The Narmada River flows westward through the center of India. It is a vital river for both Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Ancient beliefs hold that a pilgrimage around the Narmada’s path, a parikrama, cleanses all sins and absolves one of all misdeeds. Often called a “Punyamayi river” (पुण्‍यमयी) in the Puranas, it is one of the most ancient rivers in the country.

Its source is the Maikal mountain range of the Vindhyas, at a sacred place called Amarkantak. From there, it embarks on an incredible journey of approximately 1,312 kilometers through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, before finally merging with the Gulf of Khambhat near Bharuch. The river has been a silent witness to the ebb and flow of history and geography, with ancient fossils of dinosaurs and plants, dating back millions of years, found along its banks. Legend says that after a great natural upheaval, the sea receded and the Narmada came into being.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Narmada’s course spans 1,079 kilometers, which is a remarkable 82.24% of its total length. Along its banks are 21 districts, 68 tehsils, 1,138 villages, and 1,126 ghats, or riverfront steps. The Narmada, along with its tributaries, is a primary source of water for irrigation and drinking water for a vast area of the state. It plays a crucial role in the development of agriculture, tourism, and industry. Key crops grown on its fertile banks include rice, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds, potatoes, wheat, and cotton. Narmada River is very important from social, literary, cultural, economic and religious point of view.

Origin

Amarkantak is the sacred origin of the Narmada. In the Puranas, this area was known as the Kalinga region, suggesting its geographic boundaries may have once extended to Odisha. The river’s source is a large, eleven-cornered kund, or reservoir, with a western, cow-mouth-shaped opening called Koti Teerth. From Amarkantak, the Narmada first creates the stunning Kapildhara waterfall, and then flows into Doodhdhara, where its countless streams form a beautiful, picturesque view.

Notable Dams

Major dams built on the Narmada include the Omkareshwar and Maheshwar dams.

Course

The Narmada begins its journey from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, passing through districts such as Shahdol, Umaria, Anuppur, Mandla, Dindori, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Narmadapuram, Sehore, Harda, Khandwa, Khargone, and Barwani. It then flows for 32 kilometers along the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and another 40 kilometers between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, before finally entering Gujarat. After a 161-kilometer journey through Gujarat, it merges with the Gulf of Khambhat.

The total basin area of the Narmada is 98,796 square kilometers. Of this, 85,859 square kilometers are in Madhya Pradesh, 1,538 square kilometers in Maharashtra, and 11,399 square kilometers in Gujarat. The Narmada basin covers 25 districts in Madhya Pradesh, 5 in Gujarat, 2 in Chhattisgarh, and 1 in Maharashtra.

Tributaries

The Narmada has numerous tributaries, but there are 41 major ones with a catchment area of more than 500 square kilometers. Nineteen of these join the Narmada from the right bank, and twenty-two from the left. Of these 41 major tributaries, 39 join in Madhya Pradesh, while only 2 meet it in Gujarat. In addition to these, there are several sub-tributaries that flow into the main tributaries before they, in turn, join the Narmada.

Key right-bank tributaries: Hiran, Tendoni, Barna, Kolar, Maan, Uri, Hatni, and Orsang.

Key left-bank tributaries: Barnar, Banjar, Sher, Shakkar, Dudhi, Tawa, Ganjal, Chhota Tawa, Kundi, Goi, and Karjan.

The Narmada is famous for its abundance of waterfalls. The first one is the Kapildhara waterfall, where the river seems to leap with great force. The next is Doodhdhara, where the river flows as pure and white as milk. The first confluence of the Narmada is the Seoni Sangam. From there, it flows through Dindori, where the Baiga tribes share a unique mother-son relationship with the river. Continuing on, the Narmada heads towards Mandla, where it becomes a mighty, fast-flowing river, creating the Sahasradhara (Thousand Streams). Here, the Narmada’s powerful, gushing flow can be seen in a thousand streams. In Jabalpur’s Bhedaghat, the Narmada takes on a beautiful marble form, earning it the name “River of Beauty.”

The Chausath Yogini Temple

Near Bhedaghat, on a 50-foot-high round hill, stands an ancient temple built around the 10th century. One can reach the temple by climbing 109 steps. The temple houses 64 Kalachuri-era Yogini statues, which is why it is called the Chausath Yogini Temple (Temple of 64 Yoginis). Among the statues is the third yogini, Roshini, who is depicted with a jat-mukut (braided crown), riding a crocodile, and is a representation of the Narmada itself. This temple stands as a testament to the ancient devotion people had for the Narmada.