In India, rivers play a critical function. In addition to providing water and healthy soil, they serve as the primary source of irrigation. The Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers of India have been grouped into two groups based on where they originate.
These rivers, which all originate in India, each have their own unique characteristics. As you can see in the table below, the Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers have many similarities.
Himalayan Rivers Vs. Peninsular Rivers
The rivers of the Himalayas and the rivers of the peninsula come from separate places. As a result of where it comes from, the former flows year-round, whereas the latter is seasonal.
The Himalayan rivers originate in the northern Himalayas. They hail from India’s northernmost area. Because of melting glaciers, they transport water all year round. As a result, they are rivers that never dry up.
Rivers in the peninsular area get their name from the peninsular plateau region where they originate. In the vast majority of cases, they go eastward from west to east. There is evidence to suggest that they are indigenous to India’s plateau area. They are only dry for a short period of time each year, and they are only dry for that period of time.
Himalayan Rivers
These rivers are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, which form the Himalayan river system. Every year, the Himalayan Rivers overflow because of the rapid melting of snow. In addition, they go through areas with significant precipitation. Due to the year-round melting of glaciers, these rivers are perennial and never dry.
It is the country’s longest river, Brahmaputra. The vast majority of the Brahmaputra River flows outside of Bangladesh.
Their drainage system is formed by the movement of the earth.
There are large basins and catchment areas associated with these rivers, and they carry a great deal of water and sediment. The silt carried down from the mountains by the rivers creates fertile deltas. V-shaped valleys can be found in the area.
Long and deep rivers flow through the area. They’re seen as the rivers of the future. The peninsular rivers have a shorter and shallower course than their counterparts on the mainland.
Peninsular Rivers
Among the peninsula’s major rivers are the Godavari (also known as Kaveri), the Mahanadi (also known as Mahanadi), and the Krishna (also known as Krishna). India’s longest peninsular river, the Godavari is a mighty force. Due to the fact that these rivers are rain-fed and transport a considerable amount of water, they are only seasonal. In the dry season, they shrink and expand during the monsoon. So, they’re also called “seasonal rivers” for a reason.
Because they flow across a plateau, they tend to go in a straight line and don’t create meanders. Their basins and catchment regions are much smaller in comparison. These rivers, which drain into the Bay of Bengal, are thought to be hundreds of years old. Due to the area in which they flow, the deltas lack alluvial deposits, making them less fertile. In a U-shape, it creates shallow valleys.
Difference Between Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers
- It is important to note that these two rivers originate from separate places. The Himalayan Mountains are the source of the Himalayan Rivers in the north. The plateau region, on the other hand, is where the Peninsular Rivers get their water. For the most part, the Western Ghats are the source of these rivers.
- The Himalayan Rivers transport alluvial material and create notable deltas. The deltas have a lot of potential for agriculture. Due to their slant of flow, the Peninsular Rivers do not transport silt or usable soil. Consequently, it is far less fruitful than other varieties. Estuaries are the most common form.
- Rivers in the Himalayas are nourished by snowfall. They get their water supply from the melting Himalayan glaciers. As a result, rivers are perennially wet and have water year-round. Natural monsoon rain also falls in the area. Peninsular Rivers, on the other hand, are completely reliant on rainfall. The monsoon rains are critical to their existence since they are rain-fed rivers. Seasonal rivers are those that are dry for a portion of the year.
- The Himalayan Rivers are notable for forming deep V-shaped valleys in the Himalayas. Peninsular River valleys are typically narrow and U-shaped.
- Large basins and catchment areas can be found in the Himalayan Rivers. The basins of the Peninsular Rivers are smaller than those of the Himalayan Rivers.
- The Ganga, the Brahmaputra, and the Indus are the three most important rivers that flow beneath the Himalayas.
- In the Peninsular Rivers, the five most important rivers are the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Kaveri, the Krishna, and the Tape.
Conclusion
The rivers of the Himalayas and the peninsula run through Indian territory. They’re one-of-a-kind in their own way. The characteristics of the rivers are used to further divide them into subgroups.
They are a significant source of hydroelectricity for the local population. The land through which they flow is a major factor in determining the fertility of these rivers. The monsoons play a very important part in rivers. They flow through a large part of India.