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Rajasthan is India's driest large state, and its rivers reflect that: the Chambal is the only perennial river, the Banas is the longest river flowing entirely within Rajasthan, and the Luni ends not in a sea but in the Rann of Kutch. The Aravalli range is the great divide — rivers east of it drain to the Bay of Bengal, those west of it to the Arabian Sea, and a third group simply disappears inland.
| Drainage system | Main rivers | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Bay of Bengal (east of Aravalli) | Chambal, Banas, Kali Sindh, Parvati, Banganga | Drain via the Yamuna–Ganga system |
| Arabian Sea (west/south) | Luni, Mahi, Sabarmati, West Banas | Luni ends in the Rann of Kutch |
| Inland drainage | Ghaggar, Kantli, Kakni, Sabi, Ruparel | Do not reach any sea — end in sand or salt flats |
The Chambal is Rajasthan's only perennial (year-round) river. It rises from the Janapav hills of the Vindhyan range in Madhya Pradesh, enters Rajasthan at Chaurasigarh, and flows through Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur before joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh. It carries Rajasthan's biggest dam cluster and the National Chambal Sanctuary, famous for the gharial and the Gangetic dolphin.
The Banas ('van-ki-asha', hope of the forest) rises from the Khamnor hills of the Aravalli in Rajsamand district and is the longest river flowing entirely inside Rajasthan. It runs through Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk and Sawai Madhopur, and merges into the Chambal near Rameshwaram. The Bisalpur dam on the Banas is the drinking-water lifeline of Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk.
The Luni is the lifeline of western Rajasthan. Rising from the Naga hills near Ajmer, it flows south-west through Pali, Barmer and Jalore and ends in the Rann of Kutch — reaching no sea. Its water is sweet up to Balotra and turns saline after, which is why it is called the 'salt river'. The Mahi enters Banswara from Madhya Pradesh, is dammed at Mahi Bajaj Sagar, and is the only Indian river to cross the Tropic of Cancer twice. The Ghaggar, often identified with the ancient Saraswati, is an inland 'dead river' that dies out in Hanumangarh.
The Chambal. It rises from the Janapav hills of the Vindhyan range in Madhya Pradesh and is the only river in Rajasthan that flows all year round.
The Banas, which rises from the Khamnor hills of the Aravalli in Rajsamand and joins the Chambal near Rameshwaram.
Its water stays sweet up to Balotra and turns saline downstream because of the salt-rich soils it passes through. It ends in the Rann of Kutch without reaching any sea.
The Mahi — it is the only Indian river to cross the Tropic of Cancer twice. In Rajasthan it is dammed at Mahi Bajaj Sagar in Banswara.
The Bisalpur dam in Tonk district, which supplies drinking water to Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk.