The Godavari (Marathi గోదావరి) is a river
that runs from western to southernIndia and
is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of
1465 km, it is the second longest river in India (only after the Ganges), that
runs within the country and also the longest river in South India. It
originates near Trimbak in Nashik District ofMaharashtra state
and flows east across the Deccan
Plateau into the Bay
of Bengal nearNarasapuram in West Godavari district
of Andhra
Pradesh.
The Godavari River is a major waterway in central
India, originating in the Western
GhatsTrimbakeshwar, in the Nashik Subdivision or District Of
Maharashtra and flowing eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state
of Maharashtra. It is known as dakshin ganga(Southern
Ganges). It enters Andhra Pradesh at Basara in Adilabad district.
While passing through telangana region of Andhra Pradesh it touches a small
village called Dharmapuri which is a pilgrimage village with many ancient Hindu
temples and river Godavari serving as spiritual place in true sense for bathing
in Godavari river spread over rocks and sand. While crossing the Deccan Plateau
and then turns to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay
of Bengal through two mouths.[4] Basara, on the banks of Godavari in AdilabadDistrict,
is home to a famous temple for Goddess Saraswati and is the second temple for the
Goddess in India.
Rajahmundry, is
the largest city on the banks of Godavari. At Rajahmundry, Godavari is in its
widest form having a width of approximately 5 km from Rajahmundry to the
other bank at Kovvur.
The Sri Ram Sagar Project which
was constructed on this river (1964–69) serves the irrigation needs of
Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal districts.
Although
the river arises only 80 kilometres from the Arabian Sea, it
flows 1,465 km to empty into the Bay of Bengal. Just above Rajamundry,
there is a dam that provides water for irrigation. Below Rajahmundry, the river
divides into two streams that widen into a large river delta which
has an extensive navigable irrigation-canal system, Dowleswaram
Barrage that links the region to the Krishna River delta
to the southwest.
The
Godavari River has a drainage area of 312,812 km² that includes more than
one state which is nearly one-tenth of India and is greater than the areas of
England and Ireland put together. The Pravara, Indravati, Wainganga, Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers,
discharge an enormous volume of water into the Godavari system. Its tributaries
includeIndravati, Manjira River, Bindusara River and Sabari River.
Major towns and cities along the river
In Maharashtra:
In Andhra Pradesh:
§ Basara, Adilabad
(Gnana Saraswati Temple)
§ Nirmal, Adilabad
(Nirmal Toys)
§ battapur, Nizamabad (Armoor Toys)
§ Goodem gutta, Adilabad (Temple)
§ Kaleshwaram,
Karimnagar (Kaleswara Mukhteswara swamy (Siva) Temple)
§ Manthani,
Karimnagar (Gautameshwara Swami(Siva) Temple, Sri Rama, Sarswathi Temples)
§ Godavarikhani,
Karimnagar
§ Bhadrachalam,
[Actually part of [WestGodavri], but merged with [Khammam] in 1959]
§ Yanam,
East Godavari
§ Tallapudi,
West Godavari
§ Antarvedi,
East Godavari
Dams and bridges along the river
A
barrage was built on the river at Dowleswaram by
Sir Arthur
Cotton in 1852. As it was damaged in 1987 floods, it was rebuilt as
a barrage and roadway during 1987 and named after him. The roadway connects Dowleswaram in
East Godavari and Vijjeswaram in West Godavari.
There
is also a big dam built just after the source of the river at Trimbakeshwar.
The dam is in the town of Gangapur, which literally means a town on a river.
The dam provides drinking water to the residents of Nashik and also supplies
water to the thermal power station situated downstream at Eklahare, which
provides power to the town.
There
is another multipurpose project on the Godavari River named Sriram Sagar Project
on the borders of Adilabad and Nizamabad District. It is in the town of
Pochampad, 60 km away from Nizamabad. It irrigates 4 districts of Northern
Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh and supplies power.
The Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is
one of the largest earthen dam in India. This dam was built to address the
problem of drought in Marathwada region and problem of flood along the bank of
river. Two 'left' and 'right' canals provide the irrigation to fertile land up
to Nanded district. This dam has major contribution in industrial development
of Aurangabad Maharashtra.
1.
Havelock bridge (Named after the
then Madras Governor)
2.
Rail-cum-road bridge
3.
New railway bridge
Construction
for this bridge started in 1876, and was completed in 1897. It was constructed
under the supervision of F.T. Granville Walton who had constructed the Dufferin
Bridge over the Ganges, and Granville Mills, British engineers. Spanning over
3 km in length, it linked the East Godavari and West Godavari districts.
The brige has been a vital link enabling trains to run between Chennaiand Howrah. Trains continued to ply over the
bridge for a century until 1997, when train services over the bridge were
suspended after the construction of 2 additional bridges.
This
bridge constructed over a quarter of a century ago, serves as both a Railway
bridge and as a roadway between the East Godavari and West Godavari Districts.
This
bridge completed in 1997, was built upstream of the earlier bridges.
Significance
Religious significance
The
Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and
has several pilgrimage centers on its banks. It has been held as a special
place of pilgrimage for
many thousands of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladeva (5000
years ago) and more recently Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters as an act of
worship.
Godavari
is considered the Dhakshin (Southern) Ganga and Rajahmundry Dhakshin Kasi.
Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Crores of
people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves
of all their sins.
Legend
has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar with
his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow
entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow
away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of
the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring the
Ganga to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka
and brought along the river Ganga. Since the Ganga was brought down to
Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is known here as Gautami. It is also known
as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.
Ecological significance
The
Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove
formation in the country. Part of this has been declared as the Coringa
Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its reptiles. They also provide an important
habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also act as
barriers against cyclones, tropical storms and tidal waves thus protecting the
nearby villages.
Godavari is the second largest river in India after river Ganges.
Other significance
Places of interest
The Godavari flowing throughBhadrachalam.
Like
any other major rivers in India, the banks of this river also has many
pilgrimage sites.
§ Paithan -
Saint Eknath's native place, famous Jayakwadi dam,
and a beautiful garden name asSant Dnyneshwar Udyan.
§ Basar (originally,
Vyasara) - Sri Gyana Saraswati temple
is situated on the banks of Godavari, in Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh. It
is 210 km from state capital Hyderabad and accessible by road and rail
(nearest major station: Nizamabad, although Basar station also exists). It is
considered that the sage Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata on the banks of Godavari
at this location, and thus the place came to be known as Vyasara.
§ Dharmapuri, Andhra Pradesh -
Hindu Temple of Lord Narasimha.
Godavari flows from North to South in Dharmapuri, hence the river is localled
called 'Dakshina Vahini' [South Flowing]
§ Kaleshwaram -
Sri Kaleswara Mukhteswara swamy Temple is situated here on the banks of Triveni
sangamam of rivers godavari and pranahita. (border of Andhra Pradesh and
Maharastra). It is 125 kilometers away from Karimnagar, 115 km away from
Warangal city.
§ Rajahmundry -
Center for Telugu Literature. A town that symbolises Telugu Culture. It is the
native of Aadikavi Nannaya,
one of the writers of kavitrayam. Famous for the Godavari Pushkaralu - an event
that happens once in every 12 years, celebrated with pomp and glory and
attended by lakhs of people from all round the world. A bath in Godavari during
the pushkaram period is said to be equivalent to bathing in the holy River
Ganges.
§ Antarvedi -
Famous for Hindu temple of Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy. Also, one of the mouths
of the river joins Bay
of Bengal here.
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