Luni River: Map, Origin, Tributaries, and Key Facts

Located in the western part of India, the Luni River flows through the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It begins from the Aravalli Ranges near Ajmer in Rajasthan at an elevation of about 772 meters above sea level. From there, it moves westward and travels nearly 511 kilometers before disappearing near the Rann of Kutch.

Further, Luni River is the only salt water river in India. At first, its water stays fresh. However, as it reaches Balotra in Barmer district, it slowly turns saline due to the high mineral content in the soil. The name “Luni” comes from the Sanskrit word “Lavanavari” which means salt water, and the name fits its nature perfectly.

Length	511 km
Origin	Naga Hills, Ajmer
States	Rajasthan and Gujarat
Type of River	Saline
Basin Area	32,879 sq. km.
Major Dam	Jaswant Sagar Dam

Origin and Course of Luni River

Luni River originates from the Naga hills of the Aravalli Range near Ajmer in the State of Rajasthan. From there, it flows southwest through the dry and open lands of western India.

The river passes through several districts along its journey:

• Ajmer
• Nagaur
• Pali
• Jodhpur
• Barmer
• Jalore

After crossing these regions, the Luni enters the State of Gujarat. Its water, which is fresh in the upper course, becomes saline as it moves ahead. The river finally ends near Barine village in Gujarat, close to the Rann of Kutch, where it sinks into the sand instead of meeting the sea.

Map of Luni River

Tributaries

• Jawai River
• Sukri River
• Guhiya River
• Bandi (Hemawas) River
• Jojari River

Among these, Jojari is the only tributary that joins from the right side of the Luni. It is also the only one that does not start from the Aravalli Range, which makes it a bit different from the rest.

Drainage Basin

Luni River basin spreads across a large part of western Rajasthan and a small portion of Gujarat, covering nearly 32,879 square kilometers. It lies mostly in dry and semi-dry regions but still supports life in many areas.

The basin is naturally enclosed by:

• East: Aravalli Range and Gujarat plains
• North: Rajasthan desert sands
• South and West: Arabian Sea

Jaswant Sagar Dam

Jaswant Sagar Dam is one of the most important structures built on the Luni River. It was constructed in 1892 near Pichiyak village in the Jodhpur district by Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur.

Some other dams built on luni river:

• Jawai
• Hemawas
• Sardar Samand