Bhagirathi River


The Bhāgīrathī is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and considered holy in Hinduism. In Hindu faith and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the source stream of the Ganges. However, in hydrology, the other headstream, Alaknanda, is considered the source stream on account of its great length and discharge.
The Ganga is the most important river of India both from the point of view of its basin and cultural significance. It rises in the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Here, it is known as the Bhagirathi.

Etymology

The word "Bhagirathi" refers to a mythological Sagar Dynasty prince who, to gain the release of his 10,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint Kapila, brought the goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges, from the heavens to the earth. Hence, Ganges considered as the daughter of Bhagiratha and Ganges also called Baghirathi. Bhagiratha was the king of Kosala, a kingdom in ancient India. He was a descendant of the great King Sagara of the Suryavanshi, or Surya Dynasty. He was one of the forefathers of Lord Rama, of the Ramayana, the epic in which Bhagiratha's tale is primarily recounted. The story of Bhagiratha explained in Balakhanda of Ramayana.Shiva brought Ganga river to Bindu Sarovar on request of Bhagiratha.

Course

The headwaters of the Bhagirathi are formed at Gaumukh, at the foot of the Gangotri glacier and Khatling glaciers in the Garhwal Himalaya. It is then joined by its tributaries; these are, in order from the source:
The Bhilangna itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier approximately south of Gaumukh.
The river flows from its source for before meeting the Alaknanda River at an elevation of in the town of Devprayag. Downstream of this confluence, considered holy by Hindus, the river is known as the Ganga, or Ganges River by westerners. The controversial Tehri dam lies at the confluence of the Bhāgirathi and the Bhilangna, at, near Tehri. Chaukhamba I is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin.

Dams

There are 18 dams along the Bhāgirathi River, either in operation, under construction or planned. These are, in order from the source:
#NameHtMWStatusFRLMWLHRTTRTTWLRBLCoordinates
1Karmoli Dam140planned8.6
2Gangotri Dam55planned5.2
3Jadhganga Dam50planned1.1
4Bhaironghati I Dam380planned
5Bhaironghati II Dam65planned
6Harsil Dam210planned5.06
7Loharinag Pala Dam600cancelled2,1471,66713.85.511.665
8Pala Maneri I Dam78480cancelled1,6651,66712.5631.378
9Maneri Dam3890operation8.631
10Joshiyara Dam304operation16.0
11Bhilangana II Dam11planned
12Bhilangana I Dam22.5planned2.0
13Tehri Dam260.52,400operation8308351.634.8625
14Koteshwar Dam97.5400operation612.50615
15Kotli Bel 1A Dam82.5195construction
16Kotli Bel 1B Dam90320cancelled
17Kotli Bel II Dam82530cancelled