Gandak River

The Gandak River has recently emerged as the second major river after the Chambal River with the highest number of gharials, the fish-eating crocodiles. This highlights the river’s importance as a critical habitat for endangered species in India.

About the Gandak River

The Gandak River, also known as Narayani in Nepal, is a major left-bank tributary of the Ganges in India. It is mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, emphasizing its historical and cultural significance.

Course and Geography

• Origin: The river originates at an altitude of 7,620 m above sea level north of Dhaulagiri Mountain in Tibet near the Nepal border.

• Path:

  • Flows through Tibet and enters Nepal, where it is called Narayani.

  • Enters India at Valmikinagar in West Champaran district, Bihar, at a point known as Triveni.

  • Flows southeast across the upper Gangetic plain in eastern Uttar Pradesh and northwestern Bihar.

  • Joins the Ganges near Patna in Vaishali district, Bihar.

• Length: Total length is 700 km, with over 300 km within India.

• Boundaries: North by the Himalayas, south by the Ganga, east by the Burhi Gandak Basin, and west by the Ghagra Basin.

• Upper catchment: Contains 1,710 glaciers and over 300 lakes, contributing to heavy silt transport, causing the river’s shifting course.

• Notable Features: Forms the Kali Gandaki gorge in Nepal, one of the deepest river gorges in the world.

The river supports two major protected areas: Chitwan National Park in Nepal and Valmiki Tiger Reserve in India, making it a biodiversity hotspot.

Major Tributaries

Some of the key tributaries of the Gandak River are:

• Daraudi

• Seti

• Madi

• Marsyandi

• Budhi Gandaki

Gharial: The Fish-Eating Crocodile

The Gharial is a critically endangered freshwater crocodile known for its unique elongated snout.

Key Facts

• Name Origin: ‘Gharial’ comes from the Hindi word “ghara”, meaning pot, referring to the bulbous tip of adult male snouts.

• Distribution: Historically found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, but now only survives in fragmented populations in Nepal and northern India.

• Indian Reserves: Found in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with 90% of surviving gharials in the National Chambal Sanctuary.

Physical Features

• Size: Males grow 16–20 feet (5–6 meters); females 11.5–15 feet (3.5–4.5 meters).

• Skin: Thick and smooth, with non-overlapping epidermal scales.

• Snout: Thinest and most elongated among all crocodilians; males have a ghara at the tip.

• Behavior: Highly aquatic, rarely leaves water except to bask or nest on sandbanks.

Reproduction

• Mating occurs November–January

• Egg-laying occurs March–May

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered