Tapi River: Map, Origin, Course, Tributaries & Facts

The Tapi River, also called the Tapti River, is one of the major west-flowing rivers of peninsular India. It originates near Multai in the Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh and flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea near Surat.

The river is about 724 km long and is the second-longest west-flowing river in peninsular India after the Narmada River. Moreover, it is one of the three significant rivers, along with Narmada, Mahi, and Tapti, that flow from east to west in peninsular India.

In this article, you’ll find the Tapi River map, origin, starting and ending point, course, tributaries, drainage basin, dams, important cities, and key facts for UPSC and other competitive exams.

Length	724 km
Origin	Multai, Betul district, Madhya Pradesh
Source Range	Satpura Range
Starting Point	Near Multai town
Ending Point	Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat), near Surat
Flows Through States	Madhya Pradesh → Maharashtra → Gujarat
River Type	West-flowing perennial river
Drainage Basin	65,145 km²

Map of Tapi River

The Tapi River map shows the complete journey of the river from its source near Multai in Madhya Pradesh to its mouth in the Arabian Sea near Surat in Gujarat. It also highlights the three states through which the river flows, important cities along its course, and major tributaries joining the Tapi River.

Geographical Features of Tapi River

Origin and Course

The Tapi River originates from the Multai plateau in the Satpura Range, located in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It rises at an elevation of about 752 meters above sea level.

In Madhya Pradesh, the river flows through the Satpura Range, where it’s joined by tributaries like the Bhawar, Bichhan, and Sur. Then, it enters Maharashtra, flowing through:

• Amravati
• Akola
• Buldhana
• Washim
• Jalgaon
• Dhule
• Nandurbar
• Malegaon
• Nashik

The Tapi River then enters Gujarat, flowing through:

• Surat
• Navsari

Here, it’s joined by the Mindhola and Kim rivers. Finally, the river empties into the Arabian Sea through a wide estuary near Surat in Gujarat.

Drainage Basin

The Tapi River drainage basin is a significant geographical feature in India, covering an area of approximately 65,145 square kilometers, which is nearly two percent of the total area of India. Almost 80% of the basin lies in Maharashtra, with the remaining areas spread across Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

• Maharashtra (51,504 km²)
• Madhya Pradesh (9,804 km²)
• Gujarat (3,837 km²)

The basin is located on the Deccan plateau and is limited by:

• North: Satpura range and Vindhyas
• East: Mahadev hills and Maikala range
• South: Ajanta Range and Satmala hills, and Satpuras
• West: Arabian Sea

To learn more about the major mountain ranges of India, visit our Mountain Ranges of India Section.

Tributaries of the Tapti River

The Tapti River is fed by several major tributaries on both its banks. Here’s a simple overview of these tributaries:

Right Bank Tributaries

On the right bank, the tributaries come from the Satpura Ranges. They include:

1. Vaki
2. Aner
3. Arunawati
4. Gomai

Left Bank Tributaries

In contrast, the left bank has more tributaries. These tributaries originate from different regions like Gawilgarh Hills, Ajanta Hills, and some other places of western ghats:

1. Nesu
2. Amravati
3. Buray
4. Panjhara
5. Bori
6. Girna
7. Waghur
8. Purna
9. Mona
10. Sipna

Important projects in Tapi Basin

• Ukai Dam in Gujarat
• Girna Dam in Maharashtra
• Kakrapar Dam in Gujarat
• Hatnur Dam in Maharashtra
• Gosikhurd Irrigation Project in Maharashtra
• Sarangkheda Project in Maharashtra
• Lower Tapi Irrigation Project in Gujarat
• Bhusawal Thermal Power Station near Maharashtra’s Tapi River

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