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DRAINAGE RIVER SYSTEMS OF INDIA.

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• Drainage System of India

Where do all the rivers emerge from? And where do they end? Have you ever thought of that? All the rivers in India form a river system which is known as the Drainage system of India. Let’s learn about the different rivers and river systems in India that together form the drainage system of India.

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The term drainage describes the river system   of an area. Do you know that all the rivers of an area meet at one point and drain into a larger water body such as a lake or a sea or an ocean? Yes. a drainage system is an area that is drained by a single river.  A mountain or upland separate two drainage basins. Such a separation is known as water divide.

The drainage system of India, that is, the rivers, is divided into two major groups:

• the Himalayan rivers
• the Peninsular rivers

Lets study about the drainage system of India in detail.

The Himalayan Rivers

The three main Himalayan rivers are the Indus , the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. These rivers are long and are joined by many tributaries. A river along with its tributaries form a river system .  Let’s study of each river and its tributaries.

The Indus Valley System

The river Tibet starts in Tibet, near lake Mansarowar. It flows west and enters India in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. the tributaries that join Indus in this region are the Zaskar, the Nubra, the Shyok and the Hunza. Then the river flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock. In Pakistan, the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum join the Indus near Mithankot.

Beyond this, the river flows southwards and reaches the Arabian Sea, which is east of Karachi. The Indus plain has a gentle slope. Indus is one of the world’s longest rivers with a total length of 2900 km. Most of the Indus basin is located in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. the rest of the river is located in Pakistan.

The Ganga River System

‘Bhagirathi’ which is the headwaters of the Ganga is fed by the Gangotri Glacier. It is joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand. The Ganga emerges at Haridwar from the mountains on to the plane. Many major rivers join the Ganga which includes the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi. the river Yamuna emerges from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It meets the Ganga at Allahabad at the right bank.

The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya. The tributaries which come from the peninsular uplands include the Chambal, the Betwa and the Son . These rivers do not carry much water in them.The Ganga flows eastwards till Farakka in West Bengal. This is the northernmost point of the Ganga delta. From here, the river bifurcates. The length of the Ganga is over 2500 km.

The Brahmaputra River System

The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet east of Mansarovar lake very close to the sources of the Indus and Satluj. It is slightly longer than the Indus. Its course mostly lies outside India. The Brahmaputra then flows eastwards parallel to the Himalayas. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh through a gorge. It is joined by the Dibang, the Lohit, and many other tributaries in Assam. Unlike other northern rivers, Brahmaputra forms huge deposits of silt on its bed causing the river bed to rise.

The Peninsular Rivers

The Western Ghats, which runs from north to south close to the western coast, forms the main water divide in Peninsular India. The major rivers of the Peninsula which flow into the Bay of Bengal include the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. The Narmada and the Tapi are the only long rivers which flow west and make estuaries.

The Tapi Basin

The Tapi rises in the Satpura ranges, in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. Its basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The main west rivers flowing west are Sabarmati, Mahi, Bharathpuzha and Periyar.

The Narmada Basin

The Narmada river rises in the Amarkaantak hills in Madhya Pradesh. It flows towards the west in a rift valley. On its way to the sea, it forms many picturesque locations like the ‘Marble rocks’ and the ‘Dhuadhar falls’.The tributaries of the Narmada are very short. This basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The Godavari Basin

The Godavari is the largest Peninsular river. It rises from the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. The length of the river Godavari is about 1500 km. It drains into the Bay of Bengal. It also has the largest drainage basin. The basin covers parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The tributaries that join the Godavari are the Purna, the Wardha, the Pranhita, the Manjra, the Wainganga and the Penganga.

The Mahanadi Basin

The Mahanadi rises in the highlands of Chhattisgarh. It reaches the Bay of Bengal after flowing through Odisha. The length of the Mahanadi river is 860 km. It covers parts of Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh , Jharkhand and Odisha.

The Krishna Basin

The Krishna river rises from a spring near Mahabaleshwar and flows for 1400 km. It reaches the Bay of Bengal. The tributaries of Krishna river are the Tungabhadra, the Koyana, the Ghatprabha, the Musi and the Bhima. Its drainage system covers parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh .

