Introduction
Narmada River is a major river in peninsular India which flows in east-west direction, along with two other rivers namely, the Tapti River and Mahi River. Reva is another name of Narmada River. It is one of the rivers in India which flows in a rift valley and acts as a divider between north India and south India. Narmada River can be used for navigation. At Hoshangabad, the river has some striking ghats on its banks.
History of Narmada River
History of Narmada River is closely associated with the place called Amarkantak and Narmada Kund. In Hindu religious texts like Indian Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shatapatha Brahmana and Vashishtha Samhita, Amarkantak and its rivers have been mentioned. However, there is hardly any mention of Narmada River in Vedic literature.History of near about 3000 years has remained in dark, after the epic age of Mahabharata. King of Purukutsa, who was the son of Mandhatri, gave the name Narmada to the river. History states that Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya emperor, defeated Indian ruler, Harshavardhan of Kannauj on the banks of Narmada River. History shows that Aryans settled on the banks of Narmada River, as they expanded eastwards.
Geology of Narmada River
Geology of Narmada River Valley states the river to be a graben. A graben means a layered block of the earth`s crust that dropped down on the blocks on either side due to ancient spreading of the earth`s crust. Geology of Narmada River also relates to the paleontological studies of Narmada Valley.
Geography of Narmada River
Geography of Narmada River relates to the features of Narmada River and the Narmada Valley. The length of Narmada River is approximately 1,315 km (817 mi). Valleys of Narmada River are historically as well as economically significant. The narrow valley of the Narmada lies below the Vindhyachal scarps. Narmada River flows across this narrow valley and the valley covers the southern region of Dhar District`s Manawar tehsil and the southeastern part of Kukshi tehsil. The height of the river ranges from about 275 meters to 150 meters. Its height in the northern part of Manawar tehsil and southwest low plain of Nisarpur varies. Westwards, Narmada Valley comprises of several hills that are the originating point of a number of streams. These streams join Narmada River resulting in a few stretches of alluvium deposit. Narmada River`s watershed consists of northern slopes of Satpura Mountain Range as well as the vertical southern slope of the Vindhya Mountain Range.
Origin of Narmada River
Origin of Narmada River is an open pool known as Narmada Kund situated on the Amarkantak Hill in Shahdol district of eastern Madhya Pradesh. Narmada Kund is an open pond and is regarded sacred. Several Indian temples dedicated to many Gods and Goddesses surround Narmada Kund such as Sri Shuryanarayan Temple, Siddheswar Mahadev Temple and Annapurna Temple. Tourists from far and wide come to visit this place.
Course of Narmada River
Course of Narmada River is relatively straight and there are very less rocky hindrances. Narmada River flows down from the Amarkantak Hill Range at the Kapildhara Falls over a tall cliff. It moves down the hills, flowing through a distorted course and crossing the rocks and islands up to the ruined palace of Ramnagar. The river traverses further between Ramnagar and Mandla in the southeast direction. It traverses the first 320 kilometers (200 miles) around the Mandla Hills, which form the head of the Satpura Range. It then moves towards Jabalpur. Passing through the `Marble Rocks`, it enters the Narmada Valley between the Vindhya Mountain Range and Satpura Mountain Range and moves westwards towards the Gulf of Cambay. Narmada River flows through several Indian states including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, before merging into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat`s Bharuch district.
Tributaries of Narmada River
The main tributaries of Narmada River namely, Hallon River, Banjar River, Barna River and Tawa River are the main source of water, irrigation and other resource based activities in central India. Tawa River is the longest tributary of Narmada River. It joins Narmada River at Bandra Bhan in Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh. This river broadens out in Bharuch district, after traversing through Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Below a city of India namely, Bharuch, it forms a 20 kilometer wide estuary where it enters the Gulf of Cambay. The water of the river is used not only for feeding the drought prone areas of the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, but also for navigation as well.
Religious Significance of Narmada River
Religious Significance of Narmada River relates to its origin, Narmada Kund. The river is one of the five holy rivers of India, the other four being Ganga River, Yamuna River, Godavari River and Kaveri River. Narmada River is considered to be very holy by the Hindus and an important pilgrimage site. It is closely associated with Lord Shiva, who is believed to have descended from the sky. It is believed that a dip in Narmada River washes away all the sins. It is also believed that just the sight of the river cleanses one of all the sins. Rewa Khand of Vayu Purana and of Skanda Purana is entirely dedicated to the story of origin and importance of Narmada River.
