Origin of Krishna River
The Krishna River originates in the Western Ghats of India, near the Mahabaleshwar temple in the Satara District in Maharashtra. It is fed by several small streams and springs originating from the Mahabaleshwar plateau.
Interesting Facts about Krishna River
The Krishna River is the 3rd longest river in India and the second largest river of peninsular India.
The Krishna is also called the Krishnaveni.
Krishnabai Temple in Mahabaleshwar is considered to be the starting point of the Krishna River. Here, a stream of water flows from a gomukh (a structure shaped like the face of a cow) and collects into a water tank called the Krishna Kund.
The Koyna River, which also originates from Mahabaleshwar, merges with the Krishna at Karad, and the confluence is known as the Krishna Koyna Preeti Sangam.
The major dams on the Krishna are the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam (also known as Almatti Dam), the Nagarjuna Sagar, the Srisailam Dam, the Dhom Dam, the Narayanpur Dam, and the Jurala Dam.
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the biggest dam on the Krishna River with a height of 125 metres and 26 gates.
nagarjuna sagar dam on krishna river The water of the Krishna River is shared among the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka according to the allocation awarded by the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (I and II).
[Note: The allocation for the newly formed Telangana State has not yet been decided and is an ongoing dispute.]
Krishna Pushkaram is a Hindu festival held once in every 12 years, where the Krishna River is worshipped. Millions attend the fairs, worship, and prayers held along the ghats of the river.
The Krishna is personified as ‘Lokmata’ in Maharashtra and a festival called Krishnabai Utsav is celebrated in Baisakh (around May) to worship the river.
The fertile delta region formed by the Krishana and Godavari rivers is known as the "Rice Bowl of India."
Course of Krishna River
After arising from the Mahabaleshwar Plateau, the Krishna River flows primarily eastwards across the Deccan Plateau, through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana to enter Andhra Pradesh, where it branches out in the Krishna district to form a delta region before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
Main tributaries of Krishna River
The Tungabhadra River, the largest tributary, is formed by the merging of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers
The Bhima River, the longest tributary of the Krishna
The Panchganga River, formed from the confluence of the Kumbhi, Tulsi, Bhogawati and Kasari rivers.
The Malaprabha River
The Ghataprabha River
The Musi River
The Munneru River
The Koyna River
The Doodhganga River
The Warna River
The Yerla River
Key Tourist and Spiritual Places located around the Krishna River
Kudalasangama: Located at the confluence of the Krishna and Malaprabha River rivers in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. Famous for the swayambhu (self-emanated) Aikya Linga or the holy Samadhi of Basavanna (Basaveshwara), the philosopher, poet, and Lingayat social reformer. It is also called the Aikya Mantapa.
Panch Ganga Temple, Mahabaleshwar: Depicts the confluence of the Koyna, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri with the Krishna River.
Dakshin Kashi Shiv Temple: Revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the city of Satara, near the confluence of the Krishna and Venna.
Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve - largest tiger reserve in India, located in the Nallamala forest.
Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Jyotirling Temple: Famous Shiva temple in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh.
Kondapalli Fort: The ruins of a 14th-century fort is located in the Kondapalli Reserve Forest on the banks of the Krishna River.
Kopeshwar Mandir: in Khidrapur, Maharashtra. Famous for intricate and beautiful architecture, elephant pillars, and an open ceiling dome.
Kanaka Durga Temple: in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Ancient temple, with swayambhu deity of Kanana Durga.
Narsoba Chi Wadi Temple: Located in Nrusinhawadi, Maharashtra, at the confluence of the Panchganga River with the Krishna. Dedicated to Shri Narasimha Saraswati, the second reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple: Vedadri, Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetras of South India.
Amara Lingeswara Swamy Temple: Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras dedicated to Lord Shiva. The deity here is Amaralingeswara Swamy and his consort is Bala Chamundika.
Mythological Origin Story of Krishna River
According to religious legends, the Krishna River is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. Its tributaries Koyna and Venna are said to be Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. It is said that the holy trinity (Trimurti) of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Lord Shiva once wanted to do a yajna (sacred offering ritual). Brahma’s consort, Savitri, was late, leading him to marry Gayatri and invite her to the ritual. When Devi Savitri came, she was enraged and cursed them all to become rivers. The Koyna, Venna (Veni), Savitri, and Gayatri, all emerge from Mahabaleshwar hills and merge into Krishna afterwards.
Key Cities located on the bank of the Krishna River
Wai: A town of ancient temples. It is famous for Hemadpanti style temples, ghats by the River Krishna, the Kashi Vishweshwar Temple, Shri Vishnu Temple, Ganesha Temple, and Buddhist caves.
Sangli: Famous for sugarcane industry and turmeric production
Vijayawada: Second largest city of Andhra Pradesh, famous for commerce, culture and education. Home to Kanaka Durga Temple on the Indrakeeladri Hill.
Sangam Mahuli: Famous for Dakshin Kashi Shiv Temple built in the 17th century.
Kshetra Mahuli: Famous for Rameshwar Temple, which has a remarkable stone structure called the 'deepasthambham'.
Amaravati: The capital of Andhra Pradesh. Important for its rich history and culture. Famous places include Dhyana Buddha statue, Archaeological Museum, Amaralingeswara Temple, Kanaka Durga Temple and Undavalli Caves
Srisailam: Famous for Mallikarjuna Jyotirling Temple, tiger reserve, and Srisailam Dam.
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