The Kaveri Basin

The Kaveri rises in the Brahmagri range of the Western Ghats and reaches the Bay of Bengal in the south of Cuddalore, in Tamil Nadu. The total length of the Kaveri river is 760 km. The main tributaries of Kaveri river are Amravati, Bhavani, Hemavati and Kabini. It covers parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

India has many lakes. One of the most lakes is the Dal lake of Kashmir which attracts thousands of tourists. Most lakes are perennial and some contain water only during the rainy season. Most of the freshwater lakes are in the Himalayan region. The Wular lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India.

Other freshwater lakes include the Dal lake, Bhimtal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani. There are also some artificial lakes such as Guru Gobind Sagar, which are formed by the damming of water.

Role of Rivers in Economy

Rivers are of great importance to humans. We use them for irrigation , navigation , hydropower generation, etc. A country like India, where agriculture is an important occupation, rivers are of significant importance. Thus, the drainage system of India is a basic natural resource of water.

River Pollution

Humans have been modifying everything according to their needs since ages. All the growing needs and demand for water has affected the quality of water in rivers. More and more water is being removed from the rivers reducing its volume . on the other hand, a lot of sewage and waste material is added to water in rivers which affects the quality of water.

We should realize the importance of rivers and the drainage system of India and take actions to conserve water in rivers. Therefore, it is crucial for us to preserve the drainage system of India.

Here’s a Solved Question for You

Q: In which of the following states is the Wular lake located?

a) Rajasthan                           b) Punjab

c) Uttar Pradesh                    d) Jammu and Kashmir

Solution:   d) Jammu and Kashmir. The Walur lake is in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the largest freshwater lake in India.

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5 responses to “Drainage System of India”

Yaha par question puchna ka liya koi colume nahi hai so i can’t ask my doubt please make separate column to ask any type of questions please try to understand what I am say I know you you have to make separate column to ask any type of questions thank you please try to understand my intentions

what are the different drainage systems in india?

Hi….please answer my question as soon as possibe….where is river bramhaputra originated and what is its speciality?

River brahmapura originated from chemayungdong mountain near manosowar in Tibet (china ) it runs 1250km at Tibet as river Tsangpo then enter to India at Arunachal Pradesh near tutting siang district where it run 160 Km as river siang or bibang. After joining two tributaries namely lohit and Dihang at upper range of sadia it is known as Brahmaputra . It runs about 740 km in Assam then enter to Bangladesh as river Jamuna where it runs 480km and finally Bay of Bengal

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Drainage System of India UPSC Notes Pdf Download (PPT Slide)

Drainage System of India UPSC Notes Pdf Download

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• India boasts a diverse and intricate drainage system that plays a crucial role in shaping its geographical and ecological features. This extensive network of rivers and their tributaries not only sustains life by providing water for various purposes but also influences the country’s landscape, agriculture, and overall development. Let’s delve into the intricacies of the drainage system of India.

Drainage System of India UPSC Notes Pdf Download – Lec 13

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Understanding the Drainage System of India: Exploring Basins, Patterns, and River Systems

India’s drainage system is a complex network that plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s landscape and supporting its diverse ecosystems. This article explores the drainage basins, patterns, and major river systems that define India’s hydrological landscape.

Drainage Basin and Patterns

• Drainage Basin: The total area contributing water to a single drainage system is known as a drainage basin. It serves as the fundamental unit for understanding the flow of water in a region.
• Drainage Pattern: The geometric design formed by a river and its tributaries from source to mouth defines the drainage pattern. Various patterns include dendritic, trellised, rectangular, radial, centripetal, annular, parallel, barbed, and pinnate.

Here is the table:

This table provides a comprehensive overview of various drainage patterns found in the rivers of India, along with descriptions to help understand the characteristics of each pattern.

River Basins of India

Large, Medium, and Minor River Basins: India’s river systems are categorized into large, medium, and minor basins, each contributing to the overall drainage network.

This table provides a categorization of river basins in India based on their size, with examples of major rivers associated with each basin size category.

Major River Systems

Himalayan Rivers:

• Indus River System: Comprising tributaries like Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej, the Indus system is vital for northern India.
• Ganga River System: With origins in the Gangotri glacier, the Ganga system includes the Yamuna, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, and others.
• Brahmaputra River System: Originating in Tibet, the Brahmaputra flows through India, contributing to the northeastern drainage.

