Major Rivers of Karnataka.

The major river systems in Karnataka are :

Krishna, Cauvery, Godavary, North Pennar, South Pennar & Palar. Also there are west flowing rivers which flow to the Arabian sea.

River Krishna originates from western Ghats in Maharashtra. It flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh & running to Bay of Bengal. About 114 Sq.Km in Karnataka is drained by River Krishna.

The tributaries of Krishna in Karnataka are :Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Bhima, Thungabhadra.


River Cauvery Originates from the Western Ghats in Coorg district, which is a part of Karnataka.

The major tributaries of River Cauvery in Karnataka are : Harangi, Hemavathi, Lakhmanathirtha, Kabini, Shimsha, Arkavathi, Suvarnavathy.


River Godavary which originates from Nasik district of Maharashtra and flows across Maharashtra, Madhyapradesh,Chattisagarh, Karnataka, Andhrapradesh, Orissa. Godavary falls to Bay of Bengal.

The tributary of Godavary which passes though Karnataka is: Manjra.

North Pennar river flows across Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.

South Pennar River passes through Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.

Palar River Passes through the states Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu.

The West flowing rivers flow to the western direction and meet the Arabian Sea. The major tributaries of west flowing river system are:
Mahadayi, Kalinadi,Gangavalli, Aghanashini, Sharavathi, Chakra Nadi, Varahi, Netravathi, Barapole.