{"id":13636,"date":"2026-06-17T15:27:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T09:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?post_type=academic_content&p=13636"},"modified":"2026-06-17T15:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T09:57:14","slug":"jhelum-river","status":"publish","type":"academic_content","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/jhelum-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Jhelum River System, Ancient Vitasta\u2019s Origin, Course and Historical Significance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jhelum River, or Vitasta in ancient Sanskrit texts, is an expansive river whose colour depends on its region within the Indus River System and that exudes profound geographical, cultural, and historical significance. It begins at the Verinag Spring, in the region of the foothills of the Pir Panjal Range (Jammu & Kashmir), and runs northward through the Kashmir Valley, flowing past Srinagar\u2014the valley’s capital\u2014and Wular Lake, then turns south as it “picks up” tributaries from surrounding mountains before entering Pakistan to join the Chenab River. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Jhelum, which is between 700 and 725 km long, has sustained settlements, agriculture and trade for thousands of years. This place is also known as the Hydaspes River of antiquity, where Alexander defeated King Porus in 326 BCE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jhelum River Origin<\/span><\/h2>\n

Jhelum River flows from Cheshma (Verinag) Spring located at the foothills of the Pir Panjal Range in south eastern corner of the Kashmir Valley, Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. [Source: Indus Basin Organisation] Located at an altitude of about 1,850 metres above sea level near the Banihal Pass, this perennial spring produces a small stream. <\/span><\/p>\n

The river Jhelum was also called Vitasta (Sanskrit) in ancient texts and as Vyeth in the Kashmiri language; it is one of the major western tributaries of the Indus River System. It emerges from Verinag, flows north-west into Srinagar and then passes through the Wular Lake, entering Pakistan below it to become the Chenab River.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jhelum River Tributaries<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tributary<\/b><\/td>\nBank<\/b><\/td>\nOrigin<\/b><\/td>\nKey Regions\/Features<\/b><\/td>\nConfluence with Jhelum<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lidder River<\/b><\/td>\nLeft Bank<\/span><\/td>\nKolahoi Glacier, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through the Pahalgam Valley; supports tourism, trout fishing, and irrigation.<\/span><\/td>\nJoins the Jhelum near Khanabal, Anantnag.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sind River (Sindh Nallah)<\/b><\/td>\nLeft Bank<\/span><\/td>\nMachoi Glacier near Zoji La Pass, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through the Sind Valley and feeds Wular Lake; important for hydropower and irrigation.<\/span><\/td>\nEnters the Jhelum through Wular Lake.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pohru River<\/b><\/td>\nLeft Bank<\/span><\/td>\nLolab Valley, Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nDrains the northwestern Kashmir Valley and supports agriculture.<\/span><\/td>\nJoins the Jhelum near Sopore.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vishav River<\/b><\/td>\nRight Bank<\/span><\/td>\nKausarnag Lake, Pir Panjal Range, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through Kulgam district; an important source of irrigation.<\/span><\/td>\nMerges with the Jhelum near Sangam, Anantnag.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rambiara River<\/b><\/td>\nRight Bank<\/span><\/td>\nPir Panjal Range, Shopian district, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nDrains the apple-growing regions of south Kashmir.<\/span><\/td>\nJoins the Jhelum near Wachi, Shopian.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Romushi River<\/b><\/td>\nRight Bank<\/span><\/td>\nPir Panjal Range, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through the Pampore region; contributes to local agriculture.<\/span><\/td>\nMeets the Jhelum near Awantipora.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kunhar River<\/b><\/td>\nLeft Bank (Pakistan)<\/span><\/td>\nLulusar Lake, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through the Kaghan Valley; supports tourism and hydropower.<\/span><\/td>\nJoins the Jhelum near Muzaffarabad.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kishanganga River (Neelum River)<\/b><\/td>\nRight Bank (Pakistan)<\/span><\/td>\nKrishansar Lake near Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nKnown as the Neelum River in Pakistan; flows through the Gurez Valley.<\/span><\/td>\nMeets the Jhelum at Domel, Muzaffarabad.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Poonch River<\/b><\/td>\nRight Bank (Pakistan)<\/span><\/td>\nPir Panjal Range, Jammu & Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\nFlows through the Poonch region and across the Line of Control.<\/span><\/td>\nJoins the Jhelum near Mangla Reservoir.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Major Hydropower Projects on the Jhelum River System<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hydropower Project<\/b><\/td>\nRiver<\/b><\/td>\nLocation<\/b><\/td>\nInstalled Capacity<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned\/Status<\/b><\/td>\nKey Features<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uri Hydroelectric Project (Stage I)<\/b><\/td>\nJhelum River<\/span><\/td>\nBaramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir, India<\/span><\/td>\n480 MW<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned (1997)<\/span><\/td>\nRun-of-the-river project operated by NHPC; one of the largest hydropower stations on the Jhelum.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Uri-II Hydroelectric Project<\/b><\/td>\nJhelum River<\/span><\/td>\nBaramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir, India<\/span><\/td>\n240 MW<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned (2014)<\/span><\/td>\nDownstream extension of the Uri project; developed to utilise the remaining hydropower potential of the Jhelum.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lower Jhelum Hydroelectric Project<\/b><\/td>\nJhelum River<\/span><\/td>\nBaramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir, India<\/span><\/td>\n105 MW<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned (1978)<\/span><\/td>\nOne of the earliest hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir; operated by JKSPDC.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project<\/b><\/td>\nKishanganga (Neelum) River*<\/span><\/td>\nBandipora district, Jammu & Kashmir, India<\/span><\/td>\n330 MW<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned (2018)<\/span><\/td>\nRun-of-the-river project on the Jhelum’s major tributary; diverts water to the Bonar Nallah for power generation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project<\/b><\/td>\nMarusudar River*<\/span><\/td>\nKishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, India<\/span><\/td>\n1,000 MW<\/b><\/td>\nUnder construction<\/span><\/td>\nLocated on a tributary of the Chenab River, part of the wider Indus basin hydropower network.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mangla Hydropower Station<\/b><\/td>\nJhelum River<\/span><\/td>\nMirpur, Pakistan-administered Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\n1,310 MW<\/b><\/td>\nCommissioned (1967); upgraded later<\/span><\/td>\nOne of Pakistan’s largest multipurpose projects for power generation, irrigation, and flood control.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Indus River System Guide 2026: Origin & Tributaries<\/a><\/p>\n

Key Features of Jhelum River<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • The Jhelum River is a big western tributary of the Indus River System.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The source of this river is located at the Verinag spring in the Anantnag district of Jammu & Kashmir.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ancient Sanskrit texts name the river as Vitasta, and Greek accounts refer to it as Hydaspes.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • It passes through Srinagar, Wular Lake, and Kashmir Valley.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Its total length is about 725 Km,<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Near Muzaffarabad, the Jhelum enters Pakistan and meets the Chenab River near Trimmu.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Other important tributaries are the Lidder, Sind, Vishav, Pohru, Poonch and Kishanganga (Neelum) rivers.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The river is used for irrigation, domestic and industrial water supply, inland fisheries, navigation and hydropower generation.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • It was famously the site of the Hydaspes Battle (326 BCE) between Alexander the Great and King Porus.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • This concept applies to water sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    FAQs on the Jhelum River System<\/span><\/h2>\n