Rangpo River

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Rangpo River
Location
CountryIndia
StateSikkim
TownsRongli, Rorathang and Rangpo
Physical characteristics
SourceMenmecho Lake
 • locationMenmecho Lake, above Dzuluk, East Sikkim, India
MouthTeesta River
 • location
Indrakil Prayag, Rangpo Pakyong District, Sikkim, India
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftResi Khola, Rongli Khola, Pool Khola, Khaarey Khola etc.
 • rightRichu Khola, Donok Khola, Ralong Khola, Pachey Khola, Kumrek Khola etc.

River Rangpo is a river in the Indian state of Sikkim. A tributary of the Teesta River,[1] it originates from Menmecho Lake near Dzuluk and flows through Rongli and Pakyong subdivision villages in Pakyong District towards Rorathang and Rangpo. The river demarcates the border between Pakyong District of Sikkim and Kalimpong district of West Bengal from Rorathang to Rangpo. At the town of Rangpo the river joins river Teesta. River Rangpo is the third largest river of Sikkim after Teesta and Rangeet.

The river runs through little bit of East District most of Pakyong District of Sikkim and a few parts of the Kalimpong District of West Bengal. This tributary flows mainly from east to west with a variable channel pattern including braided, meandering, straight, gorge and blocked lake. Landslides are very common along the river bank as cliff-like bedrocks are significantly exposed along the river valley wall. [2]

During Monsoon season especially from June to September, the volume of water in the river and its tributaries rises heavily due to continuous rainfall in Sikkim.

The important towns along the route of this river are Rangpo, Rorathang, Rongli etc in Pakyong District of Sikkim.


Its confluence with Teesta River is immediately downstream of Rangpo town, the confluence point is known as Indrakil Prayag.

At the town of Rangpo, there is a bridge across River Rangpo, the bridge is called Rangpo IBM Bridge and it is the longest bridge of Sikkim.

Hydropower Project[edit]

A 110 MW Gati Hydropower Project lies on river Rangpo, The project site is between the town of Rorathang and Rongli of Pakyong District in Sikkim.[3][4][5]

References[edit]

  1. Karan, Pradyumna P. (June 1989). "Environment and Development in Sikkim Himalaya: A Review". Human Ecology. Springer. 17 (2): 261. doi:10.1007/bf00889715. JSTOR 4602924. S2CID 154076001.
  2. "Rangpo River, India Tourist Information".
  3. "Gati Infra | Chuzachen Hydro Electric Power Project".
  4. http://www.gatiinfra.com/images/inner/pdf/gati-infra-builds-hydro-electric-power-project-in-sikkim.pdf
  5. "Gati Infra builds 110 MW hydro power project in Sikkim - Economic Times". articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2014.

Coordinates: 27°11′31″N 88°36′10″E / 27.1920°N 88.6028°E / 27.1920; 88.6028

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