Peninsular Rivers:

• Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapti: These rivers form the Peninsular drainage system, serving regions in the southern part of the country.
• Chambal, Sindh, Betwa & Ken, Damodar, Ramaganga, Ghaghara, Saryu, Gandak, Kosi: These rivers further contribute to the complex network, impacting the central and northern regions.

Here is the table.

This comprehensive table provides information on the major river systems in India, categorizing them into Himalayan and Peninsular rivers, and further detailing their subsystems and significant tributaries.

Himalayan River System table

This informative table provides details on the Himalayan River System, highlighting its subsystems (Indus, Ganga, and Yamuna) along with their tributaries and main features.

Table of River System.

This modified table provides information on various river systems, removing the column for subsystems/tributaries and focusing on the main features of each river system.

Evolution of Peninsular Drainage System

• Water Divide: The division between rivers flowing eastward and westward in the peninsular region is known as the water divide.
• Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery: These rivers, forming rift valleys, create a distinct drainage pattern in peninsular India.
• Narmada and Tapi: These rivers flow through faults, contributing to the unique characteristics of the peninsular drainage.

This informative table provides details on various components of the Peninsular River System, including the evolution of the drainage system, water divide, and individual river systems such as Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, Tapi, Luni, Sabarmati, and Mahi.

Also Read: India Journalism

Key Differences Between Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers

• Himalayan rivers are perennial, fed by snowmelt, while peninsular rivers are often seasonal.
• The drainage patterns and geological features vary between the two regions.
• The Himalayan rivers have a greater discharge and are significant for the fertile plains they traverse.

This informative table outlines key differences between Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers, including detailed descriptions and examples illustrating each distinction.

In conclusion.

• India’s drainage system is a dynamic and intricate network that sustains the country’s ecosystems and supports various human activities. Understanding these patterns and river systems is crucial for effective water resource management and sustainable development.
• The drainage system of India is a dynamic and complex network that sustains life and influences the country’s physical and cultural aspects. It is crucial for agriculture, human settlement, and overall ecological balance. Understanding this intricate system is vital for effective water resource management, sustainable development, and environmental conservation in the diverse and vast landscape of India.

Also Read: Table is Given Below.

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Drainage System of India [UPSC Geography Notes]

Geography is an important part of the UPSC syllabus. Many questions are asked every year in both the prelims and the mains from this subject. It is also a very interesting subject. In this article, you can read all about the drainage system in India for the IAS exam .

Drainage System of India

The flow of water through well-defined channels is known as drainage and the network of such channels is called a “drainage system”. The drainage system of an area is the outcome of the geological time period, nature and structure of rocks, slope, topography, amount of water flowing and the periodicity of flow. The area drained by a single river system (river and its tributaries) is called its drainage basin. An elevated area (mountain or an upland) that separates two drainage basins is called a “water divide”. The world’s largest drainage basin is of the Amazon river and in India, the river Ganga has the largest river basin.

Different Drainage Patterns

• Dendritic – The drainage system resembling the branches of a tree is known as dendritic. For example, the rivers of the northern plains.
• Radial – When the rivers originate from a hill and flow in all directions, the drainage pattern is known as radial. For example, rivers originating from the Amarkantak range.
• Trellis – When the primary tributaries of a river flow parallel to each other and secondary tributaries join them at right angles, the pattern is known as trellis.
• Centripetal – When the rivers discharge their waters from all directions in a lake or depression, the pattern is known as centripetal.

Different Drainage Systems of India

The Indian drainage system can be grouped into two based on the discharge of water (orientation to the sea).

• The Arabian Sea drainage
• The Bay of Bengal drainage

These two drainage systems are separated from each other through the Delhi ridge, the Aravallis and the Sahyadris. About 77% of the drainage is oriented towards the Bay of Bengal while 23% discharge their water into the Arabian Sea.

• On the basis of mode of origin, nature and characteristics, the Indian drainage may be classified into the Himalayan drainage and the Peninsular drainage. The Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers originate from the two major physiographic regions of India and are different from each other in many ways.

The Himalayan rivers

• Most of the Himalayan rivers are perennial and have water throughout the year. These rivers receive water from rain as well as from melted snow from the lofty mountains.
• These rivers pass through the giant gorges carved out by the erosional activity carried on simultaneously with the uplift of the Himalayas. Besides deep gorges, these rivers also form V-shaped valleys, rapids and waterfalls in their mountainous course (upper course).
• In the middle and the lower courses (plains), these rivers form meanders, oxbow lakes and many other depositional features in their floodplains. These rivers have the tendency to shift their courses frequently e.g, river Kosi (“sorrow of Bihar”), is known for changing its course frequently. The river carries a huge quantity of sediments from its upper reaches and deposits it in the plains. The course gets blocked and consequently, the river changes its course. 

