82.132.223.24: basic reworked formatting based on references

2026-02-12T06:35:25Z

basic reworked formatting based on references

2001:558:6045:D8:3952:2AA7:5901:C657: Hydrology is not against the ancient belief.

2021-06-08T18:47:06Z

Hydrology is not against the ancient belief.

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{{Short description|River in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{About|one of the [[headwaters|headstream]]s of the [[Ganges]]|the distributary in West Bengal|Hooghly River|the 2012 film|Bhagirathi (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Bhāgīrathī River
| name_native = भागीरथी
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology = "Bhagirathi" ([[Sanskrit]], literally, "caused by [[Bhagiratha]]")

| image = Bhagirathi River at Gangotri.JPG
| image_size = 300px
| image_caption = '''Sacred bathing [[ghats]] on Bhagirathi River at Gangotri'''
| map = Bhagirathi river map.JPG
| map_size =
| map_caption = Map showing the Himalayan headwaters of the Bhagirathi river. The numbers in parentheses refer to the altitude in meters.
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption=

| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Uttarakhand]],
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = [[Garhwal division]]
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = [[Uttar Kashi District]], [[Tehri District]]
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =

| length = {{convert|205|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|257.78|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|3800|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| source1 = [[Gaumukh]] (''gou'', cow + ''mukh'', face), about {{convert|18|km|abbr=on|1}} from the town of [[Gangotri]]
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|30.925449|N|79.081480|E}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|3892|m|abbr=on}}
| source_confluence = [[Alaknanda River]]
| source_confluence_location =
| source_confluence_coordinates=
| source_confluence_elevation =
| mouth = [[Ganges River|Ganges]]
| mouth_location = [[Devprayag]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|30.146315|N|78.598251|E}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|475|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|6921|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra = <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080825234641/http://gov.ua.nic.in/brvda/court_order6.html Catchment Area Treatment:], Bhagirathi River Valley Development Authority, Uttaranchal</ref>
}}

The '''Bhāgīrathī''' (Pron:/ˌbʌgɪˈɹɑːθɪ/) is a turbulent [[Himalaya]]n river in the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]], and one of the two [[headstream]]s of the [[Ganges]], the major river of Northern India and the holy river of [[Hinduism]]. In the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] faith, mythology, and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the [[headstream|source stream]] of the Ganges as in ancient times, Bhagirathi may have had the stronger stream of the two. However, in recent times, the other headstream, [[Alaknanda River|Alaknanda]], is considered the source stream on account of its length and discharge. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at [[Devprayag]] in [[Garhwal division|Garhwal]] and are thereafter known as the Ganges.

==Etymology==
The word "Bhagirathi" ([[Sanskrit]], literally, "caused by [[Bhagiratha]]") refers to a [[mythology|mythological]] [[Sagar caste|Sagar]] Dynasty prince who, to gain the release of his 10,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint [[Kapila]], brought the goddess ''[[Ganga (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.<ref>Mankodi, Kirit (1973) "Gaṅgā Tripathagā"''Artibus Asiae'' 35(1/2): pp. 139-144, p. 140</ref> Bhagiratha was the king of [[Kosala]], a [[Kingdoms of Ancient India|kingdom in ancient India]]. He was a descendant of the great King Sagara of the [[Suryavansha|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. Lord Shiva brought Ganga river to Bindu Sarovar on request of Bhagiratha.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/76 76]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxohHGWivCd7VmpGVy13OVhTUFk|title=Gangaa/Ganga of Purana Index}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://omshivam.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/the-story-of-ganga-the-river-goddess/|title=The Story of Ganga : River Goddess}}</ref>

==Course==
The [[headwaters]] of the Bhagirathi are formed at [[Gaumukh]] (elevation {{convert|3892|m|ft}}), at the foot of the [[Gangotri glacier]] and Khatling glaciers in the [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] [[Himalaya]]. It is then joined by its [[tributaries]]; these are, in order from the source:
*Kedar Ganga at [[Gangotri]] (elevation {{convert|3049|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''[[Jahnavi River|Jadh Ganga]]'' at [[Bhaironghati]] (elevation {{convert|2650|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Kakora Gad'' and ''Jalandhari Gad'' near [[Harsil]] (elevation {{convert|2745|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Siyan Gad'' near [[Jhala]] (elevation {{convert|2575|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''Asi Ganga'' near [[Uttarkashi]] (elevation {{convert|1158|m|ft|abbr=on}}),
*''[[Bhilangna River]]'' near [[Tehri|Old Tehri]] (elevation {{convert|755|m|ft|abbr=on}}).

The ''Bhilangna'' itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier (elevation {{convert|3717|m|ft|abbr=on}}) approximately {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Gaumukh.

The river flows from its source for {{convert|205|km|mi|abbr=on}} before meeting the [[Alaknanda River]] at an elevation of {{convert|475|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the town of [[Devprayag]]. Downstream of this confluence, considered holy by [[Hindu]]s, the river is known as the [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganga]], or [[Ganges River]] by westerners. The controversial [[Tehri dam]] lies at the confluence of the Bhāgirathi and the Bhilangna, at {{coord|30|22|32|N|78|28|48|E}}, near Tehri. [[Chaukhamba|Chaukhamba I]] is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin.

<gallery class="center">
Image:Bhagirathi flowing into devprayag.jpg|The turbulent Bhāgīrathī as it enters Devprayag.
Image:Bhagirathi alaknanda ganges devprayag2008.jpg|The Bhagirathi (foreground) on its way to meet the sediment-laden Alaknanda, and to flow on as the [[Ganges]].
Image:Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Confluence.jpg|Another view of the confluence at Devprayag.
File:Tehri dam india.jpg|[[Tehri Dam]], the 5th tallest dam in the world
</gallery>

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

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|+ Hydroelectric Dams on the Bhāgirathi River<ref name="Dams, Rivers & People ">{{cite web|url=http://www.sandrp.in/rivers/Bhagirathi_is_DISAPPEARING.pdf|title=Map of the Bhagirathi River showing dams|date=August 2008|work=Dams, Rivers & People|publisher=South Asian Network on Dams Rivers & People(sandrp.in)|access-date=7 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523215515/http://www.sandrp.in/rivers/Bhagirathi_is_DISAPPEARING.pdf|archive-date=23 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<br> <small>Abbreviations: MW: electrical output capacity([[Megawatts]]), Ht: dam height(M) FRL: full reservoir level ([[Sea level|MSL]]), MWL:maximum water level(MSL), HRT: head race tunnel length(KM), TRT: tail race tunnel length(KM), TWL: tail water level([[mean sea level|MSL]]), RBL: river bed level at dam site(MSL) </small>

!#!!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 Hydro Power Project|Loharinag Pala Dam]]|| ||600 ||cancelled ||2,147 ||1,667 ||13.85 ||.51 ||1.665 || ||{{coord|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 Barrage|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|| || ||{{coord|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 || || || || || || ||
|-
|}

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book |first=W. |last=Wilson |year=1860 |title= A summer ramble in the Himalayas: with sporting adventures in the Vale of Cashmere |url=https://archive.org/details/summerrambleinhi00wilsrich |publisher=Hurst and Blackett |location=London |oclc=58410561}} available on microfilm
* {{cite book |last=Heske |first=Franz |year=1937 |title=Im heiligen Lande der Gangesquellen (In the Holy Lands of the Source of the Ganges) |publisher= J. Neumann |location=Neudamm, Germany | oclc= 35036471|language=de}}
* {{cite book |author=Sharma, Man Mohan |year=1997 |title=Through the Valley of Gods: Travels in the Central Himalayas |edition=2 |publisher=Vision Books |location= New Delhi | oclc=4547622}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bhagirathi River}}

{{Hydrography of Uttarakhand}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Rivers of West Bengal]]
[[Category:International rivers of Asia]]
[[Category:Sacred rivers]]
[[Category:Rigvedic rivers]]
[[Category:Ganges|Bhagirathi]]
[[Category:Ganges basin]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]

Bhagirathi River - Revision history

82.132.223.24: basic reworked formatting based on references

2001:558:6045:D8:3952:2AA7:5901:C657: Hydrology is not against the ancient belief.