Rivers and Lakes of Rajasthan: Chambal, Luni and Sambhar
Rivers and lakes of Rajasthan for state exams: Chambal, Banas, Luni, Mahi and Ghaggar, the salt and freshwater lakes, dams, Ramsar sites and MCQs.
By GK24 Editorial Team· Published · 4 min read
Water is the first chapter of Rajasthan geography because the state has so little of it. The Aravalli range divides the drainage: to its east and south-east the rivers run towards the Bay of Bengal through the Chambal and the Yamuna, to its south-west they run towards the Arabian Sea through the Luni and the Mahi, and in the north-west a large part of the state has no outlet at all, so its streams die in the sand. That inland drainage covers a very large share of Rajasthan, and it explains both the salt lakes and the importance of every dam and tank. Examiners ask the origin of a river, the district a lake lies in and the name of the ruler who built it.
Rivers of the Chambal system
The Chambal is the longest river flowing in Rajasthan and the only perennial one. It rises at Janapav hill near Mhow in the Vindhyan range of Madhya Pradesh, enters Rajasthan near Chaurasigarh in Chittorgarh and runs past Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur before joining the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh; its ancient name was Charmanvati. Four structures on it are asked again and again: the Gandhi Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh, the Rana Pratap Sagar dam at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh, the Jawahar Sagar dam and the Kota barrage. Its main tributaries in Rajasthan are the Banas, the Kali Sindh, the Parvati and the Mej, and the Chambal ravines and the gharial of the National Chambal Sanctuary belong to the same story.
The Banas is the largest river that flows entirely within Rajasthan, about 480 kilometres long. It rises in the Khamnor hills of the Aravalli near Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district and meets the Chambal at Rameshwar Ghat in Sawai Madhopur. Its name means the hope of the forest, and its tributaries are the Berach, which carries the Ayad of Udaipur, with the Kothari, the Khari, the Dai, the Morel and the Kalisil. The Bisalpur dam on the Banas in Tonk district is the drinking water source for Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk.
Rivers of the Arabian Sea and the inland basin
The Luni is the lifeline of western Rajasthan. It rises in the Naga hills near Ajmer, where it is called the Sagarmati, takes the name Luni after it is joined by the Sarsuti, and ends in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Its water is sweet in the upper course and saline below Balotra, which is why old texts call it Lavanavari, the salt river. Its tributaries are the Jojari on the left bank and the Lilri, Guhiya, Bandi, Sukri, Jawai, Khari and Sagi on the right. The Mahi enters Banswara from Madhya Pradesh, is called the Ganga of Vagad, receives the Som, the Jakham and the Anas, and is dammed as the Mahi Bajaj Sagar at Banswara. The West Banas and the Sabarmati also rise in the southern Aravalli and go to Gujarat.
The inland rivers are the ones that vanish. The Ghaggar, called the dead river and identified with the Saraswati of the Vedas, rises in the Shivalik near Kalka, enters Rajasthan at Talwara in Hanumangarh and loses itself in the sands near Suratgarh and Anupgarh; its dry bed is known as the Nali. The Kantli of Sikar and Jhunjhunu, the Sabi of Jaipur and Alwar and the Kakaney of Jaisalmer end in the same way. Bikaner and Churu districts have no river at all.
Salt lakes
- Sambhar: the largest saline lake of Rajasthan and the largest inland salt lake of India, spread over Jaipur, Nagaur and Ajmer districts, fed by the Mendha, Rupangarh, Khari and Khandel, and a Ramsar site since 1990.
- Didwana in Nagaur, Pachpadra in Barmer, Lunkaransar in Bikaner, with Kuchaman, Degana and Sujangarh: salt has been made from them for centuries.
Freshwater lakes and who built them
| Lake | District | Point to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Jaisamand or Dhebar | Udaipur | Built by Maharana Jai Singh on the Gomti; the largest artificial freshwater lake of Rajasthan |
| Rajsamand | Rajsamand | Built by Maharana Raj Singh; its Nauchowki carries the Raj Prashasti inscription |
| Pichola | Udaipur | Dug in the fourteenth century by a Banjara; Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas stand in it |
| Fateh Sagar | Udaipur | Nehru Garden and the solar observatory are on its islands |
| Ana Sagar | Ajmer | Built by Arnoraj; the Daulat Bagh lies beside it |
| Foy Sagar | Ajmer | Built in 1892 as famine relief work, named after the engineer Foy |
| Pushkar | Ajmer | The Brahma temple and the Kartik Purnima fair |
| Nakki | Sirohi | At Mount Abu, the highest lake in Rajasthan |
| Kaylana and Balsamand | Jodhpur | Kaylana made by Pratap Singh; Balsamand is the older, of the twelfth century |
| Siliserh | Alwar | A palace on its bank, now a hotel |
Two wetlands of the state are Ramsar sites: the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur and the Sambhar lake. Keep three pairings ready for the examination: river and origin, dam and river, lake and builder. They are the form almost every question takes.
