GhaggarSarasvati

The Ghaggar–Saraswati is a seasonal river system that historically flowed through northwestern India and northern Pakistan. Its main seasonal stream, the Ghaggar, rises in the Aravalli hills near Hisar in Haryana and meanders through the plains of Punjab, Rajasthan, and the Sutlej Valley before dissipating into the Thar Desert. The ancient Saraswati, mentioned in Vedic literature, is believed by some scholars to have followed the same general corridor, though its exact ancient course remains uncertain.

Geographically, the Ghaggar is an intermittent river, receiving most of its water from monsoon runoff and rainfall in the surrounding hills. The river’s basin covers parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and provides irrigation to agriculture through canal networks, particularly the extensive Ghaggar Canal that supplies water to Haryana’s Far Western region.

Archaeological excavations along both banks have uncovered sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, with urban centers such as Dholavira and Banawali situated within its floodplain. These discoveries support the hypothesis that the Saraswati river may have been a vital lifeline for early Bronze Age settlements in the region, offering a freshwater source that facilitated dense habitation.

Culturally, the Saraswati is revered in Indian religious texts as a sacred river associated with knowledge and purification. Worship of the river persists in local folklore and ritual practices, especially among communities that trace their ancestry to ancient Harappa and Mohenjo‑Daro societies.

Modern studies employ satellite imagery, sedimentology, and GIS analysis to reconstruct the river’s paleo-course. While many scholars affirm the existence of a long-standing Saraswati, debates continue over whether the river existed in the form described in Vedic hymns or whether it was a later, polytheistic symbol. The Ghaggar–Saraswati remains a focal point for interdisciplinary research bridging geology, archaeology, and South Asian studies.