Tapti is one of the major rivers in central India with a length of seven hundred and twenty four kilometers. It is one of the three rivers like Narmada River and Mahi River, which flow from the east to west direction.

The river originates in the eastern Satpura Range of southern part of Madhya Pradesh. It then flows westwards running in Madhya Pradesh`s Nimar region, Maharashtra`s Kandesh and east Vidarbha regions in the northwest corner of the Deccan Plateau and South Gujarat. It empties into the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea, in the State of Gujarat. The important tributaries of the Tapti River are Purna River, Girna River, Panzara River, Waghur River, Bori River and Aner River.

The river basin covers an area of 65,145 square kilometers. The basin comes under the state of Maharashtra covering an area of 51, 504 square kilometers, Madhya Pradesh over an area of 9,804 square kilometers and Gujarat spread over an area of 3,837 square kilometers. The districts drained by river in Maharastra are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Nashik districts, Betul and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh and Surat district of Gujarat.

The origin of Tapti River is known to be in the Betul district. The particular place of the river`s birth is the town of Multai. The Tapti River originates in the Betul district from a place called Multai. The Sanskrit name of Multai is Multapi and the term means the origin of Tapi Mata or the Tapti River. The Tapi River in Thailand was named after India`s Tapti River on August 1915. According to Hindu values, the Tapi River is considered to be the daughter of Lord Surya. There is a Purana dedicated to the virtues of Tapi, which praises the river as holier than all other rivers including the Ganges. The Tapi purana has mentioned that bathing in the Ganges, beholding Narmada and remembering Tapi, any person can be delivered from all sins.

The history of Tapti River is deeply associated with the history of the places across which it flows. Tapti is a river of western India and the history of this river starts with its origin in the Betul district. It rises in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and flows between two spurs of the Satpura Hills, across the plateau of Khandesh, and thence through the plain of Surat to the sea. It has a total length of around 724 km. and drains an area of 30,000 sq. m. For the last 32 m. of its course, it is a tidal flow, but is only navigable by vessels of small tonnage; and the port of Swally at its mouth. The history of this river is closely associated with the Anglo Portuguese history. The upper reaches of the river are now deserted, owing to silting at the outflow of the river. The waters of the Tapti are usually not used for irrigation.

The geography of Tapti Riveris the land and soil formation all along its course. The Tapti River rises in Madhya Pradesh. The Vindhya Range includes the north central and northwestern boundary of the Peninsula; also the Chota Nagpur Plateau of southern Bihar forms the northeastern boundary of the Tapti River basin. The uplifting of the plateau of the central Peninsula and its eastward bent had formed the vast Western Ghats, a line of hills running from the Tapti River south to the tip of the Peninsula. The Eastern Ghats mark the eastern end of the Tapti plateau; the river begins in the hills Multapi and converges with the Western Ghats at the Peninsula`s southern tip.

The geology of Tapti River is more or less similar to the geology of Indian peninsular. The geology of Tapti River can be said as old and geologically stable region with an average elevation between 300 and 1,800 meters. The Vindhya Range constitutes the main separating line between the geological regions of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Peninsular. This boundary range lies north of the Narmada River, and when viewed from there, it is possible to determine the high up escarpments that rise between 800 and 1,400 meters. The Vindhya Range includes the north central and northwestern boundary of the Peninsula and the Chota Nagpur Plateau of southern Bihar forms the northeastern boundary.

The religious importance of Tapti River is thought to be equivalent to that of legendary Ganges. According to the legends, Tapti River is the daughter of Surya or the Sun God. Some says that Surya has given birth to the Tapti River in order to save himself from his own intense heat. The river is also widely mentioned in the great Indian epic Mahabharata.

The naming of the Tapti River is closely linked with its birthplace, Multapi in Madhya Pradesh. The Tapti River took birth in the Betul district from a place called Multai. The Sanskrit name of Multai is Multapi, meaning origin of Tapi Mata or the Tapti River.

The Tapti river Basin covers a vast area of 65,145 kmē that is nearly two percent of the total area of India. The River basin of Tapti River is the vast fertile patch of land in central India. The river and its tributaries make up the Tapti River basin. The Tapti river basin encompasses an area of 65,145 kmē, which is nearly two percent of the total area of India. The basin lies in the Indian states of Maharashtra (around 51,504 kmē), Madhya Pradesh (around 9,804 kmē) and Gujarat (around 3,837 kmē). The basin mostly lie in the northern and eastern districts Maharashtra state, including places like Amravati, Dhule, Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Nashik districts. However, the Betul and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh and the Surat district of Gujarat are the prime districts included in the Tapti River basin.

There are several places of interest along the Tapti River, these spots have been attracting tourists, and worshippers round the year. Major towns along the river include Betul, Multai and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, Bhusawal in Maharashtra and Surat in Gujarat. The important crossings of the Tapti River include the road bridge Sawalde in Dhule for National Highway 3 and the railway bridge at Bhusawal for the Bhusawal - Khandwa division of the Central Railway. The river features the Hatnur Dam in Jalgaon, Maharashtra and Ukai Dam in Songadh, Gujarat.

The Rivers in the Tapti River Basin caters to the water requirements in the central India. The Tapti River basin covers an area of 65,145 kmē that makes up almost two percent of the total area of India. The basin lies in the states of Maharashtra, covering an area about 51,504 kmē, Madhya Pradesh with 9,804 kmē surface area and Gujarat covering 3,837 kmē of land.