South Asian Business news and information

Rivers are very important for any country. They play important roles in communication, transportation, agriculture, and economy. In many countries, dams are built across rivers to produce hydro electricity. On the contrary, rivers also cause flood which destroys houses and crops and wash away people. Due to the devastating flood caused by Huáng Hé, the largest river of China, it is also known as “China’s Sorrow.” Today, I would like to talk about some of the famous rivers of South Asia.

It is the most important river of Pakistan. If you look at the history of Pakistan then you would see that it originated from the Indus valley civilization. The civilization flourished on the banks of the Indus River. The river originated in Tibet near Mansarovar.It runs over India, Northern part of Pakistan and falls into the Arabian Sea. The total length of the river is 3200 kilometers. It has twenty tributaries. Indus plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy. The provinces of Punjab and Sindh which are the major agricultural centers of the country use water of this river. Besides, the river supports many industries.

The river flows over Northern India and Bangladesh. The river is 2,510 kilometers long. The population density of the areas near this river is very high. This huge population and industrialization has caused serious water pollution. Along with another river Yamuna, this river has formed a deltaic land which covers Bangladesh, West Bengal and India. This is the largest delta of the world. Like the Indus of Pakistan, this river is also very important for agriculture in these areas. From the religious point of view, this river is worshipped as a goddess by the Hindus and also referred as “Holy Ganga.” The Hindus believe that they can get rid of their sins by bathing in this river.

The river is also known as “Ayeyarwady”. “Ayeyarwady” is a Sanskrit word which is considered to have been originated from another Sanskrit word "airavati", which means "Elephant". This river flows over Myanmar. It is the largest river of Myanmar. The length of the river is about 1350 miles. This river divides the Burmese region into two parts from north to south. This river plays a great role in Burma’s economy. It is a major means of communication and agriculture. Originating from Kachin, the river has a total drainage area of this river is 158,700 square miles. Before train and cars arrived in Burma, this river was the main means of communication. This is why it was also known as "Road to Mandalay".

Brahmaputra means “the son of Brahma”. This river runs through three countries: China (Tibet), India (Assam), and Bangladesh. In these three countries, it is known by different names; in Tibet, Yarlung Tsangpo; in Assam, Brahmaputra; and in Bangladesh Jamuna and Brahmaputra. Originating from the northern Himalayas, this river is 3000 kilometers in length. In spring, this river causes flood in many places as snow from the Himalayas starts to melt. It is also among the few rivers in the world that has tidal bore.

After Ganges, Godavari is the major river of India. A seasonal river, Godavari starts from Trimbakeshwar in Nashik. From there it goes to the southern portion of India. Through Andhra Pradesh it falls into the Bay of Bengal. The river is 1,450 kilometers long. To the Hindus, this river has great religious importance.

This river is known as Dakshina Ganga. According to legend, this river originated from a girl named Lopamudra, who was the daughter of Brahma. In order to achieve blessing from her father, she became a river. The water of Kaveri is believed to be very pure and it purifies all the sins. Starting from the western ghats of Karnataka, the river flows through the Deccan plateau and falls into the Bay of Bengal. The length of this river is 765 kilometers.