Module 1: Drainage system and Himalayan rivers
Concept
Subtopic 1.1: Drainage system and Himalayan rivers
- Water resources: (i) rivers and other drainage, (ii) waterfalls, (iii) wetlands. Rivers are of two groups: Himalayan and plateau.
- By direction of joining the Ganga: from the north: Saryu (Ghaghra), Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla, Kosi, Mahananda. From the south: Son, Punpun, North Koel, Chanan, Falgu, Sakri, Panchane, Karmanasha. Southern Bihar streams (Damodar, Barakar, Subarnarekha, South Koel, Sankh, Ajay) flow elsewhere.
- Ganga: comes out of the Gangotri glacier in Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) as the Bhagirathi. Karmanasha joins near Chausa, Son near Maner, Punpun near Fatuha, Kosi near Kursela.
- Ghaghra (Saryu): from the Nampa range in Nepal; meets the Ganga near Chhapra. It is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists and is called sadaneera for carrying water all year.
- Gandak: called Saptagandaki, Narayani or Shaligrami in Nepal; length about 425 km; joins the Ganga near Sonpur–Hajipur (opposite Patna).
- Burhi Gandak: starts in the Someshwar hills (Bisambharpur chaur, West Champaran), flows south-east through Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and Munger/Khagaria and joins the Ganga.
- Bagmati and Kamla start in the Mahabharat range of Nepal and often change course, causing damage in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga.
- Kosi: real name Saptkaushiki (seven streams: Sun Kosi, Bhotiya, Tamba, Likhu, Dudh, Arun, Tamar). It shifts course and floods, so it is called the 'Sorrow of Bihar'. It joins the Ganga near Kursela.
⭐ Key Points
- Frequent floods and shifting course earned it this name.
- Ghaghra = Saryu.
- Saptkaushiki; formed by seven Himalayan streams.
- The Son joins from the south; the others come from the north.
- It rises near Bisambharpur chaur in the Someshwar hills.
- Saptagandaki, Narayani or Shaligrami.
📌 One-line Q&A
- Question: The Kosi is known as: Answer: Sorrow of Bihar.
- Question: The Ghaghra is also known as: Answer: Saryu.
- Question: The real (original) name of the Kosi is: Answer: Saptkaushiki.
- Question: Which river joins the Ganga from the south? Answer: Son.
- Question: Burhi Gandak originates in: Answer: Someshwar hills (West Champaran).
- Question: Gandak is called which of these in Nepal? Answer: Narayani / Saptagandaki.
Topic
MCQs
Answer this question, then use Next.
Question 1: The Kosi is known as:
Frequent floods and shifting course earned it this name.
Question 2: The Ghaghra is also known as:
Ghaghra = Saryu.
Question 3: The real (original) name of the Kosi is:
Saptkaushiki; formed by seven Himalayan streams.
Question 4: Which river joins the Ganga from the south?
The Son joins from the south; the others come from the north.
Question 5: Burhi Gandak originates in:
It rises near Bisambharpur chaur in the Someshwar hills.
Question 6: Gandak is called which of these in Nepal?
Saptagandaki, Narayani or Shaligrami.
Question 1 of 6
One-liners
Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.
The Kosi is known as:
Sorrow of Bihar.The Ghaghra is also known as:
Saryu.The real (original) name of the Kosi is:
Saptkaushiki.Which river joins the Ganga from the south?
Son.Burhi Gandak originates in:
Someshwar hills (West Champaran).Gandak is called which of these in Nepal?
Narayani / Saptagandaki.
Question 1 of 6