Godavari

The Godavari is a major river of the Indian subcontinent and is often regarded as the Dakshina Ganga, or the Ganges of the South. It is one of the longest rivers in India, with an approximate length of 1,450 to 1,465 kilometers. The river rises in the Western Ghats near Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra, and flows eastward across the Deccan Plateau through Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Its drainage basin covers roughly 312,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest basins in the country.

The Godavari holds substantial cultural and religious significance in Hindu traditions, and its banks host numerous temples and ghats. The river’s lower reaches form a vast delta that supports extensive agriculture, fisheries, and regional biodiversity. The estuary lies near the coast of Andhra Pradesh, with the river passing through key urban centers such as Rajahmundry and discharging into the Bay of Bengal near the delta region around Kakinada and Antarvedi.

Human use and infrastructure have shaped the river’s course and economy. The Godavari is heavily utilized for irrigation and water supply in the states it traverses. Major structures along the river include the Dowleswaram Barrage at Rajahmundry and the Sriram Sagar (Pochampad) project in Telangana, along with several other dams and canal systems that support agriculture, power generation, and regional development.