The Godavari River: India's Second Longest

The Godavari River: India's Second Longest

The Godavari is the longest peninsular river and the second longest in India overall (after the Ganga). It flows through the western and central parts of South India.

Key Facts

• Source: Triambakeshwar, near Nashik, in Maharashtra (Western Ghats).
• Length: ~1,465 km (910 miles).
• Basin Area: 312,812 km² (~10% of India's total area).
• States Traversed: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha.
• Mouth: Empties into the Bay of Bengal via a large delta (Konaseema region).

Significance

The Godavari is culturally sacred (often called "Dakshina Ganga" – Ganga of the South), economically vital for irrigation, agriculture, and industry, and ecologically rich, supporting diverse wildlife in its basin and delta. Major tributaries include the Pranhita, Indravati, Sabari, and Manjira.