Rivers of Haryana

Rivers in Haryana fall mainly within Indus and Ganga basins. River Ghaggar sub basin and its tributaries in the west of the state caters to the Indus basin, while river Yamuna and its tributaries in the east make up the portion of the Ganga basin.

 Basic details of Rivers flowing in/ through Haryana state 

Yamuna River

The Yamuna is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganga and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of 6,387 metres (20,955 ft) on the southwestern slopes of Banderpooch peaks of the Lower Himalaya in Uttarakhand, it travels a total length of 1,376 kilometres (855 mi) and has a drainage system of 366,223 square kilometres (141,399 sq mi), 40.2% of the entire Ganga Basin. It merges with the Ganga at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj, which is a site of the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu festival held every 12 years. It crosses several states: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, passing by Uttarakhand and later Delhi, and meeting its tributaries on the way, including Tons, Chambal, its longest tributary which has its own large basin, followed by Sindh, the Betwa, and Ken. From Uttarakhand, the river flows into the state of Himachal Pradesh. After passing Paonta Sahib, Yamuna flows along the boundary of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and after exiting Haryana it continues to flow till it merges with the river Ganga at Sangam or Prayag in Allahbad (Uttar Pradesh). It helps create the highly fertile alluvial Yamuna-Ganga Doab region between itself and the Ganga in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Nearly 57 million people depend on the Yamuna's waters, and the river accounts for more than 70 percent of Delhi's water supply. It has an annual flow of 97 billion cubic metres, and nearly 4 billion cubic meters are consumed every year (of which irrigation constitutes 96%). Like the Ganga, the Yamuna is highly venerated in Hinduism and worshipped as the goddess Yamuna. In Hindu mythology she is the daughter of the Sun Deva, Surya, and the sister of Yama, the Deva of Death, hence also known as Yami. According to popular legends, bathing in its sacred waters frees one from the torments of death.

Ghaggar River

The Ghaggar-Hakra River is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season. The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage and as the Hakra downstream of the barrage. The Hakra river is hydraulically connected to the Nara River provided it has adequate flow to maintain surface flow. After the construction of the Otu Barrage, the downstream Hakra river dried up fully but subsurface flow is maintained to the Nara river which becomes later the delta channel of the Indus River before joining the sea via Kori Creek in Gujarat state. A paper published in Nature journal in 2017 asserts that the Ghaggar-Hakra paleochannel was fed by the Himalayan Sutlej River. The initial abandonment by the river Sutlej started about 15,000 years ago, with complete avulsion to its current course shortly after 8,000 years ago. The basin is classified in two parts, Khadir and Bangar, the higher area that is not flooded in rainy season is called Bangar and the lower flood-prone area is called Khadar.

Markanda River

The Markanda river is an eponymous seasonal river in Haryana state, which is a main tributary of the Ghaggar River. The Markanda river originates in the Shivalik hills on the border of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh State, and flows along the haryana and Punjab, India border before meeting with Ghaggar river at the confluence. The basin is classified in two parts, Khadir and Bangar, the higher area that is not flooded in rainy season is called Bangar and the lower flood-prone area is called Khadar. Several archaeologists identify the old Ghaggar-Hakra River as the Sarasvati river, on the banks of which the Indus Valley Civilisation developed.

Saraswati River

The Sarasvati River is one of the rivers mentioned in the Rig Veda and later Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It plays an important role in the Vedic religion, appearing in all but the fourth book of the Rigveda. The goddess Sarasvati was originally a personification of this river, but later developed an independent identity. The Sarasvati is also considered by Hindus to exist in a metaphysical form, in which it formed a confluence with the sacred rivers Ganges and Yamuna, at the Triveni Sangam.[3] According to Michael Witzel, superimposed on the Vedic Sarasvati river is the heavenly river Milky Way, which is seen as "a road to immortality and heavenly after-life." Rigvedic and later Vedic texts have been used to propose identification with present-day rivers, or ancient riverbeds. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rigveda (10.75) mentions the Sarasvati between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west. Later Vedic texts like the Tandya and Jaiminiya Brahmanas, as well as the Mahabharata, mention that the Sarasvati dried up in a desert. Since the late 19th-century, scholars have identified the Vedic Saraswati river as the Ghaggar-Hakra River system, which flows through northwestern India and eastern Pakistan, between the Yamuna and the Sutlej. Satellite images have pointed to the more significant river once following the course of the present day Ghaggar River. Scholars have observed that major Indus Valley Civilization sites at Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Banawali and Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat) also lay along this course.

Lakes of Haryana

Most of the lakes in Haryana are the life source of the people living here. Some of the beautiful and amazing lakes of Haryana includes the Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Surajkund, Tilyar Lake and many more. Here is a guide to some of the beautiful lakes in Haryana.

1. Brahma Sarovar: The Brahma Sarovar tank is a sacred water body in Thanesar district. There is a statue of Lord Shiva in the sarovar which can be reached by a bridge. The tank stands spectacular during Gita Jayanti in the end of November and the beginning of December with 'Dheep Dhaan' (floating lamps in water) & 'Aarti' taking place. A dip in this tank is said to bestow the fruits of performing the Ashvamedha Yajna.
2. Sannihit Sarovar: The Sannihit Sarovar is supposed to be the confluence of the the seven holy Sarasvatis. The word ‘sannihit' means to collect. It is believed that a bath in Sannihit Sarovar on a no moon days and on day of eclipses earns the merit of an Asvamegha Yagya. Devotees come here from far and wide to take a dip in this lake and receive blessings from the gods. A number of shrines dedicated to various gods and goddesses including Sri Hanuman, Lord Vishnu, Dhruv Bhagat, Goddess Durga, Laksmi Narayan and many others are situated near the sarovar.
3. Surajkund: A tourist place to visit in Faridabad is Surajkund which is said to have been created by the kings in respect of the Sun God. It is a popular picnic destination for travellers and you can also head here to take a dip in its cool waters.
4. Tilyar Lake: Tilyar Lake is one of the greenest stretches in the region and therefore, attracts a huge number of tourists who come here looking for some peace and solace. It is also an ideal destination for water sports lovers for its facilities for kayaking, angling and boating. The lake is an excellent picnic spot and has a mini zoo housing animal such as tiger, panther, deer, monkey, birds and many more.
5. Badkhal Lake: The Badkhal Lake is a natural lake that is located in the Faridabad district of Haryana and is known for its scenic beauty. The lake is surrounded by the hills of the Aravalli Ranges. A unique feature of this lake is that it is rainwater fed and hence remains dry for most part of the year. The best time to visit this lake is during the monsoon season when it is filled with water and attracts many birds here.