The Bhāgīrathī () is a turbulent Himalayan river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and one of the two headstreams of the Ganges, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. In the Hindu faith, history, and culture, the Bhagirathi is considered the source stream of the Ganges. However, in hydrology, the other headstream Alaknanda, is considered the source stream on account of its great length and discharge. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda join at Devprayag in Garhwal and are thereafter known as the Ganges.
Etymology
In Hindu texts, Bhagiratha was a descendant of King Sagara of the Suryavamsha, or Solar Dynasty. He played an important role in the descent of the Ganges. The story of Bhagiratha is narrated in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas.
Sage Kapila advised that only the water of the Ganges, which flowed in the heavens, could liberate them. Bhagiratha, Amshuman's grandson, undertook ascetic practices and won the favour of Brahma and Shiva. Brahma allowed the goddess Ganga to descend upon the earth, while Shiva broke Ganga's fall in the coils of his hair so that her force would not shatter the earth.
Course
The Bhagirathi River is mythologically known to be the source stream for the Ganges River. In hydrology, the Alaknanda is the source stream for the Ganges River due to its length and discharge. The Alaknanda River, including its tributaries, is and the Bhagirathi River, including its tributaries, is .
Tributaries
The Bhagirathi River is joined by several tributaries; these are, in order from the source:
- Kedar Ganga at Gangotri (elevation ),
- Jadh Ganga at Bhaironghati (elevation ),
- Kakora Gad and Jalandhari Gad near Harsil (elevation ),
- Siyan Gad near Jhala (elevation ),
- Asi Ganga near Uttarkashi (elevation ),
- Bhilangna River near Old Tehri (elevation ).
The Bhilangna itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier (elevation ) approximately south of Gaumukh.
The controversial Tehri dam lies at the confluence of the Bhagirathi River and the Bhilangna, at , near Tehri. Chaukhamba I is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin.
<gallery class="center">
File:Bhagirathi flowing into devprayag.jpg|The turbulent Bhagirathi as it enters Devprayag.
File:Bhagirathi alaknanda ganges devprayag2008.jpg|The Bhagirathi (foreground) on its way to meet the sediment-laden Alaknanda, and to flow on as the Ganges.
File:Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Confluence.jpg|Another view of the confluence at Devprayag.
File:Tehri dam india.jpg|Tehri Dam, the 5th tallest dam in the world
</gallery>
Dams
There are 18 dams along the Bhagirathi River, either in operation, under construction or planned. These are, in order from the source:
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|+ Hydroelectric Dams on the Bhagirathi River
<br>
!#!!Name!!Ht!!MW!!Status!!FRL!!MWL!!HRT!!TRT!!TWL!!RBL!!Coordinates
|-
| 1 ||Karmoli Dam|| ||140 ||planned || || ||8.6 || || || ||
|-
|2 || Gangotri Dam|| || 55 ||planned || || ||5.2 || || || ||
|-
|3 ||Jadhganga Dam|| ||50 ||planned || || || 1.1 || || || ||
|-
|4 ||Bhaironghati I Dam|| ||380 ||planned || || || || || || ||
|-
|5 || Bhaironghati II Dam|| ||65 ||planned || || || || || || ||
|-
|6 ||Harsil Dam|| ||210 ||planned || || ||5.06 || || || ||
|-
|7 ||Loharinag Pala Hydro Power Project|| ||600 ||cancelled ||2,147 ||1,667 ||13.85 ||.51 ||1.665 || ||
|-
|8|| Pala Maneri I Dam||78 ||480 ||cancelled ||1,665||1,667||12.563 ||1.378 || || ||
|-
|9 ||Maneri Dam||38 ||90 ||operation || || || || 8.631 || || ||
|-
|10 ||Joshiyara (Bhali) Dam|| ||304 ||operation || || || 16.0 || || || ||
|-
|11 || Bhilangana II Dam|| ||11 ||planned|| || || || || || ||
|-
|12 ||Bhilangana I Dam|| ||22.5 ||planned|| || || 2.0 || || || ||
|-
|13 || Tehri Dam||260.5 ||2,400||operation||830 || 835 ||1.634 || .8625|| || ||
|-
|14 ||Koteshwar Dam||97.5 ||400 ||operation || 612.50|| 615|| || || || ||
|-
|15 ||Kotli Bel 1A Dam||82.5 ||195 || construction || || || || || || ||
|-
|16 || Kotli Bel 1B Dam||90 ||320 || cancelled || || || || || || ||
|-
|17 ||Kotli Bel II Dam||82 ||530 || cancelled || || || || || || ||
|-
|}
Notes
References
- available on microfilm