Rivers of Jammu and Kashmir - the jewels of the region

The Jhelum is one of the major rivers in Jammu and Kashmir, flowing through both the Kashmir Valley and the Jhelum Valley. It originates from the Verinag Spring in the south-eastern part of the valley and meanders through Srinagar before joining the Chenab River in Pakistan. It has a length of approximately 725 kilometers. 

The Jhelum River, a lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir, flows gracefully through the picturesque landscapes, providing essential resources for irrigation and transportation.

The Chenab is another significant river in the region, originating from the upper Himalayas near the Baralacha La pass in Himachal Pradesh. It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and joins the Indus River in Pakistan. It stretches for about 960 kilometers.

The Tawi is a tributary of the Chenab River, originating from the Kali Kundi glacier in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through the city of Jammu and merges with the Chenab near Akhnoor. It has a length of approximately 158 kilometers.

The Indus is one of the longest rivers in Asia, originating from the Tibetan Plateau in China. It enters Jammu and Kashmir in the Ladakh region, flowing through Leh and Kargil before exiting into Pakistan, sustaining ecosystems and communities along its course.. It has a total length of around 3,180 kilometers.

The Ravi River originates from the Bara Banghal area of Himachal Pradesh and enters Jammu and Kashmir in the Kishtwar district. It flows through the Basohli and Kathua districts before entering Punjab. Its total length is approximately 720 kilometers.

The Lidder is a tributary of the Jhelum River, originating from the Kolahoi Glacier in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through the picturesque Lidder Valley and joins the Jhelum near Bijbehara. It has a length of about 73 kilometers.

The Poonch River originates from the Pir Panjal Range and flows through the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a tributary of the Jhelum River, joining it near the town of Poonch. Its length is approximately 185 kilometers.

The Neelum River, alternatively named the Kishanganga River, spans 245 kilometers in the Kashmir region, shared by Pakistan and India. This beautiful  river's source lies at Krishansar Lake within Indian territory. It traverses the Tulail and Gurez Valleys in Indian-administered Kashmir before coursing through Pakistan's Azad Kashmir in the Neelam Valley. Ultimately, it converges with the Jhelum River near Muzaffarabad.

The Sind River is a tributary of the Jhelum, originating from the Machoi Glacier near the Dras village in the Kargil district. It flows through the picturesque Sind Valley and joins the Jhelum near the town of Shadipora. Its length is approximately 345 kilometers.
 

The Suru is a glacier-fed river originating from the Rangdum Glacier in the Ladakh region. It flows through the Suru Valley, passing through the towns of Sankoo and Panikhar, before joining the Indus River near Nurla. It stretches for about 185 kilometers.

The Ujh is a tributary of the Ravi River, originating from the Kailash Kund Glacier in the Kathua district. It flows through the districts of Kathua and Samba before merging with the Ravi near the town of Basholi. Its length is approximately 90 kilometers.

The Zanskar River is a tributary of the Indus, originating from the Zanskar Range in the Ladakh region. It flows through the remote Zanskar Valley, known for its stunning landscapes and Buddhist monasteries, before joining the Indus near Nimo. It has a length of about 345 kilometers.

The Drass River originates from the Drass Valley, often referred to as the 'Gateway to Ladakh.' It flows through the town of Drass, known for being one of the coldest inhabited places in India, before joining the Suru River near Kargil. 

The Tsarap is a tributary of the Zanskar River, originating from the glaciers of the Zanskar Range. It flows through the remote regions of Ladakh, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, before merging with the Zanskar River near Padum.

The Shingo is a tributary of the Indus River, originating from the glaciers near the Drang-Drung Glacier in the Zanskar Range. It flows through the remote areas of the Ladakh region before joining the Indus near Skardu in Pakistan.