The Peninsular rivers

• The Peninsular drainage system is older than the Himalayan one.
• Most of the Peninsular rivers are seasonal, as their flow depends largely on the rainfall of the region.
• The Peninsular rivers have shorter and shallower courses as compared to the Himalayan rivers.
• Most of the major Peninsular rivers, except Narmada and Tapi, flow towards the Bay of Bengal (west to east). The Chambal, the Sindh, the Betwa, the Ken and the Son originating in the northern part of the Peninsula belong to the Ganga river system. The other important rivers of the Peninsular drainage are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri.
• The Western Ghats act as a water divide between the major Peninsular rivers, discharging their water in the Bay of Bengal and the small rivulets joining the Arabian Sea.

Image Source:- NCERT

Himalayan Drainage System

The Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra systems are the three major river systems of the Himalayan drainage system.

The Indus River System

• Area – It covers a total area of 11,65,000 sq.km. In India, it covers an area of 3,21,289 sq.km.
• Length – Its total length is 2,880 km and in India, its length is 1,114 km.
• It is also known as “Sindhu” and is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India.
• Origin and its course – It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu (31°15′ N latitude and 81°41′ E longitude) in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 m in the Kailash mountain range. It moves in the north-west direction and enters India in Ladakh (Leh). It forms a picturesque gorge in this part. Several Himalayan tributaries like the Shyok, the Gilgit, the Zaskar, the Hunza and the Nubra join it. The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock where it receives the Kabul river on its right bank. The river flows southwards and receives Panjnad near Mithankot in Pakistan. The Panjnad is the name given to the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum. The river eventually reaches the Arabian Sea.
• In Tibet, it is known as “Singi Khamban” or “Lion’s mouth”.

Main Tributaries of Indus River

Right and Left bank tributaries of the Indus river

• Right bank tributaries – Nubra river (main tributary of Shyok river), Shyok river, Gilgit river, Hunza river, Kabul river, Khurram river, Gomal river, Viboa river, Tochi river and Sangar river.
• Left bank tributaries – Zanskar river, Suru river, Kishanganga (Neelam) river, Jhelum river, Chenab river, Ravi river, Beas river, Satluj river, Panjnad river.

Indus Water Treaty  (IWT)

This treaty was signed between India and Pakistan on 19th September 1960, regarding the sharing of water of the Indus and its tributaries. It was essentially a confidence-building measure between the two countries. The treaty divides the Indus river system into two segments, eastern rivers – Satluj, Beas and Ravi and western rivers – Chenab, Jhelum and Indus. According to this treaty, India has been given rights to use the waters of the eastern rivers while Pakistan is entitled to use western rivers. The treaty gives India 20% of the water from the Indus river system and the rest 80% to Pakistan.

Know more about the Indus Water Treaty in the link.

The Ganga River System

• The Ganga is the national river and also the largest river system in India. The Ganga river system consists of both perennial as well as non-perennial rivers which originate in the Himalayas (north) and the Peninsula (south) respectively.
• It is a transboundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh.
• Length – approx. 2525 km.
• The Ganga river basin covers about 8.6 lakh sq.km in India. It runs through Uttarakhand (110 km), Uttar Pradesh (1450 km), Bihar (445 km) and West Bengal (520 km).
• It originates in the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh of Uttarakhand (Uttarkashi district), here it is known as Bhagirathi. At Devprayag, Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda and thereafter, it is known as the Ganga.
• Vishnuprayag , the place of the confluence of the Dhauliganga river and the Alaknanda river.
• Nandaprayag , the place of the confluence of the Nandakini river and the Alaknanda river.
• Karnaprayag , the place of the confluence of the Pindar river with the Alaknanda river.
• Rudraprayag , the place of confluence of the Mandakini river/Kali Ganga with the Alaknanda river.
• Devprayag , the place of confluence of the Bhagirathi river with the Alaknanda river.
• The Ganga initially flows in the southern direction, then in the south-east direction up to Mirzapur and then in the east direction in the Bihar plains. 
• The Ganga flows eastwards to Farakka in West Bengal. At Farakka, its distributary, Bhagirathi-Hooghly flows southwards through deltaic plains to the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island. 
• After entering Bangladesh, the main branch of the Ganga is known as the Padma which meets Jamuna river (largest distributary of the Brahmaputra river). Padma river meets Meghna (second largest distributary of Brahmaputra) and hereafter, it is known as Meghna river and enters into the Bay of Bengal. 
• The delta formed with waters from the Ganga and the Brahmaputra rivers is known as the Sundarban Delta. It is the world’s largest and fastest-growing delta. It is also the home of the Royal Bengal tiger .
• Right bank tributaries of Ganga – the Yamuna (which is joined by the Tons, the Chambal, the Sindh, the Betwa and the Ken on its right bank which originate from the Peninsular Plateau. On its left bank it is joined by the Hindan, the Rind, the Sengar, the Varuna, etc), the Tamas, the Son and the Punpun. 
• Left bank tributaries of Ganga – the Ramganga, the Gomati, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, the Kosi and the Mahanadi.

