Hooghly(Hugli) is a river in the West Bengal state of northeastern India. The Hooghly River is considered to be an arm of the Ganges. It is one of the many branches of the river that are collectively known as the "Mouths of the Ganges."

It originates from the junction of the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers at Nabadwip. The river is approximately 260 km long. It is the distributary of the Ganges River. From Ganges it splits as a canal.

The Farakka Barrage is a dam that diverts water from the Ganges into a canal near the town of Tildanga(Murshidabad District). It is this canal that provides Hooghly with water in the dry season. It parallels the Ganges above Jahangirpur where the canal ends. Towards south of Jahangirpur it leaves the Ganges area and flows south past Jiaganj Azimganj, Murshidabad and Baharampur. The river then flows past Katoya, Navadwip and Kalna. At Kalna, it forms a border between Nadia District and Hooghly District. Then it flows past Halisahar, Chunchura, Rishra, and Kamarhati. Just before entering the twin cities of Kolkata and Howarh, it turns in the southwest direction. At Nurpur it flows into an old channel of the Ganges and turns south to empty into the Bay of Bengal. The two wll known tributaries of the river are Damodar and Rupnarayan. The nexus formed by the Hooghly River and the Bay of Bengal is called Ganga Sagar, which is considered as sacred for Hindus.

The river is also known as Bhagirathi. The word Bhabirati means "caused by Bhagiratha", a mythical Sagar. It is believed that it was Prince Sagar, who was instrumental in bringing the river Ganga from the heavens on to the earth. The river occupied as important place in the history of Bengal. It is said that the presence of the river was the cause of the British to settle at Calcutta. Like the rest of Ganges this river is also considered as sacred by the Hindu`s.