Mahanadi River System, Origin, Course, and Major Dams

Q: Which two states through which the river Mahanadi flows?

The Mahanadi River flows primarily through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Q: Which major dam is built on the Mahanadi River?

The Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River.

Q: What is the largest tributary of the Mahanadi?

Sheonath is the largest tributary of the Mahanadi.

Q: From which state of India does the Mahanadi originate?

Mahanadi originates from Chhattisgarh.

Q: What is the largest dam in India?

The Indira Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh is the largest dam in India in terms of water storage capacity. It's also known as Punasa Dam and is located on the Narmada River.

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The Mahanadi River originates from the Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh. It is the third largest river system of peninsular India and also the largest river flowing through Odisha. The Mahanadi is one of the significant rivers of peninsular India, known for its eastward flow towards the Bay of Bengal. The Mahanadi River covers a length of about 851km before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. It covers a total area of about 132,100 square kilometres (51,000 sq mi).

Mahanadi River

The Mahanadi River basin is primarily spread across Chhattisgarh and Odisha, also covering smaller areas of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. The Mahanadi basin is surrounded by the Central India hills in the north, the Maikala range in the west, and the Eastern Ghats in the south and east. The term mahandi is derived from the Sanskrit language, with Maha meaning “great” and Nadi signifying “river.”

Mahanadi River Origin

The Mahanadi River starts its journey from the Sihawa Hills, close to the village of Pharsiya in the Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh. Starting its journey at an elevation of around 442 meters, the river flows through the central and eastern parts of the country. After crossing Chhattisgarh, the river enters Odisha, where it flows in a more eastern direction. After covering a distance of around 851 kilometers, the Mahanadi River finally reaches the Bay of Bengal through different distributaries near Cuttack and Paradip.

Mahanadi River Tributaries

The River is supported by a number of important tributaries that contribute to its flow, making it one of the major river systems in India. The Mahanadi river tributaries can be broadly categorized into left-bank tributaries and right-bank tributaries. Some of the major tributaries are mentioned below.

Mahanadi River Tributaries
Tributary Name	Bank	Origin	Direction of Flow	Confluence/Remarks
Seonath River	Left Bank	Maikala Range, Chhattisgarh	South-eastward	Joins Mahanadi on the left bank
Hasdeo River		Chhattisgarh Plateau	Southward	Major left-bank tributary
Mand River		Chhattisgarh	Eastward	Joins Mahanadi at Sambalpur
Tel River	Right Bank	Western Odisha	Eastward	Joins Mahanadi near Sambalpur, Odisha
Parry River		Odisha region	Eastward	Joins Mahanadi near Boudh
Jonk River		Chhattisgarh Hills	Eastward	Important right-bank tributary

Mahanadi River System Dams

Some of the major dams built on the Mahanadi River are-

Hirakud Dam- This dam is located near Sambalpur, Odisha. Hirakud is one of the longest earthen dams in the world, stretching about 25.8 kilometers.

Ravishankar Sagar Dam (Gangrel Dam)- This is located in Dhamtari district. It is built on a tributary of the Mahanadi and serves multiple purposes, including irrigation, drinking water supply, and industrial use. It is the largest dam in Chhattisgarh.

Dudhwa Dam- This is located in the Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh. It was completed in 1964. This dam is primarily an irrigation project, with a length of around 2,906 meters and a height of 24.5 meters.