Sunday, 27 January 2013

Ganges River India



    The Ganges River or Ganga, as it is popularly known in India, is the greatest waterway in India and one of the longest rivers in the world.  It emerges from the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayan Mountains about 10,300 feet above sea level. The course of Ganga is a long one. The river follows an 800 km curving course passing through the city of Kanpur before being joined by the Yamuna at Allahabad. This point is known as the Sangam.
Ganga is further joined by numerous rivers such as the Kosi, Son, Gandaki and Ghaghra to form a formidable current in the stretch between Allahabad and Malda in West Bengal. After entering Bangladesh, the main branch of the Ganges is joined by the Jamuna River and the Meghna River, two largest tributaries of the Brahmaputra River. Spreading out into the 350 km wide Ganges Delta, it finally drains into the Bay of Bengal. Only Amazon and the Congo have greater discharge than the combined flow of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Surma-Meghna river system.
Rivers in India are seen as Goddesses who bestow good crops. They are an energy source for industries, and are used for bathing, transportation and to perform religious rites.  Ganga has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos. The ashes of the cremated are dispersed in the river in the belief that it will cleanse the soul. Many cities of religious importance and cultural significance are located on the banks of the River Ganges. Varanasi or Banaras, Allahabad, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Patna, situated on the banks of Ganga, are some of the hotspots of religious tourism in India.
Ganges is also popular among adventure seekers who want to thrill themselves with water rafting. Shivpuri in Uttarakhand is one of the popular sites for river rafting. The rafting usually starts from Shvipuri and culminates at Rishikesh. The exhilarating experience of the water rush can also be substituted by serene water rides past terraced hillsides and lush green forests.

Fact Files : Ganges River India
Also Known as : Ganga River
Origin : Gangotri Glacier in the Himalaya.
Length : 2510 KM
Dams on Ganges : Haridwar Dam, Farakka Dam.
Bridge on Ganga : Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Patna, Bihar, India.
Basin Countries : India and Bangladesh


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