Rivers and river basins of Maharashtra

The Godavari basin is the largest in Maharashtra, covering about 49% of the state's geographical area. The Krishna basin follows at roughly 26%, then Tapi (16%), Konkan west-flowing rivers (8%) and Narmada (about 1%).

The Godavari rises at Brahmagiri hill, Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district — only around 80 km from the Arabian Sea — yet flows east for 1,465 km to the Bay of Bengal, because the Western Ghats form the peninsular water divide.

Mahabaleshwar in Satara district is the origin of five rivers: Krishna, Koyna, Venna, Savitri and Gayatri. The Krishna and the Koyna meet again downstream at Karad, at the confluence known as Preetisangam.

The Wardha and the Wainganga merge to form the Pranhita, which is the largest tributary of the Godavari by water discharge despite being only about 113 km long.

Maharashtra has two rivers named Purna — one a Godavari tributary in Marathwada (Yeldari Dam) and one the largest tributary of the Tapi in Vidarbha. Exams routinely test this distinction.

The Tapi and the Narmada are two of only three major west-flowing peninsular rivers (with the Mahi). Both flow through rift valleys and form estuaries rather than deltas. The Narmada touches Maharashtra for only about 54 km, along the northern boundary of Nandurbar district.

At Pandharpur the Bhima is locally called the Chandrabhaga because of its crescent-shaped bend — the destination of the Varkari Wari pilgrimage.

The Ulhas is the longest river of the Konkan region. Konkan rivers are short and swift because the Western Ghats rise steeply just 50-80 km inland from the coast.