Right Bank Tributaries

Left Bank Tributaries 

The Brahmaputra River System

• It is a transboundary river and flows through China, India and Bangladesh.
• The Brahmaputra river has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarovar Lake. It flows eastwards longitudinally for a distance of nearly 1,200 km in a dry and flat region of southern Tibet, where it is known as the “Tsangpo”, which means “the purifier”. The Rango Tsangpo is the major right-bank tributary of this river in Tibet. It emerges as a turbulent and dynamic river after carving out a deep gorge in the Central Himalayas near Namcha Barwa, 7,755 m (eastern part of the Himalayas).
• Dihang + Lohit  + Dibang = Brahmaputra (Assam).
• The Brahmaputra river has a braided channel in its entire length in Assam and forms many riverine islands.
• Majuli (Assam) is the largest river island in the world which lies in this river.
• The western branch, which contains the majority of the river’s flow, continues as Jamuna to merge with the Padma river (Ganga river). 
• The eastern branch (now much smaller) is called the lower or old Brahmaputra. It curves southeast to join the Meghna River near Dhaka. The Padma and Meghna converge near Chandpur and flow out as Meghna into the Bay of Bengal.
• Major left-bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra river – Burhi-Dihing and Dhansiri.
• Major right bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra river – Subansiri (Gold river), Kameng, Manas and Sankosh. 
• The Brahmaputra river is known for floods, channel shifting and bank erosion. This is due to the fact that most of its tributaries are large and bring large quantities of sediments owing to heavy rainfall in its catchment area.

Know more about the Brahmaputra River System in the link.

Peninsular Drainage System

The Peninsular rivers are characterised by fixed course, absence of meanders and non-perennial flow of water. The Narmada and Tapi which flow through the rift valley are, however, exceptions.

Major West Flowing Peninsular Rivers

West Flowing Small Rivers

The rivers and their origins are mentioned below.

• Shetrunji – near Dalkahwa in Amreli district (Gujarat).
• Bhadra – Aniali village in Rajkot district (Gujarat).
• Dhadhar – near Ghantar village in PanchMahal district (Gujarat).
• Vaitarna – Trimbak Hills in Nasik District (Maharashtra).
• Kalinadi – Belgaum district and falls in Karwar Bay.
• Bedti – Hubli Dharwar (Karnataka).
• Sharavati – Shimoga district of Karnataka.
• Mandovi and Juari are the two important rivers of Goa.
• Bharathapuzha – near Anamalai hills. The river is also known as Ponnani.
• Periyar – Sivagiri Hills of Western Ghats. It is an important river of Kerala.
• Pamba – It flows in Kerala and falls in the Vembanad lake.

Major East Flowing Peninsular Rivers  

East flowing rivers flow from west to east due to the gradient of the land and finally drain into the Bay of Bengal. These rivers carry huge amounts of sediments and therefore, form delta on the east coast (west-flowing rivers form estuaries).

East Flowing Small rivers

The Subarnrekha, Baitarni, Brahmani, Vamsadhara, Penner, Palar and Vaigai are small east-flowing rivers.

