Region | Name |
Tibet | Tsangpo (meaning 'The Purifier') |
China | Yarlung Zangbo, Jiangin |
Assam Valley | Dihang or Siong, South of Sadiya: Brahmaputra |
Bangladesh | Jamuna River
Padma River: Combined Waters of Ganga and Brahmaputra
Meghana: From the confluence of Padma and Meghna |
- The Brahmaputra (meaning the son of Brahma). It is 2,900 km in length.
- Source: Chemayungdung glacier (Kailas Range) at an elevation of about 5,150 m. Its source is very close to the sources of Indus and Sutlej.
- Mariam La separates the source of the Brahmaputra from the Manasarovar Lake.
- The Brahmaputra flows eastwards in Southern Tibet for about 1,800 km.
- It receives a large number of tributaries in Tibet. The first major tributary is the Raga Tsangpo meeting the Tsangpo near Lhatse Dzong.
- The river Ngangchu flows through the trade centre of Gyantse in the south and joins the main river.
- Towards the end of its journey in Tibet, its course abruptly takes a southward turn around Namcha Barwa (7,756 m) (Syntaxial Bend).
- Here it cuts across the eastern Himalaya through the Dihang or Siang Gorge and emerges from the mountains near Sadiya in the Assam Valley.
- Here it first flows under the name of Siong and then as the Dihang.
- In the north-eastern parts of Assam Valley, it is joined by two important tributaries viz, the Dibang (or Sikang) from the north and Lohit from the south.
- From Sadiya (Assam Valley) onwards, this mighty river is known as the Brahmaputra.
- The main streams merging with the Brahmaputra from the north are, Subansiri, Kameng, Dhansiri (north), Raidak, Tista etc.
- The Tista was a tributary of the Ganga before the floods of 1787 after which it diverted its course eastwards to join the Brahmaputra.
- The river is nearly 16 km wide at Dibrugarh and forms many islands, the most important of which is Majuli (world's largest river island).
- The Brahmaputra bends southwards and enters Bangladesh near Dhubri.
- It flows for a distance of 270 km in the name of Jamuna river and joins the Ganga at Goalundo.
- The united stream of the Jamuna and the Ganga flows further in the name of Padma.
- About 105 km further downstream, the Padma is joined on the left bank by the Meghna, originating in the mountainous region of Assam.
- From the confluence of Padma and Meghna, the combined river is known as the Meghna which makes a very broad estuary before pouring into the Bay of Bengal.
- Left Bank Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Dhansiri, Kolong.
- Right Bank Tributaries: Kameng, Manas, Raidak, Jaldhaka, Teesta, Subansiri
