Madhya Pradesh, a state in north-central India, is subtropical with substantial (1,400 mm (55.1 in)) monsoon rains that feed a large number of streams and rivers. The largest of these by volume is the Narmada, followed by the Tapti. Madhya Pradesh falls in five major river basins. The northern part of the state falls within the Ganges Basin where the Betwa, Chambal and Son flow. South of the Ganges Basin is the Narmada Basin, the second largest by surface area. The other three basins cover small portions of Madhya Pradesh, namely the Mahi Basin to the west, the Tapi Basin and the Godavari Basin to the south.
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Ganges Basin: Betwa
The Betwa drains off of the Deccan plateau. Originating in the Kumra village in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, the Betwa flows for 380km. After meandering through Madhya Pradesh, it enters the neighbouring state, Uttar Pradesh, and joins the river Yamuna (Jamna) in Hamirpur. The Betwa takes along with it the waters of the eastern Malwa plateau. The tributaries of the Betwa include the Bina, Yamini, Dhasan and Ken. In ancient times, the Betwa was known as Vetrawati.
Ganges Basin: Chambal
The Chambal originates from the Janapav Near Mhow Mountain in the Vindhya Range, and flows northeast through Ujjain, Ratlam and Mandsaur, before entering Rajasthan. It reenters Madhya Pradesh after meandering through parts of Rajasthan and touches Morena and Bhind. Here are the infamous Chambal Ravines that have been and still are the safest refuge for dacoits.
Shipra
The Shipra starts her journey in the Vindhya Range from a hill called Kokri Tekdi situated at a distance of 11km from Ujjain. This river is 195km long, out of which 93km flow through Ujjain. It then touches Ratlam and Mandsaur, before joining the river Chambal. The main tributaries of the Shipra are the Khan and the Gambhir.
Ganges Basin: Son
The Son, also called the Maikalsut because its source is in the Maikal Hills, originates in Anuppur District in the Amarkantak highlands of the Maikal Range. Its chief tributaries are the Rihand and the North Koel. and also include the Kewai, Tipan, Kunak, Murna, Johilla, Mahanadi, and the Rer.
Kewai
The Kewai arises in the Maikal Hills and flows in Shahdol District and Anuppur District and then into the Son River.
Tipan
The Tipan River merges into the Son at the town of Anuppur. It is subject to illegal gravel mining.
Johilla
The Johilla (Juhila) arises on the high trappean (basalt) plateau of the Mandla District, in the Maikal Hills and is a tributary of the Son.
Mahanadi
The Mahanadi tributary of the Son is distinct from the Mahanadi which originates in Chhattisgarh state and flows east.
Narmada Basin: Narmada
The Narmada originates in Amarkantak, the highest peak of the Vindhya Range, it flows westward through Madhya Pradesh including hoshangabad and Gujarat before finally ending its journey in the Gulf of Khambat. Its tributaries include the Banjar, the Tawa, the Machna, the Shakkar, the Karam, the Choral, the Barna, the Hiran, the Denwa and the Sonbhadra rivers. Its length is 1312 kilometers, out of which 1077 km in M.P.
The 1300km long Narmada is the fifth longest river in India, and the oldest. Kalidasa, the 4th century poet, writes about the Narmada in his love poem, Meghdoota, which is about a yaksha (tree spirit) who was banished to Madhya Pradesh. The yaksha sent messages to his beloved in the Himalayas through the clouds.
Mahi Basin
In Madhya Pradesh the Mahi Basin consists of the headwaters of the Mahi in Dhar and Jhabua districts; and the headwaters of the Anas River and Panam River in Jhabua District.
Tapi Basin: Tapti
The Narmada, the Mahi and the Tapti River (Tapi) all flow westward into the Gulf of Khambat, of the Arabian Sea. The 724km long Tapti is agriculturally very important as it drains an area of over 65,145sq km spread over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. This river originates at a height of 762m in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh (to the south of the Satpura Range). The Tapti journeys almost parallel to the Narmada, though it is much shorter in length than the Narmada and has a smaller catchment area.
Godavari Basin
In Madhya Pradesh the Godavari Basin consists of the headwaters of the Kanhan, including the Pench, and the headwaters of the Wainganga River.