3.2.2. The Ganga River System

The headwaters of the Ganga, called the ‘Bhagirathi’ is fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand. At Haridwar, the Ganga emerges from the mountains onto the plains.

The Ganga River begins its journey as the 'Bhagirathi' from the Gangotri Glacier, located in the Himalayas. It flows down and meets another river, the Alaknanda, at a place known as Devaprayag. This confluence is significant as it marks the point where the Ganga officially starts its course towards the plains. After this point, the river flows through Haridwar, an important religious city where it exits the mountainous regions and enters the fertile plains of Northern India.

Imagine a baby river, starting its life from a snowy glacier, just like how a child might start from a small home and gradually journey to bigger places like a school or a city. The Ganga, similar to a child's progression, moves from the glaciers (home) to the plains (school), collecting experiences (water) and becoming stronger as it flows.

The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers, such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, and the Kosi. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary meets the Ganga at Allahabad. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya.

The Ganga River is enriched by several tributaries, which are like smaller rivers or streams that join the main river. Important tributaries include the Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi. The Yamuna, for example, starts from the Yamunotri Glacier and runs alongside the Ganga, finally merging with it at Allahabad. Similarly, the Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi originate from the Himalayas in Nepal and travel through northern India. These tributaries contribute significantly to the flow and volume of water in the Ganga, especially during the monsoon season.

Think of the Ganga River like a large highway, with tributaries resembling smaller roads that lead into it. Just like those smaller roads help bring more cars (water) into the highway, tributaries add more water to the Ganga, ensuring it remains robust and vibrant.

They are the rivers which flood parts of the northern plains every year, causing widespread damage to life and property, whereas, they enrich the soil for agricultural use.

The seasonal floods caused by the tributaries of the Ganga, such as the Ghaghara and Kosi, can lead to significant destruction of property and displacement of people. However, these floods also have a positive side; they deposit silt on the floodplains which enhances the fertility of the soil. As a result, farmers benefit from more nutrient-rich land for agriculture after these seasonal floods recede.

Imagine a farmer who plants seeds in rich, dark soil that was previously inundated by floodwaters. This scenario shows how even destructive floods can help create fertile conditions for growing crops, much like how nature can sometimes be harmful yet beneficial.

The main tributaries which come from the peninsular uplands are the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son. These rise from semi-arid areas, have shorter courses and do not carry much water in them.

Besides the Himalayan tributaries, the Ganga also receives water from several rivers originating in the peninsular region, such as the Chambal, Betwa, and Son. These rivers are different from the Himalayan ones as they flow over shorter distances, primarily due to the semi-arid nature of their origin areas. Consequently, they usually carry less water compared to their Himalayan counterparts.

Consider a small stream that flows through a dry patch of land. Even though it contributes to a larger reservoir, it might not always have a steady flow, especially in dry seasons, just as these peninsular rivers are dependent on seasonal rains.

Enlarged with the waters from its right and left bank tributaries, the Ganga flows eastwards till Farakka in West Bengal. This is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta. The river bifurcates here; the Bhagirathi-Hooghly (a distributary) flows southwards through the deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal.

As the Ganga River flows east from Farakka in West Bengal, it expands due to the contributions from its tributaries. At Farakka, it splits into two branches: one continues as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, which flows southwards through the Sundarbans Delta into the Bay of Bengal, while the other proceeds into Bangladesh. This bifurcation leads to the development of one of the world's largest and most fertile deltas—the Sundarbans, which is also known for its rich biodiversity.

Imagine a large tree whose roots spread out wide into different paths; as it branches out, each path nurtures the soil around it. The Ganga, similarly, branches out from Farakka, creating the rich environment of the Sundarbans that supports countless species, including the Royal Bengal tiger.

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