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The rivers of Rajasthan, except for the Chambal, are ephemeral and
flow only during the rainy season. The river catchment areas, which are largely influenced
by local topography and amount of precipitation, very largely showing an indelible impact
upon the drainage system. In the absence of any formidable mountain barrier in the state
and the low quantum of annual rainfall, the river catchment area are mostly small. The
flat, rugged and undulating rolling land of the low hills and plateaus, which are the
origins of the rivers and streams, are highly dissected and devoid of deep channels to add
stream density and so the catchments are of low stream density. The Aravalli range which run across the state from the south-west to the north-east direction largely influence the drainage system of the state. While a major part of western Rajasthan has an inland drainage system, the southern, the south-eastern and the eastern part have a well developed drainage system. The river system of the state can be conveniently put into major groups – (I) draining its run off ultimately to the Bay of Bangal, and (II) flowing to reach the Arabian Sea. |
 While all the rivers
flowing in the eastern side of the Aravalli ranges fall in the first group, river flowing
in the southern and the western part of the state belong to the second group.The river Chambal, the only perennial river of the state, which forms the boundary with Madhya Pradesh, has its origin south of Mhow, near Manpura from the northern parts of the Vindhyans. It enters Rajasthan near Chaurasingarh Fort flows through Kota district. The river Banas originating from the Khamnor hills of the Aavalli ranges (about 5 km from Kumbhalgarh) is one of the major rivers of state which, in its entire course, flows through Rajasthan. The river Banganga which originates from the low hills of Bairath (Jaipur district), flows towards the east, entering Sawai Madhopur district and finally in Bharatpur district where its water spreads over a large area. The Gambhiri which originates from Karauli hills in Sawai Madhopur district, flows through this district to a greater length and innundates several areas of Bharatpur district before joining the river Jamuna. Luni is the only major stream on the west of the Aravalli ranges which meets the sea in the Rann of Kutch. It originates in Nag Pahar in Ajmer and flows south-west through Jodhpur, Barmer and Jalor over a distance of about 320 kms. The river Mahi, which originates from the Mhow ranges of Madhya Pradesh, and after flowing for some distance towards north, enters Rajasthan state near Khandu Village of Banswara district. Its catchment area in Rajasthan largely spreads over the districts of Udaipur, Banswara, Chittaurgarh and Dungarpur, covering a total geographical area about 16,030 sq. kms. Important tributaries of this river are Som, Jakham, Anas, Chap and Moren. The Sabarmati, originating from the low hill of Gogunda (Udaipur district) and called Wakal in its initial course, covers a catchment area of 4,300 sq.km. The river Kantli originates from the Kandela hills of Sikar district. It flows during the rainy season only. |