Himalayan and Peninsular Drainage System

Introduction

The drainage systems in India are broadly categorized into the Himalayan and Peninsular drainage systems. These two systems differ significantly in their origin, characteristics, river types, and socio-economic importance. Understanding these differences is crucial for UPSC geography preparation.

Himalayan Drainage System

Origin and Extent

• The Himalayan drainage system is a system made up of rivers, which are derived in the Himalayas and are mainly nourished by the melting snowfields and glaciers as well as the monsoon rains.
• The rivers are major and they are the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
• These rivers are distributed in Northern and Northern East India outlet into Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Characteristics

• Perennial Rivers: These are rivers that flow all year long, as they are a result of meltdown of glaciers and even precipitation.
• Young and Slim: The rivers are very young in nature as they cut deep V shaped valleys and gorges in the mountainous areas.
• High Sediment Load: They transport high quantity of sediments due to the steep gradients and high erosive power which enriches the plains down the river.
• Dendritic Drainage Pattern: These are characterized by branched tributary networks of patterns that take the shape of a trellis or dendritic.
• Meandering and Floodplains: In the plains they take up meandering paths, oxbow lakes, floodplains and vast alluvial depositions.
• Large Deltas: Rivers such as Ganga and Brahmaputra of the Himalayas have large deltas, including the largest in the world, the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.

Major Rivers and Their Importance

• Indus: The river has its origin on the lake Mansarovar which is a lifeline to India and Pakistan. On the Indian side there are five great tributaries (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej).
• Ganga: It has its origin at the Gangotri Glacier, sustains large scale farming and population within the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• Brahmaputra: It originates in Angsi Glacier in Tibet, flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with huge floods and abundant biodiversity.

Socio-economic Significance

• These rivers are used in agriculture and hydroelectric power production as well as in transport and culture of India.
• They are perennial hence are irrigated during different seasons.

Peninsular Drainage System

Origin and Extent

• The Peninsular drainage system is made up of rivers that start in the Peninsular Plateau and are mostly rain-fed having their origin in the hills and mountains present in the peninsula.
• Under this system are such great rivers as the Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapi.
• Most of the rivers flow eastward into Bay of Bengal and others westward into Arabian Sea.

Characteristics

• Seasonal or Non-Perennial Flow: These rivers are also highly reliant on the monsoon rains and therefore dry during the months when it is not raining.
• Old and Mature Rivers: Older rivers have wider and shallow valleys and slopes of lower intensity.
• Consequent Drainage Pattern: The rivers are largely parallel to the plateau slope, and have characteristics such as meanders but restricted migration.
• Fixed Courses: The rivers conform to hard rocky landscape, and thus the river has relatively low change in course.
• Rift Valley Rivers: There are rivers like Narmada and Tapi which are found in the rift valleys and are estuaries as opposed to deltas.

Major Rivers and Drainage

• Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi: This is the flow that drains in the east flowing to the Bay of Bengal, generating fertile deltas that are useful in farming.
• Narmada and Tapi: Drain west into the Arabian Sea by gulf fissures.
• There are numerous rivers in the Peninsula that are shorter in length than rivers in the Himalayan.

Socio-economic Significance

• These rivers play a major role in irrigating the lands particularly in dry peninsular India.
• They help in sustaining agriculture in the region, and can be used as sources of hydroelectric power.
• The seasonal character of the area necessitates water storage and management of irrigation to carry out farming all the year round.

Comparison of Himalayan and Peninsular Drainage Systems

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