- Origin: Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district, Maharashtra (Western Ghats).
- Length: ~1,465 km (second longest in India after the Ganga).
- Drainage Basin: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha.
- Tributaries:
- Left bank: Purna, Pranhita (combination of Wardha & Wainganga), Indravati, Sabari.
- Right bank: Pravara, Manjira, Manair.
- Mouth: Forms a broad delta before entering Bay of Bengal (near Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh).
- Important Projects:
- Polavaram Project (AP)
- Jayakwadi Dam (Maharashtra)
- Sri Ram Sagar Project (Telangana)
- Dowleswaram Barrage (Andhra Pradesh).
Significance
- Known as Dakshina Ganga (Ganga of the South).
- Fertile delta region — one of India’s rice bowls.
- Supports irrigation, drinking water, hydropower, navigation, fisheries.
- Pilgrimage significance — Pushkaram festival celebrated every 12 years.
Issues
- Seasonal flooding in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Water-sharing disputes between Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
- Ecological impacts of Polavaram project (displacement, submergence of tribal areas, biodiversity loss).