Also read: Major river systems of India

A lake is a large body of natural water accumulated in a depression. Apart from natural lakes, the damming of the rivers for the generation of hydel power has also led to the formation of lakes (artificial ones), such as Guru Gobind Sagar (Bhakra Nangal Project). These lakes differ from each other in size and other characteristics. Most lakes are permanent and have some perennial source of inflow of water like a glacier, eg. Dal lake. There are some lakes that contain water only during the rainy season (temporary lakes). 

Lakes can also be classified on the basis of their origin and mode of formation

• Tectonic Lakes – These lakes are formed by filling up of water in the tectonic depressions created due to the fractures and faults in the earth’s crust e.g, Wular Lake in Kashmir, Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
• Crater Lakes – Crater lakes are formed when the craters and calderas are filled with water e.g, Lonar lake in Maharashtra (During a volcanic explosion a natural hollow called a crater is formed by blowing off the top of the cone).
• Glacial Lakes  (Tarns and Cirque lakes) – These lakes are the result of glacial erosion e.g, Chandra Taal (Himachal Pradesh).
• Lagoons – A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a large body of water (sea/ocean) by sandbanks, coral reefs, etc. The Chilka Lake (Odisha), Pulicat (Andhra Pradesh), Vembanad and Kayals of Kerala are some of its examples.
• Ox-bow Lakes – A meandering river across a floodplain forms cut-offs that later develop into ox-bow lakes e.g, Lake Bird Sanctuary (Bihar). 

Important Lakes of India

Jammu and Kashmir

• Dal Lake – Srinagar District of J&K. It is a freshwater lake, fed by the river Jhelum. It is known for houseboats and has some interesting flora like lotus flowers, water lilies and water-chestnut. It is also known as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or Srinagar’s Jewel.
• Nigeen Lake – Srinagar District of J&K. It is a natural freshwater lake with channels connecting it to the river Jhelum. It is also known as “Jewel in the ring”.
• Anchar Lake – Srinagar District of J&K. The lake is connected with the famous Dal lake via a channel called Amir Khan Nallah.
• Wular Lake – Bandipur District of J&K. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. Wular Lake was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the river Jhelum. It was declared a Ramsar wetland site in 1990.
• Manasbal Lake – Ganderbal District of J&K. It is a natural freshwater lake.
• Gadsar Lake – Ganderbal District of J&K. Gadsar in Kashmiri means “lake of fishes”.
• Gangabal Lake – It is a freshwater lake located at the foothills of Mount Harmukh  in the Ganderbal district of J&K.
• Sheshnag – Anantnag District of J&K. It lies on the way to Amarnath Shrine.
• Marsar Lake – Anantnag District of J&K.
• Tarsar Lake – Anantnag district of J&K. Tarsar lake is separated from its sister lake, Marsar by a mountain peak with an elevation of 4000 m.
• Mansar Lake – Jammu city of J&K. It is a Ramsar Wetland Site.
• Surinsar Lake – Jammu city of J&K. It is a Ramsar Wetland Site.
• Pangong lake/Pangong Tso – It is located in Ladakh. It is an endorheic lake and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes or swamps, permanent or seasonal, that equilibrate through evaporation. The Line of Actual Control passes through this lake.
• Tso-moriri – Tso moriri lake is a lake in the Changthang Plateau in Ladakh. It is declared as a Ramsar Wetland site.

Himachal Pradesh

• Chandra Tal Lake – It is a high altitude lake in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is about 4300 m above sea level. It is a freshwater lake and is near the source of the Chandra river (a source river of Chenab). The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape.
• Suraj Tal Lake – It lies below the BaraLacha Pass in Lahaul and Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. The lake is just below the source of the Bhaga river that joins the Chandra river downstream to form the Chandrabhaga river, also known as Chenab. 
• Nako Lake – It is a high altitude lake located in the district of Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. This lake is surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Near the lake, there are four Buddhist temples. 
• Khajjiar Lake – It is located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

