The Brahmani River originates in the vicinity of the Nagri village in the Dhenkanal district of Orissa at the confluence of the Sankh and the South Koel rivers at an elevation of about 600 m.

The river, with a total length of 480 km, winds around the south and southeast past Bonaigarh and Talcher and then turns towards the east to unite with the northern branches of the Mahanadi River. It finally empties into the Bay of Bengal at the Palmyras Point. The significant tributaries of the Brahmani River are the Karo, the Sankh, and the Tirka. The Brahmani, the Mahanadi, and the Baitarani rivers together form a big river delta on the Orissa coastal plain.