Exam Point of View
Rajasthan papers ask this chapter as pairs. Most asked: the longest and only perennial river (Chambal) against the largest river wholly inside the state (Banas); the origin of the Luni in the Naga hills of Ajmer and its saline lower course; the Ghaggar as the dead river and the Vedic Saraswati; dam with river, that is Bisalpur with the Banas, Rana Pratap Sagar with the Chambal, Mahi Bajaj Sagar with the Mahi and Jawai with the Jawai in Pali; lake with builder, that is Jaisamand with Maharana Jai Singh and Rajsamand with Maharana Raj Singh; and the salt lakes Sambhar, Didwana, Pachpadra and Lunkaransar with their districts. The traps are calling the Luni the longest river, treating the Chambal as a river rising in Rajasthan, and forgetting that Bikaner and Churu have no river.
Important Facts
| Longest and only perennial river | Chambal, rising at Janapav hill near Mhow, Madhya Pradesh |
|---|---|
| Largest river wholly within Rajasthan | Banas, about 480 km, from the Khamnor hills of Rajsamand |
| Banas meets the Chambal at | Rameshwar Ghat, Sawai Madhopur |
| Bisalpur dam | On the Banas in Tonk district; water for Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk |
| Luni origin and end | Naga hills near Ajmer as the Sagarmati; ends in the Rann of Kutch |
| Only left-bank tributary of the Luni | Jojari |
| Mahi | Enters Banswara from Madhya Pradesh; called the Ganga of Vagad; Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam |
| Dead river | Ghaggar, the Vedic Saraswati; enters at Talwara, Hanumangarh; bed called Nali |
| Largest saline lake | Sambhar, in Jaipur, Nagaur and Ajmer districts; Ramsar site since 1990 |
| Other salt lakes | Didwana (Nagaur), Pachpadra (Barmer), Lunkaransar (Bikaner) |
| Largest artificial freshwater lake | Jaisamand or Dhebar, Udaipur, built by Maharana Jai Singh |
| Highest lake of Rajasthan | Nakki lake, Mount Abu, Sirohi district |
| Ramsar sites of Rajasthan | Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur, and Sambhar lake |
| Districts without a river | Bikaner and Churu |
Practice MCQs on this topic
Which is the longest river flowing in Rajasthan and the only perennial river of the state?
- A.Luni
- B.Banas
- C.Chambal
- D.Mahi
Show answer
It rises at Janapav hill near Mhow in the Vindhyan range of Madhya Pradesh, enters Rajasthan in Chittorgarh district and flows past Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur to join the Yamuna, and because it is fed by the heavier rainfall of the Malwa plateau it carries water through…
Read the full explanation →The Banas river, the largest river flowing entirely within Rajasthan, rises in which hills?
- A.Khamnor hills near Kumbhalgarh
- B.Naga hills near Ajmer
- C.Janapav hill near Mhow
- D.Bodi West hills
Show answer
The Banas runs about 480 kilometres north-east across the state and joins the Chambal at Rameshwar Ghat in Sawai Madhopur, gathering the Berach, Kothari, Khari, Dai, Morel and Kalisil on the way, and its name means the hope of the forest.
Read the full explanation →At its source near Ajmer, the Luni river is known by which name?
- A.Sarsuti
- B.Sagarmati
- C.Jojari
- D.Charmanvati
Show answer
The Luni begins in the Naga hills near Ajmer and is called the Sagarmati in its first stretch; after the Sarsuti joins it near Govindgarh the combined stream is called the Luni, and it finally spreads into the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
Read the full explanation →Which river of Rajasthan is called the dead river and is identified with the Saraswati of the Vedas?
- A.Kantli
- B.Ghaggar
- C.Sabi
- D.Berach
Show answer
It rises in the Shivalik hills near Kalka, enters Rajasthan at Talwara in Hanumangarh district and loses itself in the sands near Suratgarh and Anupgarh, so it never reaches the sea and is called the dead river; its dry bed is known locally as the Nali, and Harappan sites such…
Read the full explanation →The Bisalpur dam, the main drinking water source for Jaipur and Ajmer, is built on which river?