Uttarakhand 

• Bhimtal – It is situated near the town of Bhimtal in the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand. It is the largest lake in the Nainital district which is also known as the “Lake district of India”. There is an island at the centre of the lake.
• Roopkund Lake – It is a high-altitude glacial lake situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is also known as “Mystery Lake or Skeleton’s lake” as it is widely known for the hundreds of ancient human skeletons found at the edge of the lake.
• Sattal or Sat Tal – Sattal is an interconnected group of seven fresh-water lakes near Bhimtal town of the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand.
• Sambhar lake – It is the largest inland salt lake. It is located 80 km to the south-west of Jaipur. Sambhar Lake has been designated as a Ramsar Site.
• Dhebar Lake/Jaisamand Lake – It is located in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. It is the second-largest artificial lake in Asia. Maharana Jai Singh built this lake during the construction of a dam on the Gomti river (Rajasthan).
• Pushkar Lake – It is an artificial lake, situated in the town of Pushkar in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. It is a sacred lake of the Hindus.
• Udaisagar Lake – It is an artificial lake situated around 13 km in the east of Udaipur. The lake was built by Maharana Udai Singh.
• Mansagar Lake – It is an artificial lake situated in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. It was built by Raja Man Singh by damming the Dravyavati river. Jal Mahal, an architectural monument, is situated amidst the Mansagar lake.

Maharashtra  

• Lonar Lake – Also known as Lonar Crater Lake, it is located at Lonar in Buldhana district, Maharashtra. Lonar Crater lake was formed as a result of the accumulation of water in the crater or depression formed in the basaltic rock. The crater is believed to have been formed by a meteorite collision during the Pleistocene Epoch.
• Gorewada Lake – It is situated on the north-west corner of Nagpur city. It was developed by the Water Works Department as the primary source of drinking water for the population of Nagpur.
• Chilika Lake – It is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state. This lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India. Chilika lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention due to its rich biodiversity. 
• Hirakud Dam – It is built across the Mahanadi river and is one of the largest man-made (artificial) lakes in the world.
• Kanjia Lake – It is a natural lake located on the northern outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Ansupa Lake – It is a fresh-water lake, located on the left bank of the Mahanadi river, opposite Banki in Cuttack district, Odisha.
• Loktak Lake – It is the largest natural fresh-water lake in North-eastern India. It is located at Moirang in Manipur. It is famous for the phumdis floating over it. Keibul Lamjao National Park is located on this phumdi which is the only floating national park in the world. The park is the last natural  refuge of the endangered Sangai (state animal of Manipur). It has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site and is also listed under the Montreux Record .
• Cholamu Lake/Tso Lhamo Lake – It is India’s highest lake, situated in North Sikkim, about 4 km south of the international border with China.
• Tsongmo Lake – Also known as Changu Lake. It is a glacial lake, about 40 km away from the capital Gangtok. It remains frozen during the winter season. It is a sacred lake for Buddhists and Hindus.
• Khecheopalri Lake – Originally known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning heaven of Padmasambhava), lies in west Sikkim. It is sacred for both Buddhists and Hindus and is believed to be a wish-fulfilling lake.
• Vembanad Lake – It is the longest lake in India as well as the largest in the state of Kerala. It is the second-largest Ramsar Wetland Site in India (the first being the Sunderbans in West Bengal).
• Ashtamudi Lake – It is the second-largest Lake in Kerala, situated in the Kollam district of Kerala. It is the entrance to the famous backwaters of Kerala. It is also a Ramsar Wetland Site.
• Sasthamkotta Lake – It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala (Kollam district). It has also been designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site.
• Kaliveli Lake – It is a coastal lake in the Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu. This lake is on the coromandel coast, near the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the largest wetlands in Peninsular India.
• Kolavai Lake – The Kolavai lake is in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, which is perennial in nature.

Andhra Pradesh

• Pulicat lake – It is the second largest brackish water lake in India (after Chilika lake). It lies on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal. It is the habitat of numerous local and migratory birds.
• Kolleru Lake – It is one of the largest fresh-water lakes in India and forms the largest shallow fresh-water lake in Asia. It is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas and serves as a natural flood balancing reservoir for these two rivers. The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1999 under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and was also designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2002.
• Ulsoor Lake/Halasuru Lake – It is one of the biggest lakes in Bangalore.
• Ayyanakere Lake – It is near Sakharayapatna village of Karnataka, at a distance of 18 km from Chikmagalur.
• Hussain Sagar – It is situated in the city of Hyderabad. It was built across a tributary of the Musi river by Hussain Shah Wali in 1562 during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah.
• Osman Sagar – It is an artificial lake in Hyderabad. It was made by damming the Musi river in 1920 by the then Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan.

Get a list of the important lakes in India in the link.

Drainage System of India:- Download PDF Here

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