1. The Indus River (Main River)
- Origin: The Indus (or Sindhu) originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Kailash Mountain range in Tibet, close to the Mansarovar Lake, at an elevation of 4,164 m. In Tibet, it is known as ‘Singi Khamban’ or Lion’s mouth. It is also joined by the Dhar River near the Indo-China border.
- Course & Important Locations: It flows northwest between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, passing through the regions of Ladakh, Baltistan, and Gilgit. It cuts across the Ladakh range to form a spectacular 5,181 m deep gorge near Gilgit. The river emerges from the hills near Attock, taking a sharp southerly (syntaxial) bend north of the Nanga Parbat. It crosses the Potwar plateau and the Salt Range, and enters Pakistan near Chilas in the Dardistan region.
- Right Bank Tributaries: Near Skardu, it is joined by the Shyok river. Other Himalayan tributaries include the Gilgit, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting (or Gartang), and Dras. Further downstream, the Kabul River (from Afghanistan) joins it on its right bank near Attock. Below Attock, it is joined by the Khurram, Tochi (or Toch), Gomal, Viboa (or Zhob-Gomal), and Sangar rivers, which all originate in the Sulaiman ranges.
- Left Bank Tributaries: The Zaskar River joins the Indus at Leh. Lower down in the plains, just above Mithankot, the Indus receives the 'Panjnad' (the accumulated waters of its five major eastern tributaries: Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum).
- End/Merge: The river empties into the Arabian Sea east and south of Karachi, forming a massive delta.
2. The Jhelum
- Origin: Rises from a spring at Verinag, located at the foot of the Pir Panjal range in the south-eastern Kashmir Valley.
- Course & Important Locations: It flows northwards through Srinagar and into Wular Lake. At Baramulla, it enters a steep-sided narrow gorge. The river takes a sharp hairpin bend southward at Muzaffarabad, forms the India-Pakistan boundary for 170 km, emerges at the Potwar Plateau near Mirpur, and enters the plains near the city of Jhelum.
- End/Merge: It joins the Chenab at Trimmu (near Jhang in Pakistan).
3. The Chenab (Chandrabhaga)
- Origin: The largest tributary of the Indus, formed by two small streams—the Chandra and the Bhaga—which form its headwaters at an altitude of 4,900 m. They originate on opposite sides of the Bara Lacha Pass in the Lahul-Spiti part of the Zaskar Range, and join at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh.
- Course & Important Locations: The river flows northwest through the Pangi valley. It cuts a deep gorge near Kistwar and enters the plain area near Akhnur in Jammu and Kashmir.
- End/Merge: It flows into the plains of Pakistani Punjab to reach Panchnad, where it joins the Satluj after having already received the waters of the Jhelum and Ravi.
4. The Ravi
- Origin: Originates in the Kullu hills near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
- Course & Important Locations: It drains the area between the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges and crosses the Chamba valley. It cuts a deep gorge in the Dhauladhar range, enters the Punjab plains near Madhopur, and enters Pakistan below Amritsar.
- End/Merge: It debouches into the Chenab a little above Rangpur (near Sarai Sidhu) in Pakistani Punjab.
5. The Beas
- Origin: Rises from the Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass at an elevation of 4,062 m (close to the Ravi's source at the southern end of the Pir Panjal Range).
- Course & Important Locations: It crosses the Dhauladhar range, flows through the Kullu valley, and forms gorges at Kati and Largi. Notably, the Beas is the only main tributary that lies entirely within Indian territory.
- End/Merge: It meets the Satluj river at Harike in Punjab.
6. The Satluj
- Origin: Originates from the 'Raksas tal' (Rakas Lakes) near Mansarovar in Tibet at an altitude of 4,555 m (within 80 km of the Indus's source), where it is known as Langchen Khambab.
- Course & Important Locations: It flows northwest parallel to the Indus for about 400 km and enters India by passing through the Shipki La pass on the Tibet-Himachal Pradesh boundary. It cuts a gorge at Naina Devi Dhar, feeding the famous Bhakra dam project, and comes out into the plains at Rupnagar (Ropar). From near Ferozepur to Fazilka, it forms the boundary between India and Pakistan for about 120 km.
- End/Merge: It is joined by the Beas at Harike, collects the combined waters of the Chenab, Ravi, and Jhelum, and ultimately joins the Indus just above Mithankot.
Summary Table of the Indus River System
River | Key Passes, Gorges & Nearby Cities | Length |
Indus | Ladakh & Zaskar ranges, Gilgit (5,181m gorge), Leh, Skardu, Attock, Chilas, Karachi | 1114 km in India (2880 km total) |
Jhelum | Srinagar, Wular Lake, Baramulla (gorge), Muzaffarabad (bend), Mirpur, Jhelum city | 720 km |
Chenab | Tandi, Keylong, Pangi Valley, Kistwar (gorge), Akhnur | 1180 km |
Ravi | Chamba valley, Madhopur, Amritsar, Dhauladhar gorge | 725 km |
Beas | Kullu valley, Kati & Largi (gorges) | 460 km |
Satluj | Shipki La pass, Naina Devi Dhar gorge, Bhakra Dam, Rupnagar, Ferozepur, Fazilka | 1050 km in India (1450 km total) |
Major rivers | Source | End / Merge Point |
Indus | Bokhar Chu glacier (Kailash range, Tibet) | Arabian Sea (east of Karachi) |
Jhelum | Verinag Spring (foot of Pir Panjal) | Joins the Chenab at Trimmu |
Chenab | Bara Lacha Pass (Zaskar Range) | Joins the Satluj at Panchnad |
Ravi | Kullu hills (Near Rohtang Pass) | Joins the Chenab near Sarai Sidhu / Rangpur |
Beas | Beas Kund (Near Rohtang Pass) | Meets the Satluj at Harike |
Sutlej | Raksas tal / Rakas Lakes (Tibet) | Joins the Indus above Mithankot |
- Descending order according to length: Indus – Sutlej – Chenab – Ravi – Jhelum – Beas
- Left to Right: Indus – Jhelum – Chenab – Ravi – Beas – Sutlej