Rivers, Lakes and Dams of Madhya Pradesh: Complete Guide

Madhya Pradesh, positioned at the heart of India, is rightfully called the House of Rivers with over 150 rivers flowing through its territory. The rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh play a crucial role in agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, and sustaining millions of lives across the state.

Understanding Rivers, Lakes & Dams of Madhya Pradesh

The rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh are distributed across five major river basins: Narmada, Ganga, Godavari, Tapti, and Mahi. The Vindhyan and Satpura mountain ranges act as a natural water divide, directing rivers in different directions toward the Arabian Sea, Ganga-Yamuna system, and Godavari basin.

Major Rivers of Madhya Pradesh

Narmada River: The Lifeline

The Narmada River stands as the most important among all rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh. Originating from the Amarkantak Plateau in Anuppur district at an elevation of approximately 1,057 meters, the Narmada is India’s fifth-longest river and the longest west-flowing river in the country.

The Narmada flows westward for 1,312 kilometers before draining into the Arabian Sea. Of this total length, 1,077 kilometers flow through Madhya Pradesh. The river basin covers an area of 98,796 square kilometers, with 82% lying within the state.

The Narmada flows through a rift valley bordered by the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south. The river has 41 tributaries, with 22 originating from the Satpura Range and 19 from the Vindhya Range. Major tributaries include Tawa (the longest tributary), Hiran, Barna, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Ganjal, and Kolar.

Rivers Joining the Ganga Basin

Several rivers forming part of the rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh flow northward to join the Ganga-Yamuna system.

Chambal River: Originating from Janapav Hills near Mhow in Indore district, the Chambal is the second-longest river in the state. With a total length of 1,024 kilometers (320 km in Madhya Pradesh), it flows through deep ravines before joining the Yamuna River. Major tributaries include Kali Sindh, Parbati, Shipra, and Banas. The Chambal is known as one of the cleanest rivers in India and supports diverse wildlife including gharials and Ganges dolphins.

Betwa River: Known as the Ganga of Madhya Pradesh, the Betwa originates from Kumra village in Raisen district. It flows for 590 kilometers (232 km in MP) before joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. Major tributaries are Bina, Dhasan, and Ken.

Son River: Also called Sonbhadra, this river originates near Amarkantak Plateau, close to the Narmada source, but flows eastward. It is the second-largest southern tributary of the Ganga, flowing for 784 kilometers through four states. Major tributaries include Rihand, North Koel, and Johilla.

Ken River: Originating in Ahirgawan, the Ken flows northeastward for about 427 kilometers before joining the Yamuna. The river is significant for the proposed Ken-Betwa river linking project.

Godavari Basin Tributaries

The southern districts drain into the Godavari system through several rivers that form vital components of rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh.

Wainganga River: Originating in Seoni district, this river flows southward into Maharashtra before joining the Godavari system. The river supports the Pench Tiger Reserve ecosystem.

Pench River: Rising from Chhindwara district, the Pench flows for approximately 192 kilometers southward. The famous Pench National Park, which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, is located along its banks.

Wardha River: Originating near Multai in the Satpura Range, the Wardha flows into the Wainganga to form the Pranhita, which ultimately joins the Godavari.

West-Flowing Rivers

Tapti River: The second-largest west-flowing river after Narmada, the Tapti originates from the Multai reserve forest in Betul district. It flows westward for about 724 kilometers, draining into the Arabian Sea.

Mahi River: Originating from the northern slopes of the Vindhya Range in Dhar district, the Mahi flows westward through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat before joining the Arabian Sea.

Major River Systems: Detailed Overview

River Name	Origin Point	Length (km)	Major Tributaries	States Flowing Through
Narmada	Amarkantak, Anuppur	1,312	Tawa, Hiran, Barna, Banjar, Dudhi	MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat
Chambal	Janapav Hills, Mhow	1,024	Kali Sindh, Parbati, Shipra, Banas	MP, Rajasthan, UP
Betwa	Kumra Village, Raisen	590	Bina, Dhasan, Ken	MP, UP
Son	Amarkantak Region	784	Rihand, Johilla, North Koel	MP, UP, Jharkhand, Bihar
Ken	Katni District	427	Sonar, Bearma, Urmil	MP, UP
Tapti	Multai, Betul	724	Purna, Girna, Panzara	MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat
Sindh	Vidisha District	470	Mahuar, Parbati, Pahuj	MP, UP
Pench	Chhindwara District	192	Kanhan	MP, Maharashtra
Wainganga	Seoni District	579	Thel, Hirri, Bagh	MP, Maharashtra
Mahi	Vindhya Range, Dhar	583	Anas, Som	MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat

