10 Major Rivers of Uttar Pradesh: Map & Key Facts
Uttar Pradesh is drained by some of the most important rivers of India, including the Ganga, Yamuna, and their major tributaries like Gomti, Ghaghara, Rapti, Betwa, and Ken. These rivers form two major river systems and cover nearly the entire state from west to east.
This article provides a complete overview of the major rivers of Uttar Pradesh, including their origin, course, and confluence, along with the Ganga and Yamuna river systems. It also includes rivers originating in the state, key dams and projects, and a river map. Moreover, we’ve linked a detailed article on each river like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Gomti within their respective sections.
Table of Contents
River Systems in Uttar Pradesh
The rivers of Uttar Pradesh are mainly part of two large drainage systems covers nearly entire state:
- Ganga River System
- Yamuna River System
Most of the major rivers in Uttar Pradesh originate from the himalayan mountain ranges, either directly or through their tributaries that flow from the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand and Nepal. These rivers are snow-fed and perennial, which means they flow throughout the year.
1. Ganga River System
Ganga River System is the largest and most significant river system in Uttar Pradesh as well as India. This system covers most of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Major cities along the Ganga and its tributaries: Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ayodhya, and Gonda.
Major tributaries in the state include:
- Yamuna
- Ghaghara (Sarayu)
- Gomti
- Rapti
- Varuna
- Tons
- Ramganga
2. Yamuna River System
Yamuna River System primarily covers western and southern parts of Uttar Pradesh. Major cities along this system: Agra, Mathura, Etawah, Jhansi, and Hamirpur. Further, it meets the Ganga at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
Key tributaries within the state:
- Chambal
- Sindh
- Betwa
- Ken
- Son
- Hindon
10 Major Rivers of Uttar Pradesh
Below is a list of the major rivers flowing through Uttar Pradesh, including their origin, path within the state, and where they meet other rivers. Each river mentioned here links to its dedicated article for detailed information and maps.
1. Ganga River
- Origin: Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
- Enters UP: Bijnor district
- Course: Flows southeast through cities like Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi
- Confluence: Joins Yamuna at Prayagraj, continues into Bihar
🔗 Read detailed article on Ganga River System with Map
2. Yamuna River
- Origin: Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand
- Enters UP: Saharanpur district
- Course: Passes through Mathura, Agra, and merges with Ganga at Prayagraj
🔗 Detailed information on Yamuna River
3. Gomti River
- Origin: Pilibhit district, UP
- Course: Flows through Sitapur, Lucknow, Jaunpur
- Confluence: Joins Ganga near Ghazipur
🔗 Gomti River – Full details here with Map
4. Ghaghara River
- Origin: Tibet (as Karnali)
- Enters UP: Bahraich district
- Course: Flows through Gonda, Ayodhya, Ballia
- Confluence: Meets Ganga near Chhapra (Bihar)
🔗 Ghaghara River – Origin to confluence
5. Rapti River
- Origin: Nepal (Lower Himalayas)
- Enters UP: Siddharthnagar district
- Course: Passes through Basti, Gorakhpur
- Confluence: Joins Ghaghara near Ballia
6. Sharda (Kali) River
- Origin: Kalapani, Uttarakhand
- Forms border: Between Nepal and UP in several parts
- Confluence: Joins Ghaghara in Bahraich district
7. Chambal River
- Origin: Madhya Pradesh
- Enters UP: Near Etawah
- Confluence: Merges with Yamuna
🔗 Chambal River – Dams, route, map
8. Betwa River
- Origin: Madhya Pradesh
- UP Regions: Jhansi, Hamirpur
- Confluence: Joins Yamuna near Hamirpur
🔗 Betwa River Complete overview along Map
9. Ken River
- Origin: Madhya Pradesh
- UP Regions: Banda district
- Confluence: Meets Yamuna
10. Hindon River
- Origin: Saharanpur district, UP
- Course: Passes through Ghaziabad, Noida
- Confluence: Meets Yamuna near Greater Noida
🔗 Hindon River – Map and facts
Uttar Pradesh – River Map
Rivers Originating in Uttar Pradesh
While many major rivers in Uttar Pradesh originate in the Himalayas or other states, several important rivers have their source within the state itself. Here are key rivers that originate within Uttar Pradesh:
| River Name | Origin Location (Within UP) | Confluence |
|---|---|---|
| Gomti | Gomat Taal, Pilibhit district | Ganga near Saidpur |
| Hindon | Upper Shivalik, Saharanpur | Yamuna near Noida |
| Sengar | Aligarh district | Yamuna River |
| Pandu | Farrukhabad-Kannauj border | Ganga near Fatehpur |
| Tamsa | Eastern UP (UP side of Kaimur Hills) | Ganga River |
| Varuna | Phulpur region, Prayagraj | Ganga at Varanasi |
| Sai | Hardoi district | Gomti River |
| Kalyani | Rae Bareli district | Sai River |
Major Dams and River Projects in Uttar Pradesh
- Matatila Dam – on Betwa River in Lalitpur
- Rihand Dam – on Rihand River in Sonbhadra
- Obra Project – also on Rihand
- Lower Ganga Canal – one of the oldest irrigation systems in western UP.
- Upper Yamuna Barrage – regulates Yamuna water (shared project).
Ongoing and Notable Projects:
- Ken-Betwa Link Project – interlinking to benefit Bundelkhand.
- Namami Gange – multiple projects in UP for Ganga river rejuvenation.
🔗Explore more: For rivers in other Indian states, check out our State-wise Rivers of India page.
