Godavari River Complete Guide (Telangana Focus)
🌍 Origin and Formation of Godavari and Krishna Rivers
The Godavari and Krishna Rivers have their origins deeply rooted in the geological processes of the Cenozoic Era (Navajeevee Mahakaal, c. 66 million BCE – present), also known as the Age of Mammals, which witnessed the emergence and diversification of modern life.
Plate Tectonics and the Formation of Rivers
Approximately 55–50 million years ago, during the Eocene Epoch of the Cenozoic Era, the Indian Plate began colliding with the Eurasian Plate, initiating the uplift of the Himalayas and the Alps. Prior to this collision, the Indian Plate had started breaking away from the supercontinent Gondwana. As it drifted northwards, the continental crust stretched, cracked, and fractured, forming major geological structures that would define river systems in peninsular India.
Rift Valleys and River Basins
One of the major geological outcomes of this crustal stretching was the formation of linear depressions or rift valleys called grabens:
- Godavari Graben: A large, linear depression formed due to the downward displacement of a block of crust between two parallel faults. This graben created the primary basin along which the Godavari River flows.
- Krishna Graben: A parallel rift valley, located south of the Godavari Graben, became part of the larger Palar–Nellore–Krishna Graben system. The Krishna Graben provided the structural foundation for the Krishna River and its tributaries.
A “graben” is essentially a block of land that has subsided between two parallel faults, forming a natural channel for river flow.
Role of the Western Ghats
The uplift of the Western Ghats, primarily due to the compressive forces from the collision of India with Eurasia, further shaped the drainage patterns of peninsular rivers. The elevated Western Ghats provided the highland sources from which both rivers originated:
- Godavari River: Originates near Triambak, Nashik, Maharashtra, on the northern edge of the Western Ghats.
- Krishna River: Originates near Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, on the southern Western Ghats.
These combined tectonic and erosional processes—rift valley formation, block subsidence, and mountain uplift—created the longitudinal river basins along which the Godavari and Krishna rivers have flowed for millions of years, carving fertile plains and sustaining ecosystems across peninsular India.
Elevation : 1067 meters (3500 ft)
Length : 1,465 km (910 mi)
Drainage : 312,812 sq km
Outflow : Bay of Bengal
States : Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry (Yanam) and Telangana
Start in Telangana : Kandakurthy, Renjal Mandal, Nizamabad district
Length in Telangana : 600 km
Drainage in Telangana : 58,808 sq km
End in Telangana : Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district
📖 About Godavari River
The Godavari River is the second-longest river in India, after the Ganges, and holds the distinction of being the longest river in Peninsular India. Revered as Dakshin Ganga (the Ganges of the South) and also known as Gautami, the river has immense cultural, religious, and ecological significance.
Originating in the Western Ghats at Triambak near Nasik in Maharashtra, the Godavari traverses diverse terrains before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Its journey spans 1,465 km (910 mi) and drains a vast area of 312,812 sq km, supporting millions of people along its banks.
The Godavari enters Telangana state from Maharashtra at Kandakurthi of Renjal mandal in Nizamabad district. Kandakurthi is at the confluence of the Godavari and its tributaries the Manjeera and Haridra and forms Triveni Sangamam. After Kandakurthi, the river reaches the temple town of Basar where devotees take a holy dip at the abode of Goddess Saraswati.
The river flows along the border between Nirmal and Mancherial districts in the north and Nizamabad, Jagtial, Peddapalli districts to its south.
Asmakas one of the shodasa (sixteen) mahajanapadas in the 6th century BCE, ruled their kingdom from the banks of Godavari river, highlighting the river's role as a cradle of civilization.
It flows for about 283 km and separates the Chanda district of Maharashtra and Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh from this region.
About 12 km after entering Telangana it merges with the back waters of the Sriram Sagar Dam. The river after emerging through the dam gates, enjoys a wide river bed, often splitting to encase sandy islands. The river receives a minor but significant tributary Kadem (Kadam) river. It then emerges at its eastern side to act as state border with Maharashtra only to later enter into Khammam district. In this district the river flows through an important Hindu pilgrimage town - Bhadrachalam. The river further swells after receiving a minor tributary Kinnerasani River and exits into Andhra Pradesh.
🌊 Right Bank Tributaries in Telangana
Nizamabad
1) Manjra / Manjira River joins Godavari river in Kandakurthy village, Renjal Mandal.Lendi: A significant tributary that flows through the Nanded and Nizamabad regions, often forming a natural boundary between Maharashtra and Telangana.
Haladi: A smaller tributary that joins the Manjira in the Medak/Sangareddy region of Telangana.