Ecology in Narmada River Valley
Stretching across approximately 169,900 square kilometers, the lower Narmada River Valley and its adjoining uplands are characterized by extensive dry deciduous forests. This unique ecoregion forms a transitional zone bordered by moister forest regions to the northeast, southeast, and southwest areas that benefit from higher rainfall during the southeast monsoon. To the south, west, and northwest lie the arid landscapes of the Deccan Plateau, Malwa, and Gujarat, creating a diverse ecological interface.
The region's natural vegetation forms a distinct three-tiered forest system. Teak dominates the upper canopy, accompanied by a variety of species such as Diospyros melanoxylon, Anogeissus latifolia (Dhaora), Lagerstroemia parviflora, Terminalia tomentosa, Lannea coromandelica, Hardwickia binata, and Boswellia serrata. The Indian teak trees along this river are much older as compared to the ones in the Himalayan Mountain Range. Along the riverbanks and perennial streams, moisture-rich zones support patches of moist evergreen forests. These riparian areas are typically home to species like Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini (Jambul), Syzygium heyneanum, Salix tetrasperma, Homonoia riparia, and Vitex negundo.
This rich landscape supports diverse wildlife, including 76 species of mammals and 276 species of birds, though none are endemic to the area. Approximately 30% of the region retains relatively undisturbed forest cover, primarily within the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges. However, only about 5% of the land is officially protected, through reserves such as Bandhavgarh, Panna, and Sanjay National Parks.
Forests and Sanctuaries along Narmada River are quite rich and expansive. Some of the best hardwood Indian forests are found along this river. Several significant protected areas within the valley highlight the region's ecological richness. Kanha National Park, located in the upper Narmada basin, is one of India's most renowned wildlife sanctuaries. The park is nourished by the Sulkum and Banjar rivers, two tributaries of the Narmada, and is known for its population of Bengal tigers alongside other notable species.
Further west lies Satpura National Park, established in 1981 in the Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh. Named after the Satpura (Mahadeo) hill range, the park forms part of a larger conservation landscape, along with the adjacent Bori and Panchmarhi Sanctuaries. Together, they preserve a vital portion of the Central Indian Highlands ecosystem. Satpura’s terrain supports an impressive range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, Indian bison (gaur), sloth bears, wild dogs, nilgai, four-horned antelope, mouse deer, and Indian giant squirrels. Birds such as hornbills and peafowl are frequently spotted. The flora includes sal, teak, tendu, bamboo, aonla, mahua, bael, and various medicinal plants and grasses.
Biodiversity is not limited to protected zones, many unprotected forests in the region are equally rich in plant and animal life, showcasing the ecological importance of the broader landscape. Adding a unique geological dimension to the region is the Mandla Plant Fossils National Park, located in the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh. The park covers seven villages—Ghuguwa, Umaria, Deorakhurd, Barbaspur, Chanti Hills, Chargaon, and Deori Kohani.
Anthropological Sites along Narmada River
Anthropological Sites along Narmada River are considered to be of great interest among the tourists as well as historians. The extensive caves of Bhimbhetka are located in a dyke structure of the Narmada Valley, at about 45 km northeast of Bhopal. These caves lie between Bhopal and Hoshangabad highway and depict pre-historic rock shelter paintings. These paintings are considered to be a priceless chronicle in the history of India, which have been sculpted on the summit of the Vindhyas.
Narmada River Basin
Nestled between the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges, the Narmada basin spans approximately 98,796 square kilometers, marking the northern edge of the Deccan Plateau. This expansive basin stretches across a major portion of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, while also touching smaller sections of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
Agriculturally rich, around 60% of the basin is comprised of cultivable land. Forests account for roughly 35%, with the remaining 5% consisting of grasslands, wastelands, and other landforms. The Narmada River itself is fed by 41 tributaries, 22 of which flow in from the Satpura range on the left bank, while the remaining streams originate from the Vindhya range on the right bank. Notably, Dhupgarh, located near Pachmarhi, stands as the basin’s highest elevation at 1,350 meters above sea level.
The basin is divided into five distinct physiographic regions based on its terrain and topography. These include:
Together, these regions form a diverse and ecologically significant landscape, supporting both natural habitats and human livelihoods across central India.
Development of the Basin of Narmada River
Development of Narmada River was planned for keeping the banks and water of the river clean and usable. The early background of Narmada River and the dispute related to it have led to the emergence of many advanced plans for the development of the Narmada River basin. Explorations for using the Narmada waters began around the time of independence, when Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission (CWINC) came up with several storage schemes.