Important Lakes in Madhya Pradesh

Lake Name	Location	Key Significance
Upper Lake (Bhojtal)	Bhopal	Ancient artificial lake supplying about 40% of Bhopal’s drinking water. Surrounded by Van Vihar National Park. Regulated by the Bhadbhada Dam. Rich in aquatic biodiversity.
Lower Lake (Chhota Talaab)	Bhopal	Created for city beautification. Receives subsurface seepage from Upper Lake. Along with Upper Lake forms the Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar Site.
Tawa Reservoir	Madhya Pradesh	Important for irrigation and power generation in the region.
Sagar Lake (Lakha Banjara Lake)	Sagar district	Popular for recreation and supports local biodiversity.

Upper Lake Bhopal (Bhojtal)

The Upper Lake represents one of the most significant features among rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh. This ancient artificial lake lies on the western side of Bhopal, the state capital.

Built by Paramara Raja Bhoj in the 11th century (1005-1055 CE), the lake was created by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River. The lake covers an area of 31 square kilometers and drains a catchment area of 361 square kilometers.

It serves as a major source of drinking water, supplying approximately 40% of Bhopal’s residents with nearly 30 million imperial gallons (140,000 cubic meters) of water daily. The lake is surrounded by Van Vihar National Park to the south, making it an important ecological zone.

The Bhadbhada Dam, an eleven-gate structure, was constructed in 1965 at the southeast corner of the lake to control outflow to the Kaliasote River. The Upper Lake supports diverse flora and fauna, including over 106 species of macrophytes and 208 species of phytoplankton.

Lower Lake Bhopal (Chhota Talaab)

The Lower Lake, locally known as Chhota Talaab, was constructed in 1794 by Chote Khan to beautify the city. It has an area of 1.29 square kilometers with a catchment of 9.6 square kilometers. The Lower Lake receives subsurface seepage from the Upper Lake but has no fresh water source of its own.

Together, the Upper and Lower Lakes constitute the Bhoj Wetland, which was designated as a Ramsar site, recognizing its international importance as a wetland ecosystem among rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh.

Other Significant Lakes

Tawa Reservoir: Created by the Tawa Dam on the Tawa River, this reservoir is significant for irrigation and power generation in the region.

Sagar Lake: Also known as Lakha Banjara Lake, this water body in Sagar district is popular for recreation and supports local biodiversity.

Major Dams and Hydroelectric Projects of MP

The dams form the backbone of rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh, providing irrigation, power generation, and flood control.

Indira Sagar Dam: India’s Largest Reservoir

The Indira Sagar Dam, located on the Narmada River near Narmada Nagar in Khandwa district, stands as the most prominent dam project. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone on October 23, 1984, with main construction beginning in 1992.

The dam is a concrete gravity structure measuring 92 meters high and 653 meters long. It creates India’s largest reservoir in terms of water storage capacity, holding 12.22 billion cubic meters of water.

Power Generation: The Indira Sagar Project has an installed capacity of 1,000 MW through eight units of 125 MW each. The project generates approximately 2,698 million units of energy in Stage I, 1,850 million units in Stage II, and 1,515 million units in Stage III.

Irrigation: The dam provides irrigation to 1,230 square kilometers of land in Khandwa and Khargone districts, with a culturable command area of 1.23 lakh hectares.

The total catchment area at the dam site covers 61,642 square kilometers. The regulated discharge from Indira Sagar enables power generation at downstream projects including Omkareshwar and Maheshwar.

Omkareshwar Dam

Located on the Narmada River near the sacred island of Omkareshwar, this dam was constructed between 2003 and 2007. The concrete dam measures 949 meters long and 33 meters high.

Power Capacity: The Omkareshwar Hydroelectric Power Project has an installed capacity of 520 MW through eight generating units. The first unit was commissioned in 2007.

Irrigation Benefits: The dam provides water for irrigation of 132,500 hectares of agricultural land.

The Omkareshwar project benefits from the regulated water release from the upstream Indira Sagar Dam, ensuring consistent power generation throughout the year.

