The Godavari River is one of the major waterways in central India; it originates in the Western Ghats and flows eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau between the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, then crossing Andhra Pradesh it turns to flow in a southeast direction until it finally flows into the Bay of Bengal through two mouths. Its tributaries are Indravati River, Bindusara River, Moosi River, Manjira River and Sabari River.

The river arises only 80 kilometres from the Arabian Sea and it flows 1,465 km to get emptied into the Bay of Bengal. Just above Rajahmundry or the Rajahmahendravaram, there is a dam for the supply of water for irrigation. Below Rajahmundry, the river splits into two streams that broaden into a large river delta that is extensive navigable irrigation-canal system. The Dowleswaram Barrage or Dhawaleshwaram links the region to the Krishna River delta in the southwest.

The Indrawati, the Wardha, the Pench, the Wainganga, the Kanhan and Penganga rivers discharge an enormous volume of water in the Godavari system. The Godavari River has a total drainage area of almost 313,000 km² that includes more that one state. The Manjra River is its major tributary.