3) Phulang / Phulagan vagu join Godavari river, Naleshwar village
4) Kottur vagu joins Godavari river Nizamsagar Project, Ganagasamundar village
6) Tadpkal Pedda vagu joins Godavari river near Tadpkal Pushkar Ghat in Tadpkal village
Jagitial
8) Bornapalli Pedda vagu joins Godavari river, Bornapalli village, in Raikal Mandal10) Vennamuddala vagu joins Godavari river, Rangasagar village
Kapparaopeta Pedda vagu
Peddapalli
19) Pittipoli vagu joins Godavari River, Undeda village20) Bandala vagu joins Godavari River, Vemnoor village
23) Bokkala vagu joins Godavari River, Manthani village
24) Marri vagu joins Godavari River, Khansaipeta village
Jayashankar Bhupalpally
27) Maner River or Manair River joins Godavari River, Damerakunta village28) Damerakunta Pedda vagu joins Godavari river in Damerakunta
29) Bandla vagu joins Godavari river in Annaram
30) Pranahitha or Pranhita River joins Godavari at Kaleshwaram village in Mahadevpur Mandal
31) Bandala vagu joins Godavari river near Peddampet
32) Garkepalle Pedda Vagu joins Godavari river near Garkepalle
33) Sarvaipeta vagu joins Godavari river near Sarvaipeta
34) Indravati River joins Godavari river near Dammur
Mulugu
From Eturnagaram to Bhadrachalam around 50 streams including Kodipuju vagu, Thummala vagu, Jampanna vagu, Modikunta vagu, Palem vagu and Jeedi vagu join the Godavari.36) Mada vagu joins Godavari river near Buttaigudem
39) Jampanna vagu / Laknavaram River / Sampangi Vagu joins Godavari river at Eturnagaram
40) Vetti Vagu / Jeedi Vagu / Jidi Vagu joins Godavari river at Eturnagaram
41) Gaurappa vagu joins Godavari river at Mangapet
42) Mallur / Malluru vagu joins Godavari river at Chunchupalle, Mallur
43) Palem vagu (Jella vagu) joins Godavari river at Venkatapuram(Z), Mulugu District
44) Kora / Kukkatogu vagu joins Godavari river at Marrigudem(Z)
45) Thimmapuram vagu joins Godavari river at Kathigudem
Bhadradri Kothagudem
46) Bayyaram Pedda vagu joins Godavari river at Bayyaram, Pinapaka47) Posampalli vagu joins Godavari river at Gaddampalle, Pinapaka
48) Taliperu river joins Godavari river at Tegada, Mogulapalle, Cherla
49) Kodipunjula vagu joins godavari river at Annaram village, Manuguru
50) Sita vagu joins godavari river at parnasala, Chinnaravi gudem
51) Gangaler vagu / Pedha Bandirevu vagu joins godavari river at Chinnaravi gudem
52) Mallapalli Togu joins godavari river near Nellipaka
53) Turubaka Pedda Vagu / Guralla Bairu vagu joins godavari river near Turubaka village (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh border)
54) Kinnarasani River joins godavari river near Burgam Pahad, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh border
🌿 Left Bank Tributaries in Telangana
Nirmal
2) Sudda vagu joins Godavari river, Basar5) Swarna River joins Godavari river, Madhapur village
7) Rekoni vagu joins Godavari river, Khanapur village
9) Kaddam River joins Godavari river near Bellal, Kaddam (peddur) Mandal
11) Buttapur Manjra Pedda vagu joins Godavari River, Buttapur village
Mancherial
12) Gudi vagu joins Godavari River, Kalmadugu village13) Badempalle Manjra Pedda vagu joins Godavari River, Badempalle village
14) Raja vagu joins Godavari River, Gurrevu village
15) Peddayya vagu joins Godavari River, Laxmikantapur village
16) Gudem vagu joins Godavari River, Gudam village
17) Kapparaopeta Pedda vagu join Godavari River, Kapparaopeta village
18) Potepalli vagu joins Godavari River, Luxettipet village
21) Rali vagu joins Godavari River, Kothapalle village
22) Ralla vagu joins Godavari River, Kothapalle village
25) Maddila vagu joins godavari river, somanpalle village
26) Gollavagu joins godavari river near konampet
Jayashankar Bhupalpally
Pranahita River joins Godavari at Kaleshwaram village in Mahadevpur Mandal (at Mancherial border)Mulugu
35) Dhabba Thogu joins Godavari river near Chandrupatla37) Nirudu vagu joins Godavari river near Chikupalle
38) Gundla vagu near Pusur
42) Jella vagu / Palem vagu joins Godavari river at Venkatapuram(Z)
Bhadradri Kothagudem
47) Taliperu river joins Godavari river at Tegada, Mogulapalle, Cherla49) Sita vagu joins godavari river at parnasala, Chinnaravi gudem
50) Gangaler vagu / Pedha Bandirevu vagu joins godavari river at Chinnaravi gudem
52) Turubaka Pedda Vagu / Guralla Bairu vagu joins godavari river near Turubaka village (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh border)
🗺️ Major Tributaries – Detailed (With Origin & Length)
Origin: Gaurwadi in Balaghat Hills, Ahemednagar District, Maharashtra. Elevation: 823 metres (2,700 ft)
Length: 724 km (450 mi) | Drainage: 30,844 km² | Outflow: Godavari River
States: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana. Length in Telangana: ~290 km
Start in Telangana: Near Goudgaon (Janwada) village, Nagalgidda Mandal, Sangareddy district
End: Kandakurthy village, Renjal Mandal, Nizamabad district
Districts: Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Nizamabad
5) Swarna River – End: Godavari river, Madhapur, Nirmal
9) Kaddam River – Origin: Kaddam reserve forest. Length: 86 km. Start: Near Umarda (Buzurg), Adilabad. End: Bellal, Nirmal. Tributaries: Bali vagu, Ganagapuram, Bathukamma, Sikkumanu, Palukeru, Datki (trib: Ragidoba), Gundi, Wankedi, Kaddam Pedda vagu (trib: kamravadda vagu)
27) Maner River or Manair River – Start: Kanapur gudem vagu and Kodil Vagu join near Bhavanipet, Kamareddy. End: Godavari River, Damerakunta, Jayashankar Bhupalpally. Districts: Pedapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Karimnagar.
