River Godavari

The Godavari (Marathi: गोदावरी, Telugu: గోదావరి) is a river that runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 Km, it is the second longest river in India (only after the Ganges), that runs within the country. It originates near Trimbak inNashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in West Godavari district ofAndhra Pradesh.


The Godavari River is a major waterway in central India, originating in the Western Ghats Trimbakeshwar,in the Nashik Subdivision or District Of Maharashtra and flowing eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state of Maharashtra. It is known as dakshin ganga. It enters Andhra Pradesh at Kandhakurthi in Nizamabad district, crosses the Deccan Plateau and then turns to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay of Bengal through two mouths.[2] Basara, on the banks of Godavari in Adilabad District, is home to a famous temple for Goddess Saraswati and is only to the second temple for the Goddess in India.

Rajahmundry, is the largest city on the banks of Godavari. At Rajahmundry, Godavari is in its widest form having a width of approximately 5 kms from Rajahmundry to the other bank at Kovvur.

The Godavari River has a drainage area of 3,42,812 km² that includes more than one state which is nearly one-tenth of India and is greater than the areas of England and Ireland put together.          


ThePravara, Indravati, Wainganga, Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers, discharge an enormous volume of water into the Godavari system. Its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira River, Bindusara River and Sabari River.

Religious Significance

The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several pilgrimage centers on its banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladeva (5000 years ago) and more recently Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters as an act of worship.

Godavari is considered as dhakshin ganga. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Crores of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves of all their sins.

Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Triambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring Ganga to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along river Ganga. Since Ganga was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, she is known here as Gautami. She is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.