Rivers, Water Sources and Lakes

The district abounds in rivers some of which originate within the fold of  the district and,assuming a peripheral course along the borderline, enter the 
Garhwal region and eventually merges into the Ganga and have thus been geographically grouped under the rivers of the Ganga system. These are:

Girthi : This  river  has a short  course  in  the extreme NW of  Pithoragarh and,  moving along Kungribingri range in a west and south west course,
finally enters in the Garhwal region.

Keogad :  To  the north of Girthi and alike having  a short course  in Pithoragarh  the   Keogad river moving along the inner enclosures of the district
enters the Garhwal region.

Then again, there are rivers  so  gigantic and dominating  that  they have, infact, become a  way of life. They thunder through the district, determine 
geographical borders with  the neighbouring country, nourish cultures along their course and cause economic boom or recession according as they
are kind or playful.

Kali : The river Kali originating from trans Himalayan zone forms  the continuous border with Nepal all through its course from Kalapani to Tanakpur 
where terminating  its  serpentine hilly course it  finally enters plains and is then called Sharda. Along its vast catchment in the  entire northern and
eastern parts of Pithoragarh, the Kali is almost a human presence,masterful yet benign.The Kali river possesses an immense potential for irrigation
and hydro electric generation and a project for the construction of a massive dam at Pancheswar is pending under political negotiations with Nepal.

Garbyang, confluence of the Kali & the Tinkar

                                                           

Gori : Originating from a dual source in a  glacier near south of  Untadhura ridge feeding the eastern branch, and another glacier near Milam feeding
the western branch, the Gori river joins the Kali at Jauljibi.

Snow bridge on the river Gori

Dhauli : Dhauli is, infact, a combination of two head  waters namely Dharamganga and Lassar with the glacier close to Darma pass as their source
and,  taking a south eastern course, finally joins Kali and serves as its important tributary.

Kutiyangti : This river originates from a small glacier along the southern base of Lumpiyadhura Pass and is a tributary of Kali.

Sarju : Originating from the extreme south  of  adjacent  Almora district,  the  river  Sarju   makes  the south  west  boundary between
Pithoragarh and Almora and, finally,  at a point at Pancheswar, it  joins Kali along with Panar river.

Ram Ganga : Forming the boundary between   Almora and Pithoragarh  districts  the  Ram Ganga  originates from   the  Namik glacier. The river is 
fed by numerous small and big rivers and finally joins Sarju at Rameshwar.There are scriptual evidences which bearout that the great sage Vasistha

Ramganga at Ghat

 
also performed penance here and that the river Sarju originating from the feet of Lord Vishnu has journeyed to  the  ashram of Vasistha.The 
river  is  held  in great  reverence and is traditionally  associated  by the Hindu population of  the district with the belief that it is gifted with the power 
of condoning their sins and hence is a preferred spot for cremation.

Average annual surface flow of the rivers of district Pithoragarh :

Rivers	Av. Annual flow Milliard m³	Discharge recorded at	Source region
Dhauli	2.6	Nyu	Greater Himalaya
Gori	3.8	Bangapani	Greater Himalaya
Ram Ganga (E)	3.1	Thal	Greater Himalaya
Sarju	5.8	Shera	Greater Himalaya
Kali	23.2	Pancheshwar	Greater Himalaya

Traditional Drinking water Sources and natural  lakes

The human settlements  in  different  remote regions of  Pithoragarh were  principally based upon  the factor of   the easy availability of  pure drinking
water and  it is a notable feature   of  all upland habitations that  the under ground water reservoirs capable  of  supplying  drinking  water perennially
either  in the  forms of guided springs called dharas  or covered storages called Naulas,  have been a  primary source  of  water supply. Some of the 
underground reservoirs are so enormous that they emerge as rivers in lesser Himalaya and are continuously replenished either by the snow melts or
by the rain water.

    

             There are a number of such spout springs (dharas) and covered storages (Naulas) which  over a  long period have gathered  legends around
them due either to their topography,  architecture or  location special, so much so that they have now become chosen picnic spots e.g., to the north 
of  Dharchula is situated a hot water spring at the bank of  Kali  in a place called Tapowan and another in Madkot.                                                                                                    

         Perhaps heights and lakes  do not make a very probable combination but be  lying the normal belief,  Pithoragarh possesses wonders of natural 
lakes  in the form of  Jollingkong and Ancherital at an elevation of 4634 and 3658 meters respectively. 

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District Profile | Flora & Fauna | Excursions | Temples | Transport | Route to Kailash | Peaks & Passes | Legends | Climate

Rivers | Chotta Kailash | Education | Heritage | Trekking Routes | Glaciers | Statistical Info.

Web site developed at :  National Informatics Centre, District Unit,   Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)  INDIA             Phone :  91-5964-24162, 28017   E-mail :  uapit@nic.in