Tributaries: Are vagu (trib: Tigala vagu), Boggula vagu, Bommarao vagu, Morancha vagu, Sali vagu / Chali Vaagu (trib: Podaru vagu, Pedda Bodaru vagu, Pedda vagu, Chinna vagu, Kanthatmakur vagu), Hussein Miyan vagu, Nakkala vagu, Kesavapatnam vagu, Mothe vagu, Mohidamada River (trib: Siddipeta vagu, Pedda vagu, Chital vagu, Yellamma gidda vagu), Alipuram vagu, Mathula vagu, Mula vagu (trib: Nalla vagu, Nakka vagu), Kudaliar River (trib: Edlakatla vagu), Lotti vagu, Kodil vagu (trib: Sarampalli vagu), Kanapur gudem vagu (trib: Attipur vagu)
30) Pranahitha or Pranhita River – joins Godavari at Kaleshwaram (Jayashankar Bhupalpally) and near Dewalwada, Mancherial. The Wardha River joins the Wainganga River to form Pranahita near Thumbadihatti, Kumarambheem Asifabad.
Wainganga origin: Mahadeo Hills, Mundara, Seoni, MP. Wardha origin: Satpura Range, Betul, MP. Enters Telangana at Makidi, joins Wainganga at Thumbadihatti.
Tributaries in Telangana: Sirpur vagu (Malni + Vatti vagu), Pranahita Pedda vagu, Nagulvai vagu, Neradi vagu, Asifabad Pedda vagu (trib: Yerra vagu, Nalla vagu formed by Lingala vagu + Lothu vagu), Maddala vagu, Mancherial Pedda vagu (trib: Bathukamma vagu, Mutter vagu)
34) Indravati River – joins Godavari near Dammur. Origin: Ghats of Dandakaranya, Mardiguda, Kalahandi, Odisha. Length: 535 km. Drainage: 41,665 km².
39) Jampanna vagu / Laknavaram River / Sampangi Vagu – joins Godavari at Eturnagaram. Trib: Mathari Thogu, Chinnapuram Thogu, Tummala vagu
54) Kinnarasani River – joins godavari near Burgam Pahad (Telangana/AP border). Trib: Domala vagu, Moreru vagu or Murredu River (trib: Idula vagu, Edula vagu with Tummalla vagu, Alagu vagu, Pedda, Tolla vagu, Aerra vagu/Chinna vagu, Kalluvgee vagu)
Pamuleru River – ends at Ganagadevi guppa in Telangana and joins Godavari in Gundala, AP. Trib: Budda vagu, Dongalbanda N (trib: Jaliloka N)
Manair River Tributaries: Boggulavagu, Kodaliar, Mohidummeda, Medivagu, Rallavagu, Salivagu, Shanigaram, Yellamagadda Vagu
Pranahitha River Tributaries: Peddavagu River, Chelmelavagu (Bugga Vagu), Vattivagu River, Yerravagu, Nallavagu
Penganga River Tributaries: Sathnala, Mathadivagu
Kinnerasani River Tributaries: Murredu, Gollavagu
🏞️ Godavari in Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh
Maharashtra: Godavari originates in Triambakeshwar and flows through Nashik, Kopargaon, Puntamba, Paithan, Gangakhed, Nanded and Sironcha.
