{"id":13681,"date":"2026-06-18T16:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?post_type=academic_content&#038;p=13681"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:05:00","slug":"ravi-river","status":"publish","type":"academic_content","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/ravi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravi River: Origin, Course, Length, Tributaries and Major Dams"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ravi River is one of the 5 rivers of the Punjab region and an important tributary in the Indus River system. It starts in the Himachal Pradesh Himalayas near Bara Bhangal in Chamba district, eventually flowing north-west through India and into Pakistan&#8217;s Punjab Province before joining the Chenab River. The Ravi has a total length of 725 km and is considered essential for irrigation, hydropower generation, and water management in the region. The river&#8217;s waters fall under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which gave India control of the Ravi. The major dams and barrages on the river provide for agriculture and energy needs for almost all of northern India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River System Origin<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ravi River is one of the 6 major rivers of the Indus River system as well as amongst the five rivers that lend their name to the Punjab region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As per the Central Water Commission (CWC), the river originates from the Himalayas in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Its source region is located in the proximity of the Bara Bhangal region, on the southern slope of the Middle Himalayas at an elevation of approx. 4300m (14000 ft) MSL.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Flowing predominantly from melting snow and at certain times of the year, monsoon rainfall, the Ravi takes a north-western course through the Chamba Valley.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It flows eastwards for roughly 725 km until it empties into the Chenab River in Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The waters of the Ravi are assigned mainly to India under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major Tributaries of the Ravi River System<\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Tributary<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Bank of Confluence<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Origin<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>States\/Regions Covered<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Key Features<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Budhil River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Left Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kugti Pass region, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the major Himalayan tributaries; joins the Ravi near Chamba.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Baira River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Left Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pir Panjal Range, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Important mountain tributary; supports hydropower generation in the Chamba region.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Siul River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Left Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dhauladhar Range, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drains the Siul Valley and contributes significantly to the upper Ravi basin.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Saho Stream<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dhauladhar Range, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Joins the Ravi near Saho town in Chamba district.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tantgari Stream<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headwater Tributary<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bara Bhangal region, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the two headstreams that form the Ravi River.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bhadal Stream<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headwater Tributary<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bara Bhangal region, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Converges with the Tantgari Stream near Bara Bhangal to form the Ravi River.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ujh River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Right Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kailash Mountains, Jammu region<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Major tributary in the lower Ravi basin; supports irrigation projects.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basantar River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Left Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shivalik Hills<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seasonal tributary known for its importance in the Ravi plains.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bein River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Left Bank<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Punjab Plains<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Punjab<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seasonal stream contributing to the lower reaches of the Ravi basin.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Important Dams and Hydropower Projects on the Ravi River<\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Project\/Dam<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>River\/Tributary<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Location<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Type<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Installed Capacity<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Key Features<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pathankot, Punjab\u2013Kathua, Jammu &amp; Kashmir<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Multipurpose dam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>600 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Largest dam on the Ravi River; supports irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamera-I Hydroelectric Project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hydropower project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>540 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First stage of the Chamera Hydroelectric Complex operated by NHPC.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamera-II Hydroelectric Project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hydropower project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>300 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Underground power station designed for peak-load generation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamera-III Hydroelectric Project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hydropower project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>231 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Run-of-the-river project contributing to regional power supply.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shahpurkandi Dam Project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pathankot, Punjab<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Multipurpose dam<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>206 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Provides irrigation benefits to Punjab and Jammu &amp; Kashmir along with power generation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Baira Siul Hydroelectric Project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Baira and Siul Rivers<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hydropower project<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>198 MW<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Developed on two major tributaries of the Ravi; one of the earliest hydropower projects in the basin.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Also Read<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;text-align: center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/yamuna-river-system-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yamuna River System<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/son-river-origin-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Son River<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/ganga-river-system-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ganga River System<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/jhelum-river\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jhelum River System<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/indus-river\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indus River System<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/godavari-river-system-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Godavari River System<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/brahmaputra-river-system-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brahmaputra River System<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px;border: 1px solid #000\"><a style=\"color: #393fd7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/indian-river-systems-upsc-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian River Systems<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ravi River Sanskrit Name and Vedic Name<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, the River is one of five rivers in the Indian Punjab region and is part of the Indus River System.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The River was also called Parushni (Parusni) in the Vedic literature, especially the Rigveda.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The river is connected with the important Battle of Ten Kings (Dasarajna) reference in the Rigveda.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Subsequently, in later Sanskrit texts, the Ravi River became known as Iravati (Airavati).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hydraotes is an ancient Greek name for the river.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The meanings behind the variant names signify a historic, cultural and geographical significance of the Ravi River in the northwestern Indian subcontinent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Significance of the Ravi River<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The River is among the six &#8220;major&#8221; rivers of the Indus River System and holds enormous economic and ecological significance for northwestern India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The river supplies irrigation water for agricultural fields in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu &amp; Kashmir where wheat, rice and other crops are grown.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are Major Projects, namely Ranjit Sagar Dam, Shahpurkandi Dam and Chamera Hydroelectric Projects, for irrigation, electricity generation, flood Control, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The River in the Himalayan region has much hydropower potential for regional energy security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The river supports its basin in biodiversity, aquifer recharge, and riparian ecosystems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The River has been vital to the cultural and economic development of Punjab historically, often referred to in ancient Vedic literature by its erstwhile name Parushni.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"cfaq-wrapper\" data-multiple=\"0\"><div class=\"cfaq-item cfaq-open\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"true\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">1. Where does the Ravi River originate?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\"><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">The Ravi River originates near the Bara Bhangal region in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, at an elevation of about 4,300 metres in the Himalayas.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">2. What is the total length of the Ravi River?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">The Ravi River flows for approximately 725 km, covering around 320 km in India before entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab River.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">3. Which states does the Ravi River flow through in India?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">The Ravi River flows through Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">4. What are the major tributaries of the Ravi River?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">The major tributaries of the Ravi River include the Budhil, Baira, Siul, Saho, Ujh, and Basantar rivers.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">5. What is the ancient name of the Ravi River?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">In Vedic literature, the Ravi River was known as Parushni, while in later Sanskrit texts, it was called Iravati.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ravi River is one of the 5 rivers of the Punjab region and an important tributary in the Indus River system. It starts in the Himachal Pradesh Himalayas near Bara Bhangal in Chamba district, eventually flowing north-west through India and into Pakistan&#8217;s Punjab Province before joining the Chenab River. The Ravi has a total [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13683,"template":"","subject":[45],"class_list":["post-13681","academic_content","type-academic_content","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","subject-geography"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/academic_content\/13681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/academic_content"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/academic_content"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=13681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}