Oldest River in India

When you think about India, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the food, culture, or the architecture? When we think about this country, the rivers are actually one of the first things that comes to mind! Rivers are considered to be sacred in India, and in addition to being religiously significant, they are also important lifelines to millions of people all over the country.

In this article, we’re going to look more closely at some of the oldest rivers in India, so let’s dive in and take a closer look.

5 Oldest Rivers in India

5. Brahmaputra River

The Brahmaputra River is such an old river that we don’t actually know what its exact age is! However, we do know that this river originates near Mount Kailash in the Manasarovar Lake, in the Himalayas. Since it originates from the northern region of these mountains in Burang County of Tibet, we know that it does not actually start in India. However, it travels by southern Tibet, eventually flowing into the state of Arunachal Pradesh. As it flows through the Ganges Delta, it later merges with the Ganges River.

It’s interesting to note that the Brahmaputra River plays a hugely important role in irrigation in all the regions that it flows through. Still, although its role in agriculture, farming, and providing water to the people of these areas, the Brahmaputra River is also prone to catastrophic flooding during the months of spring when the snow in the Himalayas melts.

Did you know?

The Brahmaputra is another rare Indian river that has a male name; most Indian rivers have female names.

4. Sone River

The Sone River is another one of the oldest rivers in all of India. This river is known for originating near Pendra, in the Amarkantak Hills, and later merges with the Ganges River. It’s interesting to note that, unlike other Indian rivers, this one has a masculine name, which is rare in Indian culture.

In addition to being one of India’s oldest rivers, this river is one of the longest in the country, measuring over 780 kilometers. Although it is long, it is also quite wide and shallow, making it one of the less reliable sources of water in the country during the drier months of the year.

Did you know?

The Sone River forms a natural border between the Magahi and Bhojpuri-speaking regions in the state of Bihar.

3. Yamuna River

The Yamuna River is another one of the oldest rivers in India. This river is known for being the Ganges’ second-largest tributary, as well as the longest tributary in the whole country. It’s interesting to note that just like the Ganges, the Yamuna River is also hugely important in Hindu culture. It is worshipped and celebrated by Hindus all over the country as the goddess Yamuna. The reason that this river is considered to be highly sacred is because Yamuna is thought to be the sun god Surya’s daughter. Many Hindu legends state that bathing in this river’s waters will free humans from the pain and torment of dying.

Additionally, just like the Ganges, the Yamuna river also provides millions of people throughout the country with water. For instance, the city of New Delhi gets around 70% of its overall water supply from the Ganges. It also supports a wide variety of fish species.

Did you know?

The Yamuna River is one of the most polluted rivers in the entire world.

2. Ganges River

The Ganges River is perhaps India’s most famous river, in addition to being one of its oldest. It is a unique river in that it flows through both India and Bangladesh, making it a transboundary river. It begins in the state of Uttarakhand, flowing south and east towards the Northern regions of India in the Gangetic plain. It’s important to note that the primary stem of the Ganges begins in Devprayag, from the Alaknanda River.

Since this river passes through several states in India, and is considered to be both a lifeline and a symbol of religious significance, it’s no secret that the Ganges plays a huge role in Indian culture! In addition to being a hugely important lifeline to millions of people, fish, and animals, it is also a sacred river to members of the Hindu faith. Hindus are known to bathe in and drink its water. They also believe that its water embodies all of the sacred waters in Hindu mythology.

Did you know?

The Ganges is widely considered to be a vehicle of ascent for the deceased to pass from the earth to heaven.

1. Narmada River

The Narmada River is widely considered to be the oldest river in India and one of the world’s oldest rivers as well. It is also the fifth-longest river in the country! The Narmada flows through both Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and is considered to be a lifeline to both states due to how much support it provides to the lives of the people of these two states. It’s interesting to note that the Narmada River is one of the only rivers in the country that flows from the east to the west.

In addition to all of its geographic features, the Narmada River plays a hugely important and significant role in Hinduism. In the Hindu faith, the river is considered to be a goddess. Hindus also believe that all of the banks along this river are sacred, which means that they are meant to be revered and respected. It’s also important to note that there is an additional reason that this river is considered to be sacred! There are often white quartz pebbles found along the banks of this river; they are called banalinga and are in the shape of a linga. Many devotees of Shiva believe that these pebbles are the personified form of Shiva and must, therefore, be treated as sacred.

Did you know?

During the British occupation of India, this river was called Nerbudda or Narbada.

Conclusion

In this article, we took a closer look at some of the oldest rivers in India. Rivers are a hugely important part of Indian life, culture, and the Hindu faith, so it isn’t a huge surprise that the rivers mentioned in our list have such long and interesting histories! We hope that you enjoyed reading about these rivers, and that you learned something new and interesting from this article.