Andhra Pradesh: Flows through Rajahmundry, Kovvur, Dhavaleswaram, Ravulapalem, Kotipalli, Tallapudi, Narsapur and Antarvedi before joining Bay of Bengal.
Below Rajahmundry, the river divides into two main streams: Gautami Godavari (east) and Vashishta Godavari (west), forming a large delta.
🏘️ Settlements on Godavari River in Telangana
Basara (Nirmal, Gnana Saraswati Temple), Goodem gutta (Luxettipet, Mancherial), Mancherial, Nirmal (Nirmal Toys), Chennur (Nirmal), Tadpakal (Nizamabad, Armoor Toys), Battapur (Nizamabad, Armoor Toys), Dharmapuri (Jagitial, Narasimha Swamy Temple), Kotilingala (Jagitial), Godavarikhani (Peddapalli), Manthani (Peddapalli – Gautameshwara Swami Temple, Sri Rama, Saraswathi Temples), Kaleshwaram (Jayashankar Bhupalpally – Kaleswara Mukhteswara swamy Temple), Mahadevpur, Eturunagaram, Bhadrachalam (Bhadradri Kothagudem).
🛕 Godavari Pushkaralu Ghats in Telangana
Adilabad District: Basar (V), Mudhole(M); Wastatur (V), Lokeshwaram (M); Soan (V), Nirmal (M); Khannapur (V&M); Chinthaguda (V) Jannaram(M); Seetharampally & Mulkala (V), Mancherial (M); Luxettipet (V), Luxettipet (M); Gudem (V), Dandepally (M); Vellala (V), Jaipur (M); Chennur (V), Chennur (M); Chinthalachanda (V), Laxmanchanda (M); Hanman Temple, Peechara(V), Laxmanchanda (M); Sangvi (V), Dilwarpur (M); Nagulamma Temple Ponkal (V), Mamda (M); Dwaraka (V), Dandepally (M); Timbareni (V), Dilwarpur (M); Bridge in Kamalkot (V), Manda (M); Asta (V), Mudhole (M); Kawtha (V), Mudhole (M); Swarwagaon (V), Mudhole (M).
Warangal District: Mallakatta (V), Etunagaram(M); Ramannagudem (V), Etunagaram(M); Mangapet (V), Mangapet(M).
Khammam District: Vista Complex at Bhadrachalam (V&M); Bhadrachalam (V&M) Ramaghat at Parnashala (V), Dummugudem (M) Seethaghat at Parnashala (V), Dummugudem (M); Near Anjaneyaswamy temple at Ramachandrapuram (V), Venkatapuram (M); RHS of Godavari river at Shivalayam, Chinnarayigudemm, Manuguru Mandal.
Karimnagar District: Dharmapuri (V&M); Main Ghat at Santhoshimata Temple Dharmapuri; Main Ghat Mangatigadda Somavihar ghat No. 2 Dharmapuri; Mahalaxmi temple Dharmapuri; Thimmapur (V) Dharmapuri (M); Kaleshwaram (V) & Mahadevpur (M); Kotilingala (V) & Velgatoor(M); Manthani (V&M); Eardhandi (V), Ibrahimpatnam (M); Ramalayam at Walgonda (V), Mallapur (M); Hanuman Temple at Walgonda (V), Mallapur (M); Hanuman Temple at Gangamma Temple at Vempally Venkatraopet (V), Mallapur (M); Ramalayam Bornapally (V), Raikal (M); Kammunur (V), Sarangapur (M); Vemulakurthy (V) Ibrahimpatnam (M); Komatikondapur (V) Ibrahimpatnam; Fakirkondapur (V), Ibrahimpatnam (M); Mularampur (V), Ibrahimpatnam (M); Ratnalamadugu Vemulakurthi, Yamapur(V), Ibrahimpatnam (M); Mogilipet (V), Mallapur(M); Obulapur(V), Mallapur(M); Kotha Dhamrajpally (V), Mallapur (M); Patha Dhamrajpally (V), Mallapur (M).
Nizamabad District: Sri.Shivalayam temple (Thriveni Sangamam), Kandakurthy (V), Renjal (M); Hanuman temple, Kosli(V), Navipet (M); Sri.Shivalayam and Hanuman temple, Thadbiloli (V), Renjal (M); Sri. Gouthameshwara Swami temple, Binola (V), Navipet (M); Sri. Hanuman temple, Tungini(V), Navipet (M); Tadpakal (V), Morthad (M); Ummeda (V), Nandipet (M); SRSP Camp colony, Pochampadu (V), Balkonda (M).
📚 References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godavari_River#Within_Telangana
- http://godavaripushkaralu.net/godavaripushkaralu2015.html
- http://www.telanganastateinfo.com/godavari-pushkaralu-ghats-in-telangana/
- http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/telangana-banks-on-pranahita-and-indravati/article8149919.ece
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