Godavari River

The Godavari River originates near Tiambak in Nasik District of Maharashtra in India and runs through the states Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. This river is supposed to be the second largest river in India, next to River Ganga and is also known as Dakshin Ganga (the Ganges of South). It travels through a distance of around 1500 kms and ultimately falls in to the Bay of Bengal.

Facts

The second largest river of India - Godavari takes its birth at Triambak in Nasik District of Maharashtra and flows through several states in India. Though it originates at a distance of 80 kms away from Arabian Sea, it traverses over 1500 kms across and joins the Bay of Bengal. The river is one of the famous rivers with more tributaries and some of its important tributaries include Indravati, Manjira, Bindusara and Sarbari though many more could be listed.

The river Godavari enters Andhra Pradesh at Basar in Adilabad District and passes through a small village named Dharmapuri, which is also a pilgrimage place containing many old Hindu temples and thus river Godavari is considered as a spiritual place and it is believed that taking bath here purifies him or herself and Basara which is on the banks of the River Godavari is considered to be the place of Goddess Saraswati and is considered sacred.

More Description

The river Godavari flowing across the country is considered to be more sacred in several ways. In Andhra Pradesh Rajahmundry which happens to be the second largest city where river Godavari flows (the first largest city happens to be Nashik where this sacred river flows) the river is having a long width of 5 kms and is running till the other end of Kovvur. Also, in 1964-69 the Sri Ram Sagar Project came up in this river which takes care of the irrigation requirements of districts like Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal. The dam situated above Rajamundry caters to the irrigation requirements and the river below this city, breaks into two divisions which facilitate wide irrigation prospects under canal system and links to Krishna River towards Southwest region.

Several other important works have been done in this great river which can be summarized as under:

1. A barrage built on Dowleswaram in 1852, connecting Dowleswaram in East Godavari District and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari District.
2. A notable dam built at Trimbakeshwar at Gangapur thus providing a town on a river which caters to the drinking water needs of residents of Nashik and to thermal power station at Eklahare also providing power to the city.
3. Sriram Sagar project on border of Adilabad and Nizamabad District is another notable one which provides irrigation needs of 4 districts of northern Telangana regional and also provides power.
4. Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is another largest earthen dam to get over the drought in Marathwada region which provides industrial development of Aurangabad.
5. Three railway bridges connect the East Godavari and West Godavari Districts.
6. Also there are stories of Sage Gautama living on Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar and worshiping Lord Shiva who brought Ganga River and so the river is also called as Gautami.
7. Godavari River also from Eco friendly angle contributes for second mangroves formation in India.

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