Other Major Dams

Dam Name	River	District	Height (m)	Capacity (MW)	Primary Purpose
Indira Sagar	Narmada	Khandwa	92	1,000	Power, Irrigation
Omkareshwar	Narmada	Khandwa	33	520	Power, Irrigation
Bargi	Narmada	Jabalpur	69	90	Power, Irrigation
Tawa	Tawa	Hoshangabad	74	60	Irrigation, Power
Bansagar	Son	Shahdol	67	420	Power, Irrigation
Gandhi Sagar	Chambal	Mandsaur	62	115	Power, Irrigation

Read more about Madhya Pradesh

Spectacular Waterfalls

The rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh include several breathtaking waterfalls that attract tourists and showcase natural beauty.

Waterfall Name	Location	Height / Width	Key Characteristics
Dhuandhar Falls	Bhedaghat, Jabalpur district	Drop of about 30 m	Known as the “Smoke Cascade” due to mist formation. Located near Marble Rocks. Accessible via viewing platforms, boating, and cable car.
Bahuti Falls	Rewa district	Height: 198 m	Highest waterfall in Madhya Pradesh.
Chachai Falls	Near Rewa	Height: ~130 m	Second-highest waterfall in the state with a vertical plunge.
Patalpani Falls	Near Indore	Height: ~91 m	Popular monsoon destination and weekend getaway surrounded by forested hills.

Dhuandhar Falls: The Smoke Cascade

Located on the Narmada River at Bhedaghat in Jabalpur district, Dhuandhar Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls. The waterfall drops approximately 30 meters as the Narmada makes its way through the world-famous Marble Rocks.

The name “Dhuandhar” derives from the Hindi words “Dhuan” (smoke) and “Dhar” (flow), referring to the mist created by water falling on hard rock, which appears like smoke. The plunge creates a bouncing mass of mist so powerful that its roar can be heard from a considerable distance.

Visitors can experience the falls through multiple perspectives: viewing platforms, boat rides on the river to visit nearby marble rocks, and a cable car that crosses the river. Located just 25 kilometers from Jabalpur city, the waterfall is easily accessible.

Other Notable Waterfalls

Bahuti Falls: Located in Rewa district, Bahuti Falls is the highest waterfall in Madhya Pradesh with a height of 198 meters on the Sellar River.

Chachai Falls: Standing at approximately 130 meters, Chachai Falls is the second-highest waterfall in the state, located on the Bihad River near Rewa.

Patalpani Falls: Situated approximately 91 meters high on the Choral River near Indore, Patalpani Falls is a popular weekend getaway spot.

PDF Guide: Madhya Pradesh’s Rivers, Lakes & Dams

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Rivers, Lakes and Dams of Madhya Pradesh – Student Guide Download

Key Facts About Rivers, Lakes and Dams of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has over 150 major and minor rivers, earning it the title House of Rivers.
The state falls within five major river basins: Narmada (largest), Ganga, Godavari, Tapti, and Mahi.
Major projects generate over 2,500 MW of installed capacity from Narmada basin projects alone.
Water resources support irrigation for millions of hectares, making agriculture viable across regions.
Rivers and lakes support rich biodiversity, including endangered species like gharials in the Chambal and Ganges river dolphins.
The Narmada is considered one of the seven sacred rivers in Hinduism, with numerous pilgrimage sites.
The Bhoj Wetland (Upper and Lower Lakes of Bhopal) is a designated Ramsar site.
Most major rivers are interstate, requiring coordination through tribunals and authorities.

FAQs

Which river is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh?

Answer: Narmada
What is the origin point of the Narmada River?

Answer: Amarkantak Plateau
Which dam creates India’s largest reservoir by water storage capacity?

Answer: Indira Sagar Dam
Which lake in Bhopal is also known as Bhojtal?

Answer: Upper Lake
Which waterfall is considered the widest in India?

Answer: Chitrakoot Falls

Conclusion

The rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh represent a complex and vital network that sustains the state’s economy, ecology, and culture. From the sacred Narmada flowing through a rift valley to the ancient Bhojtal providing water to millions, from the massive Indira Sagar Dam generating power to the spectacular Dhuandhar Falls attracting tourists, these water bodies define Madhya Pradesh.

Understanding the information related to rivers, lakes & dams of Madhya Pradesh remains crucial for preparing for competitive exams and updating your knowledge.