Ghaghara

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The Ghaghara River is a major South Asian river with several different names. It is called Karnali in Nepal, Mapcha Tsangpo in Tibet, and Sarayu in parts of India. It starts high in the Himalayas, at the Mapchachungo Glacier in Tibet, about 3,962 meters above sea level, and flows south through Nepal before entering India and finally joining the Ganges at Revelganj in Bihar. From source to confluence, its length is about 1,080 kilometers (670 miles). It is the largest Ganges tributary by water volume and the second longest after the Yamuna.

Main tributaries
- Left: Bheri, Kuwana, Rapti, Chhoti Gandak
- Right: Seti, Dahawar, Sarda, Budhi Ganga

In Nepal, the Karnali (the Nepalese part) is the longest river in the country and drains a basin of about 128,000 square kilometers, with roughly 45 percent of that area in India. The Karnali rises from western Nepal’s high mountains, receives water from the Seti and Bheri, and then cuts through the hills into the flat plains before crossing into India.

In India, the Ghaghara passes through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where it is known as Sarayu in Ayodhya, and finally joins the Ganges downstream of Chhapra.

Ecology and human uses
The Ghaghara/Karnali supports important wildlife, including gharials, river dolphins, and other species in protected areas like Bardia National Park. It also feeds irrigation projects such as the Sarda Sahayak system, which diverts water to farms through a large canal network. Historically, parts of the lower Ghaghara were navigable by boats, but navigation has declined with modern transport.

Cultural note
The river is mentioned in the Ramayana as Sarayu, the sacred river near Ayodhya, linking the Ghaghara to ancient legends.