Alaknanda
Alaknanda is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 30.31°, 79.10°
About Alaknanda
The Alaknanda is a Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and a river considered holy in Hinduism. In hydrology, the Alaknanda is considered the source stream of the Ganges on account of its greater length and discharge; while, in Hindu tradition and culture, the other headstream, the Bhagirathi, is considered the source stream.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Alaknanda River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaknanda in Depth
Course
The Alaknanda rises at the confluence and foot of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand. From its origin, it travels to the village of Mana, meets with the Saraswati River, a left bank tributary at Keshav Prayag and continues downstream through narrow valleys. It reaches the Badrinath valley, arrives at Hanumanchatti, and meets with the Ghrit Ganga, a right bank tributary. From Hanumanchatti, the river goes to Pandukeshwar and flows through wide valleys and steep terrains.
At Vishnuprayag it meets Dhauliganga, a left bank tributary, and travels west to the town of Joshimath. From Joshimath, the Alaknanda crosses the Main Central Thrust near Helang. It then meets with Birahi Ganga, a left bank tributary at Birahi.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Alaknanda River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaknanda: Key Facts
| Length | 190 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 10,882 km² |
| Mouth | Ganges |
| Drainage system | Ganges Basin |
| Tributaries | Saraswati River, Dhauliganga River, Nandakini, Pindar River, Mandakini River |
Facts from Wikidata Q1419768 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Alaknanda: Quick Answers
- Where is Alaknanda?
- Alaknanda is located in India, at 30.3073° N, 79.0995° E.
- Are there dams on the Alaknanda?
- No dam on the Alaknanda is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.