Godavari River
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This article is about Godavari River in India. For other uses, see Godavari (disambiguation)
The Godavari River is the second largest river in India, originating near Trimbak in Nashik District of Maharashtra state in India. It flows east through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to empty into the Bay of Bengal.[1]
The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several pilgrimage centers on its banks.
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[edit] Course
The Godavari River is a major waterway in central India, originating in the Western Ghats and flowing eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau between the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, then crossing the latter state and turning to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay of Bengal through two mouths. Its tributaries include Indravati River, Manjira River, Bindusara River and Sarbari River. [2]
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 Rajahmundry there is a dam that provides water for irrigation and the generation of hydroelectricity. Most of the river’s water is drawn for irrigation purposes. 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.[3]
[edit] Place of Pilgrimage
The Godavari 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.
[edit] River Basin and Tributaries
- Godavari River
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- Indravati River
- Pranahita River
- Wainganga River
- Wardha River
- Manjira River
- Kinnerasani River
- Sileru River
- Sabari River
[edit] Major Towns and Cities along the river
Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Kopargaon, Paithan, Nanded in Maharashtra
Bhadrachalam, Godhavarikhani, Rajamundry, Kovvur, Tallapudi and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh.
[edit] Dams and Bridges along the river
- Dowleswaram Barrage was built at the mouth of the Godavari River by Sir Arthur Cotton. It is more than 100 years old and still its acts as reservoir for Godavari. Since the river flows only in the plains, there are no dams to date. Dowleswaram Barrage is also called as Cotton barrage and it is the only water reserve on Godavari.
There is also a big dam on the Godavari River 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 "Sriramsagarproject" in Nizamabad District. It is in the town of Pochampad, 60km away from Nizamabad. It irrigates 4 districts of Northern Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power.
[edit] Places of interest
Like any other major rivers in India, the banks of this river also has many pilgrimage sites.
Trimbakeshwar - One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and ancient tenple of Lord Shiva.
Nasik - One of the four Kumbh Mela, Hindu pilgrimage place.
Nanded - Takht Sri Hazur Sahib One of the five most sacred place in Sikhism.
Bhadrachalam - Hindu Temple of Lord Rama.
Rajahmundry - Center for Telugu Literature. A town that symbolises Telugu Culture.this city is the native of aadikavi nannaya, one of the writers of kavitrayam. Famous for the Godavari Pushkaralu - an event that happens once in every 12 years, celebrated with pomp and glory, attended by lakhs of people all around the world. A bath in Godavari during the pushkaram period is said to be equivalent to bathing in the holy river Ganga.
Pattiseema - a Hindu temple on a small hill in an island near rajahmundry in the river.
Basar (orignially, Vyasara) - Sri Gyana Saraswathi temple is situated on the banks of Godavari, in Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh. It is 210 km from state capital Hyderabad and accessible by road and rail (nearest major station: Nizamabad, although Basar station also exists). It is considered that the sage Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata on the banks of Godavari at this location, and thus the place came to be known as Vyasara.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ River Godavari. rainwaterharvesting.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
- ^ Godavari River. Encyclopedia Brittanica Online. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
- ^ Godavari River. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