- A.Banas
- B.Chambal
- C.Luni
- D.Kali Sindh
Show answer
The Bisalpur dam stands on the Banas in Tonk district and supplies drinking water to Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk and the towns between them, which makes it the most important water project of eastern Rajasthan.
Read the full explanation →The Mahi Bajaj Sagar dam is situated in which district of Rajasthan?
- A.Banswara
- B.Dungarpur
- C.Udaipur
- D.Pratapgarh
Show answer
The Mahi enters Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh in Banswara district, where it is dammed as the Mahi Bajaj Sagar, a joint project of Rajasthan and Gujarat; the river is called the Ganga of Vagad and receives the Som, the Jakham and the Anas.
Read the full explanation →Which is the largest saline lake of Rajasthan and the largest inland salt lake of India?
- A.Didwana
- B.Pachpadra
- C.Sambhar
- D.Lunkaransar
Show answer
The lake spreads over the districts of Jaipur, Nagaur and Ajmer, is fed by the Mendha, Rupangarh, Khari and Khandel streams, has been worked for salt for centuries and was declared a Ramsar site in 1990, drawing flamingos in winter.
Read the full explanation →The Jaisamand lake, also called Dhebar, was built by which ruler?
- A.Maharana Jai Singh
- B.Maharana Raj Singh
- C.Maharana Pratap
- D.Maharana Kumbha
Show answer
The correct answer is A, Maharana Jai Singh of Mewar, who dammed the Gomti river in the late seventeenth century to make the lake in Udaipur district; it is the largest artificial freshwater lake of Rajasthan and is surrounded by the Jaisamand wildlife sanctuary, with marble pavilions and the Hawa…
Read the full explanation →Nakki lake, the highest lake of Rajasthan, is located in which district?
- A.Sirohi
- B.Udaipur
- C.Alwar
- D.Jodhpur
Show answer
Nakki lake lies at Mount Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan, in Sirohi district, and the local story that it was dug out with nails gives it its name; Toad Rock stands on its edge and the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed in it.
Read the full explanation →Which two wetlands of Rajasthan are listed as Ramsar sites?
- A.Keoladeo Ghana and Sambhar lake
- B.Pichola and Fateh Sagar
- C.Siliserh and Ramgarh
- D.Jaisamand and Rajsamand
Show answer
Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, once the duck shooting reserve of the Bharatpur rulers, was listed in 1981 and is also a World Heritage Site famous for its winter migratory birds; the Sambhar salt lake was listed in 1990 and attracts flamingos.
Read the full explanation →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the longest river of Rajasthan?
The Chambal, which is also the only perennial river of the state. It rises at Janapav hill near Mhow in the Vindhyan range of Madhya Pradesh, enters Rajasthan in Chittorgarh district and joins the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, carrying the Banas, Kali Sindh, Parvati and Mej along the way.
Which is the largest river flowing entirely within Rajasthan?
The Banas, about 480 kilometres long. It rises in the Khamnor hills of the Aravalli near Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district and joins the Chambal at Rameshwar Ghat in Sawai Madhopur. The Bisalpur dam, which supplies Jaipur and Ajmer, stands on it in Tonk district.
Why is the Luni called a salt river?
Because its water is sweet only in the upper course. Below Balotra in Barmer it flows through saline soil and the water turns brackish, so old texts call it Lavanavari or Lavanvati, the salt river. It rises in the Naga hills near Ajmer as the Sagarmati and ends in the Rann of Kutch.
Which lake is the largest saline lake of Rajasthan?
Sambhar, spread over Jaipur, Nagaur and Ajmer districts, which is also the largest inland salt lake of India. It is fed by the Mendha, Rupangarh, Khari and Khandel streams, salt has been made from its brine for centuries, and it has been a Ramsar site since 1990.
Who built the Jaisamand and Rajsamand lakes?
Jaisamand, also called Dhebar, in Udaipur district was built by Maharana Jai Singh on the Gomti river and is the largest artificial freshwater lake of Rajasthan. Rajsamand was built by Maharana Raj Singh, and the Nauchowki on its embankment carries the Raj Prashasti inscription.
Which are the Ramsar sites of Rajasthan?
Two: the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, which is also a World Heritage Site and a famous winter home of migratory birds, and the Sambhar lake, the salt lake that draws flamingos. Keoladeo was listed in 1981 and Sambhar in 1990.
Sources
- India: Physical Environment (Class XI), Chapter on Drainage System — NCERT
- Sambhar Lake Ramsar Site Information Sheet — Ramsar Convention Secretariat
- River basins of Rajasthan — Water Resources Department, Government of Rajasthan
