Which Countries Does the Ganges River Flow Through?

The Ganges (Ganga) flows through two countries:

1. India – 2,525 km (1,569 mi) from Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand) to the Bangladesh border. Passes through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal.
2. Bangladesh – Enters as the Padma River; joins the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) and Meghna to form the Ganges Delta (Sundarbans) before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Key Facts

• Total length: ~2,600 km (1,615 mi).
• Basin population: >600 million—one of the world's most densely populated river basins.
• Sacred status: Hindus revere it as goddess Ganga; cremation ghats (Varanasi) and pilgrimage sites line its banks.
• Major tributaries: Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Damodar.

The Ganges is not just a river—it's a civilizational artery, a spiritual lifeline, and an ecological system under intense pressure.