Bhagirathi River

This article is about the tributary of the Ganges. For the distributary in West Bengal, see Hooghly River. For the 2012 film, see Bhagirathi (film).

Bhāgīrathī River
Sacred bathing ghats on Bhagirathi River at Gangotri
Map showing the Himalayan headwaters of the Bhagirathi river. The numbers in parentheses refer to the altitude in meters.
Etymology	"Bhagirathi" (Sanskrit, literally, "caused by Bhagiratha")
Native name	भागीरथी Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Location
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand,
Region	Garhwal division
District	Uttar Kashi District, Tehri District
Physical characteristics
Source	Gaumukh (gou, cow + mukh, face), about 18 km (11.2 mi) from the town of Gangotri
• coordinates	30.925449°N 79.081480°E / 30.925449; 79.081480
• elevation	3,892 m (12,769 ft)
Source confluence	Alaknanda River
Mouth	Ganges
• location	Devprayag, Uttarakhand, India
• coordinates	30.146315°N 78.598251°E / 30.146315; 78.598251
• elevation	475 m (1,558 ft)
Length	205 km (127 mi)
Basin size	6,921 km2 (2,672 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	257.78 m3/s (9,103 cu ft/s)
• maximum	3,800 m3/s (130,000 cu ft/s)

The Bhāgīrathī (Pron:/ˌbʌgɪˈɹɑːθɪ/) is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams (or source) of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and considered holy in Hinduism. In Hindu faith and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the source stream of the Ganges. However, in hydrology, the other headstream, Alaknanda, is considered the source stream on account of its great length and discharge.

The Ganga is the most important river of India both from the point of view of its basin and cultural significance. It rises in the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh (3,900 m) in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Here, it is known as the Bhagirathi.

Etymology

The word "Bhagirathi" (Sanskrit, literally, "caused by Bhagiratha") refers to a mythological Sagar Dynasty prince who, to gain the release of his 10,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint Kapila, brought the goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges, from the heavens to the earth. Hence, Ganges considered as the daughter of Bhagiratha and Ganges also called Baghirathi. Bhagiratha was the king of Kosala, a kingdom in ancient India. He was a descendant of the great King Sagara of the Suryavanshi, or Surya Dynasty. He was one of the forefathers of Lord Rama, of the Ramayana, the epic in which Bhagiratha's tale is primarily recounted. The story of Bhagiratha explained in Balakhanda of Ramayana.Shiva brought Ganga river to Bindu Sarovar on request of Bhagiratha.

Course

The headwaters of the Bhagirathi are formed at Gaumukh (elevation 3,892 metres (12,769 ft)), at the foot of the Gangotri glacier and Khatling glaciers in the Garhwal Himalaya. It is then joined by its tributaries; these are, in order from the source:

• Kedar Ganga at Gangotri (elevation 3,049 m (10,003 ft)),
• Jadh Ganga at Bhaironghati (elevation 2,650 m (8,690 ft)),
• Kakora Gad and Jalandhari Gad near Harsil (elevation 2,745 m (9,006 ft)),
• Siyan Gad near Jhala (elevation 2,575 m (8,448 ft)),
• Asi Ganga near Uttarkashi (elevation 1,158 m (3,799 ft)),
• Bhilangna River near Old Tehri (elevation 755 m (2,477 ft)).

The Bhilangna itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier (elevation 3,717 m (12,195 ft)) approximately 50 km (31 mi) south of Gaumukh.

The river flows from its source for 205 km (127 mi) before meeting the Alaknanda River at an elevation of 475 m (1,558 ft) in the town of Devprayag. Downstream of this confluence, considered holy by Hindus, the river is known as the Ganga, or Ganges River by westerners. The controversial Tehri dam lies at the confluence of the Bhāgirathi and the Bhilangna, at 30°22′32″N 78°28′48″E, near Tehri. Chaukhamba I is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin.

• 
  The turbulent Bhāgīrathī as it enters Devprayag.
• 
  The Bhagirathi (foreground) on its way to meet the sediment-laden Alaknanda, and to flow on as the Ganges.
• 
  Another view of the confluence at Devprayag.
• 
  Tehri Dam, the 5th tallest dam in the world

Dams

There are 18 dams along the Bhāgirathi River, either in operation, under construction or planned. These are, in order from the source:

Hydroelectric Dams on the Bhāgirathi River
Abbreviations: MW: electrical output capacity(Megawatts), Ht: dam height(M) FRL: full reservoir level (MSL), MWL:maximum water level(MSL), HRT: head race tunnel length(KM), TRT: tail race tunnel length(KM), TWL: tail water level(MSL), RBL: river bed level at dam site(MSL)

#	Name	Ht	MW	Status	FRL	MWL	HRT	TRT	TWL	RBL	Coordinates
1	Karmoli Dam		140	planned			8.6
2	Gangotri Dam		55	planned			5.2
3	Jadhganga Dam		50	planned			1.1
4	Bhaironghati I Dam		380	planned
5	Bhaironghati II Dam		65	planned
6	Harsil Dam		210	planned			5.06
7	Loharinag Pala Dam		600	cancelled	2,147	1,667	13.85	.51	1.665		30°58′6″N 78°41′56″E
8	Pala Maneri I Dam	78	480	cancelled	1,665	1,667	12.563	1.378
9	Maneri Dam	38	90	operation				8.631
10	Joshiyara (Bhali) Dam		304	operation			16.0
11	Bhilangana II Dam		11	planned
12	Bhilangana I Dam		22.5	planned			2.0
13	Tehri Dam	260.5	2,400	operation	830	835	1.634	.8625			30°22′40″N 78°28′50″E
14	Koteshwar Dam	97.5	400	operation	612.50	615
15	Kotli Bel 1A Dam	82.5	195	construction
16	Kotli Bel 1B Dam	90	320	cancelled
17	Kotli Bel II Dam	82	530	cancelled

References

• Wilson, W. (1860). A summer ramble in the Himalayas: with sporting adventures in the Vale of Cashmere. London: Hurst and Blackett. OCLC 58410561. available on microfilm
• Heske, Franz (1937). Im heiligen Lande der Gangesquellen (In the Holy Lands of the Source of the Ganges) (in German). Neudamm, Germany: J. Neumann. OCLC 35036471.
• Sharma, Man Mohan (1997). Through the Valley of Gods: Travels in the Central Himalayas (2 ed.). New Delhi: Vision Books. OCLC 4547622.