Rivers & Confluences

Kosiकोसी

Rises in the hills near Kausani and flows past Someshwar, Almora, Khairna and Betalghat before leaving the hills at Ramnagar, where it borders Corbett National Park.

📖 Known in old texts as the Kaushiki. Its valley around Someshwar is one of Kumaon’s best-known farming valleys.

Gaulaगौला

Rises in the hills of Nainital district and flows past Ranibagh and Kathgodam to Haldwani.

📖 Haldwani’s own river. Chitrashila Ghat at Ranibagh on its banks is an important cremation ghat and the site of the Uttarayani fair.

Kali (Sharda)काली (शारदा)

Rises near Kalapani in the high Himalaya and forms the India–Nepal border, flowing past Dharchula, Jauljibi and Pancheshwar to Tanakpur, where it becomes the Sharda.

📖 The goddess Purnagiri overlooks the river above Tanakpur; her temple draws large crowds during Chaitra Navratri.

Gori Gangaगोरी गंगा

Rises from the Milam Glacier and flows through the Johar valley below Munsiyari to meet the Kali at Jauljibi.

📖 Its valley was the old trade route of the Johari Shauka traders to Tibet.

Saryuसरयू

Rises at Sarmul in Bageshwar district, meets the Gomti at Bageshwar and joins the Kali at Pancheshwar.

📖 The Saryu–Gomti sangam at Bageshwar hosts the great Uttarayani Mela every January.

Ramganga (East)रामगंगा

Flows through Pithoragarh district and meets the Saryu at Rameshwar.

📖 Rameshwar, at the confluence, is an old temple and cremation site.

Ramganga (West)रामगंगा

Rises in the Dudhatoli hills and flows through the heart of Corbett National Park, where it is dammed at Kalagarh.

📖 Its pools are home to the golden mahseer and are among the best places in India to see wild tigers and elephants near water.

Pindarपिंडर

Rises at the Pindari Glacier in Bageshwar district and flows west to meet the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag.

📖 The Pindari Glacier trek follows the river to its source.

Bageshwar

📖 Legend says Shiva appeared here as a tiger (vyaghra), giving the town and the Bagnath temple their names.

Jauljibi

📖 Site of the historic Jauljibi trade fair every November, where traders from India and Nepal meet.

Pancheshwar

📖 An old Shiva temple stands at this remote confluence on the Nepal border.

Rameshwar

📖 A sacred ghat with an ancient temple, linked by legend to Lord Rama.

Tawaghat

📖 A gateway on the old route towards the high valleys of Darma and Vyas.

Vishnuprayag

📖 The sage Narada is said to have worshipped Vishnu here.

Nandprayag

📖 Associated with a great yajna performed by King Nanda.

Karnaprayag

📖 Named after Karna of the Mahabharata, who is said to have meditated here.

Rudraprayag

📖 Narada is said to have worshipped Shiva (Rudra) here.

Devprayag

📖 From this confluence onward the river is called the Ganga.