Godavari River is the largest river in the peninsular region. It is the largest river in the state of Telangana. The Godavari River originates in the Triambakkam area of Nashik in Maharashtra. It enters Telangana at Kandakurti in the Ranger Mandal of Nizamabad district in the state of Telangana. The Godavari River has a total length of 1465 km, of which 600 km is in Telangana. The Godavari River flows through the districts of Nizamabad, Nirmal, Jagtial, Mancherial, Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpalli, Mulugu, Bhadradri, and Kothagudem before joining the Bay of Bengal at Antarvedi in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The Godavari River is also known as ‘Dakshina Ganga’, ‘Vriddha Ganga’, ‘Indian Rain’, ‘Telivahi’, and ‘Kavula Nadi’. Maharashtra has 48.66 percent of the Godavari River basin, Telangana 19.87 percent, and Andhra Pradesh 3.53 percent. The catchment area of this river is 3,12,812 sq. km. The Pushkarams of the Godavari River are held once every 12 years.
Tributaries of the Godavari River :
- Pranahita
- Manjira
- Kinnerasani
- Indravati
- Sabari
- Seeleru
- Wardha
- Penganga
- Veinganga
- Maneru
- Haridra
- Kadem
- Peddavagu
In Telangana state, the rivers Pravara, Moola, Kinnerasani, Maneru, Haridra, and Manjeera are on the right. On the left, the rivers Sileru, Sabari, Indravati, Peddavagu, Pranahita, Venganga, Wardha, Penganga, and Kadem are on the left.
Manjeera River :
The Manjira River originates in the Balaghat hills of Beed district in Maharashtra and flows for a total of 644 km through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. It enters Sangareddy district at Narayankhed in Telangana and flows through Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy and Nizamabad districts. It joins the Godavari at Kandakurti in Nizamabad district. The Nizamsagar and Singur projects have been built on this river. This river is called ‘Manjra’ in Maharashtra.
Haridra River :
It originates at Sangareddy and joins the Godavari at Kandakurti in Nizamabad district. Since the Godavari, Manjira and Haridra rivers meet at Kandakurti, this area is called ‘Triveni Sangam’.
Maneru :
It originates in the Sircilla hills of Rajannasiricilla district and flows for 122 km through Rajannasiricilla, Karimnagar, Peddapalli and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts before joining the Godavari at Annaram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. Sri Rajarajeshwara Madhyamaneru and Upper Maneru dams have been constructed on this river.
Kinnerasani :
It originates in the Medaram and Tadvai hills of Mulugu district and travels for 90 km through Mulugu, Bhadradri and Kothagudem districts before joining the Godavari at Burgampadu in Andhra Pradesh. The Kinnerasani project has been constructed on this river.
Wardha River:
It originates in the Satpura Mountains of Madhya Pradesh and flows through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, travelling a total of 528 km and joins the Venganga at Komuram Bhim Asifabad.
Kadem River :
This river originates at Batai in Adilabad district, flows through Adilabad and Nirmal districts and joins the Godavari river at Pasupula in Nirmal district. There are famous waterfalls on this river like Kuntala, Pochera and Gayatri. There is a Kawal Tiger Reserve in the catchment area of this river.
Penganga :
This river originates at Revulghat in the Ajanta Mountains of Maharashtra and travels a total of 676 km and joins the Wardha River.
Peddavagu :
It flows for a total of 100 km and joins the Godavari at Murliguda in Bijjar. The Komurambheem project is located on this River.
Venganga :
It originates in the Satpura hills of Madhya Pradesh and flows through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to join Telangana. It flows for a total of 570 km and joins the Wardha River.
Pranahita River :
The confluence of the Penganga, Venganga, and Wardha rivers forms this river. It flows for 113 km through the districts of Komurambheem, Asifabad, Mancherial, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Adilabad before joining the Godavari at Kaleshwaram. It is the largest tributary of the Godavari River.
Indravati :
It originates in Kalahandi district of Odisha and flows for 535 km through Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra to join the Godavari River in Telangana state. The Chitrakoot waterfall is located on this River.
Sabari River :
It originates in the Sinkara hills in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha and flows through Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh and joins the Godavari at Kunavaram. It is called ‘Kolab’ in Odisha.
Conservation centers in the Godavari river basin
- Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary – Muggar crocodiles, turtles, birds
- Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary – Deer, birds
- Kaval Tiger Sanctuary – Tigers, nilgai
- Shivaram Crocodile Sanctuary – Muggar crocodiles
- Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary – Black deer
- Eturu Nagaram Wildlife Sanctuary – Wild buffaloes
- Pakala Wildlife Sanctuary – Wild buffaloes
- Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary – Wild buffaloes and deer
Projects built on the Godavari River
- Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project
- Sriramsagar Project
- Alisagar Lift Irrigation Project Arugula
- Rajaram Project
- Kadem Narayana Reddy Project
- Sripada Sagar / Yellampally Project
- Pranahita / Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Sujala Sravanti Project Medigadda Project
- Devadula / J. Chokka Rao Project
- Kantanapalli / P.V. Narasimha Rao Sujala Sravanti Project
- Dummugudem / Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project
- Singur / M. Bagareddy Project
- Nizamsagar
- Upper Maneru Project
- Sri Rajarajeshwara Madhya Maneru Project
