowing rivers in India that drain into the Arabian Sea. People can get a clear idea of which river flows from east to west by having a glance at the below-mentioned points.

1. Indus river

Indus, one of the largest rivers in India, originates near Tibet, flows into India and then to Pakistan. It is an east-to-west flowing river and flows into the Arabian Sea near Karachi in Pakistan. The Indus river flows out from east to west flowing through other rivers in India.

The important tributaries of the Indus River are- Sutlej, baes, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum; these five rivers are the backbone of the river system in Punjab.

2. Banas river

The Banas River is 512 km in length and a tributary of the Yamuna which itself joins Ganga. The tributaries of Banas River are Dheel, dai, Khari, etc. Banas river also has significance in Indian Mythology which is again east to west flowing rivers in India.

3. Bhajan river

This river originates in Jasdan in Gujarat. Bhajan river flows from east to west and flows into the Arabian sea near Porbandar. It is a part of the Saurashtra peninsula and also has a dam.

4. Sabarmati river

Sabarmati is another river that flows from east to west in India. It flows in the Aravali range in Rajasthan and flows following the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of Khambhat. Its tributaries include Sei, Siri, Dhami, Wakal, etc. Sabarmati River flows across two states in India namely Gujarat and Rajasthan. 

5. Tapti river

The Tapti River is a major river in the list of rivers flowing into the Arabian sea. The Rapti river, popularly known as Tapi originates in Madhya Pradesh, it is 700kms long and flows across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. 

6. Narmada river

Narmada river, originating in Madhya Pradesh, is the fifth largest river of India and the largest west-flowing river, and the largest river of Madhya Pradesh. This river is popularly called the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Narmadha river can also be called the west-flowing rivers of peninsular India.

7. Periyar river

The Periyar river originates in Kerala and is the largest river in the state. The river is of vast significance in South India where it provides water for irrigation and agriculture. Periyar is very important for the economy of Kerala due to its tourist significance.  

8. Mahi river

The Mahi river originates in Madhya Pradesh and flows through two other states (Gujarat and Rajasthan) to reach the Arabian Sea. This river does not provide a lot of water for irrigation and agriculture due to its low floor bed. 

9. Luni river

A 500km long river, the Luni finds its flow from the Aravali Hills. Luni river has a lot of significance in the arid state of Rajasthan where it provides water in some of the driest parts of Western Rajasthan. It forms a catchment in Rajasthan and flows to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Thus by reading the above-mentioned point people can have a clear idea of which rivers flow from east to west.

Which River Flows from West to East?

Now people might be having doubts about which river flows towards the west. 77% of the rivers in the Indian drainage system flow from west to east to the Bay of Bengal. These rivers cover several states to finally flow in the bay of Bengal. Look at the point mentioned below and clear your doubts about west to east flowing rivers in India.

• Godavari river- The Godavari river is the largest in India second only to Ganga. Godavari river is often called the southern Ganga or Ganga of the south. The Godavari originates in Nashik in Maharashtra and flows across states like Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and more to flow into the Bay of Bengal. Its tributaries include Barna, Hiran, Kolar, etc.

• Krishna river- Another westward flowing rivers of India is Krishna. It is a 1290km long river that originates in the western ghats in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra. It is a water source in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, where it is a major irrigation source. Its tributaries include Bhima, Tungabhadra, and Musi.

• Mahanadi river- The Mahanadi river is one of the west flowing rivers of peninsular India. This 900km long river originates in the hills of Chhattisgarh and flows west to the Bay of Bengal. Mahanadi river forms a catchment in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Its tributaries include Tel, Ong, etc.

• Cauvery river- The Cauvery river is a 765km long river that originates in the western ghats in Karnataka. It forms a catchment in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Its tributaries are Harangi, Shimsha, and Hemavati.

• Damodar river- The 592 km long Damodar river originates from the Chota Nagpur region of Jharkhand and forms a catchment in Jharkhand and West Bengal.  The damage done by the floods had prompted the creation of a corporation to manage the river. 

• Penner river- The Penner river forms a catchment in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The tributaries of the Penner river are Chitravati, Kundera, etc.

• Brahmani river- The Brahmani river originates from a confluence between South Koel and Sankh rivers, Brahmani river is 480km long. Brahmani river is an important water and irrigation source for the states it forms a catchment in namely- Jharkhand and Odisha.

• Subarnarekha river- The Subarnarekha river is a 470km long river originating in Jharkhand and flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Subarnarekha river forms a catchment in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. The river is rampant with mining pollution as it flows through some of the most mineral-rich areas.

• Polar river- The polar river begins the flow in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka and flows for around 295 km and in a few other states and flows out into the Bay of Bengal. The two states in which the Palar river has its catchment area are Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

• Ponnaiyar river- The Ponnaiyar river begins the flow in Karnataka, the Nandidurga mountain range, and follows for around 80 km its flow into the Bay of Bengal. The Ponnaitar river is one of the smallest rivers that flows from west to east in the Indian Drainage system.