Longest River in Gujarat: This 1,312 km Gujarat’s Lifeline Divides North From South India

Gujarat is the 7th state of India, located on the western coast of India. The state has the longest coastline in India, stretching about 1,600 km. It is famous for textiles, diamonds, petrochemicals, and renewable energy.

This "Jewel of Western India" is known for its traditional Garba dance and delicious vegetarian food. Gujarat has the Rann of Kutch, a vast white salt desert. It is also home to Gir National Park, where you can find the majestic Asiatic lions.

Being the 5th largest state in India, Gujarat is home to over 185 rivers, and one of them is the Narmada River. The river is one of India's most sacred rivers. It flows from east to west and empties into the Arabian Sea.

The Narmada River, known as the Lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, flows through a rift valley. It runs between the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges. The river travels about 1,312 km.

The Narmada is different from most major Indian rivers. While they flow east to the Bay of Bengal, the Narmada flows west. This is due to the natural rift valley shape of the land.

But there is more: being the longest river of Gujarat, do you know the connection between Gujarat and the sacred Narmada River, and how this river supports 74,000 people? Let’s decode!

Which is the Longest River in Gujarat?

v

The Narmada River is the longest river in Gujarat. Although this river starts in Madhya Pradesh State, it ends in Gujarat State, merging into the Gulf of Khambhat. Throughout its whole length, it covers up to 1,312 kilometres and is the biggest and longest river system of Gujarat.

How does the Narmada River divide South India from North India?

The river Narmada is considered to be a traditional, natural boundary between North India and South India. It runs westwards between the mountain ranges of Vindhya and Satpura and this physical boundary created isolation between the two regions, thus giving rise to unique cultures and languages.

What is the Impact Of Narmada on Gujarat?

There is one magnificent engineering feat through which the Narmada River dramatically changes the geography and economy of Gujarat:

• The Sardar Sarovar Dam: This dam has been built on the Narmada River in Gujarat and is considered among the largest dams in the world. It supplies drinking water to many villages and cities, irrigates large areas of barren lands (especially in the dry zones of Kutch and Saurashtra) and produces huge amounts of electricity through hydropower plants.
• The Statue of Unity: The Statue of Unity stands on an island amidst the river, facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam. This statue is dedicated to the freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and is the tallest statue in the world (182 m).
• Agricultural Revolution: The Sardar Sarovar Dam Project is designed to provide irrigation to millions of hectares of barren lands through its canal system, thus facilitating multi-cropping in desert regions such as Kutch and Saurashtra.
• Water Supply: This project supplies 9,000+ villages and 130 urban centres with treated and safe drinking water, alleviating the problem of drought and over-extraction of groundwater.
• Clean Energy: Hydroelectric power plants help produce thousands of megawatts of electricity, which will run the industrial hubs and boost their economic development.
• International Tourism: The River Narmada features the famous Statue of Unity (the tallest statue in the world) on a river island, turning the region into a large tourist attraction and source of jobs.