Brahmaputra river and its tributaries Detailed [2022]

Brahmaputra river

The Brahmaputra river (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मापुत्र Brahmaputra), also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a transboundary river in Asia. It is the sixth-longest river in Asia, at 2,900 km (1,800 mi). It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows eastward for more than 2,900 km before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra is a necessary transportation and irrigation artery for the countries it passes through, including India, Bangladesh, and Tibet. The river has a wide variety of wildlife, including several endangered species.

The Brahmaputra river map above shows the flow of the river Brahmaputra from its source in the Tibet region to its final destination, the Bay of Bengal.

Brahmaputra river system

It is bounded on the north by the Himalayas, on the east by the Patkari range of hills, which runs along the India-Myanmar border, on the south by the Assam range of hills, and on the west by the Himalayas and the ridge that separates it from the Ganga basin.

The Brahmaputra River rises in the Himalayas’ Kailash ranges in the north, at an elevation of 5,150 metres, just south of the Konggyu Tsho lake, and flows for approximately 2,900 kilometres. The spring named Tamchok khambab is considered the origin of the river Brahmaputra. It flows for 916 kilometres in India.

The Brahmaputra River Basin

The Brahmaputra basin stretches across Tibet, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh, covering 5,80,000 square kilometres. It covers the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim. It covers an area of 1,94,413 square kilometres, accounting for nearly 5.9 percent of the country’s total geographical area.

Brahmaputra river basin State	Drainage area (sq. km)
Arunachal Pradesh	81,424
Assam	70,634
West Bengal	12,585
Meghalaya	11,667
Nagaland	10,803
Sikkim	7,300
Total	194,413

Origin of river brahmaputra

• The Brahmaputra river origin is in the Chemayungdung mountain ranges near Mansarovar lake in southern Tibet.
• The spring named Tamchok khambab is considered the origin of the river Brahmaputra. 
• It is known as Tsangpo or the Yarlung Tsangpo in the Tibet region and flows parallel to the Himalayan ranges before entering India through Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) enters India at Bishing, from where it is known as the “Siang River“.
• The Brahmaputra enters India through Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang or Dihang river. After joining its tributaries, Lohit and the Dibang river, known as the Brahmaputra.
• After entering Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra river is known as the Jamuna river, and it is joined by the Ganga river, known as the Padma river in Bangladesh. And finally, the river Brahmaputra empties its water into the Bay of Bengal.
• The river basin consists of all the land drained by the river and its tributaries.
• The Brahmaputra river basin consists of various small rivers and is so large that it spreads over Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India. The River Brahmaputra basin in India extends over different states, consisting of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim.

Download Brahmaputra river map

brahmaputra river system map : Brahmaputra river map HD image

Left and Right bank tributaries of brahmaputra

Left bank tributaries of brahmaputra river

Left bank tributaries of the river Brahmaputra have common features: they have flatter grades, fine alluvial soils, comparatively low silt charge, and deep meandering channels.

Lets see them one by one:

Siang river

• The river Siang is known by the name of the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, originating at the height of 5300 metres near the Kailash range. 
• It follows in an easterly direction, parallel to the Himalayan ranges for approx—1600 kilometres.
• Just before entering India, it passes through a deep gorge across the eastern extremities of the Himalayan ranges. After entering India, it is joined by the Lohit and the Dibang rivers, and together they form the mighty river Brahmaputra.

Dibang river

• The River Dibang originates in Arunachal Pradesh near the Indo China border in the Dibang valley. The Mishmi hills lie in the upper course of the river Dibang. 
• The river finally joins the Lohit river, and together they join the Siang river.

Lohit river

• The Lohit river rises in the Tibet region where it is called the Zayu river. 
• It enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, flowing through Mishmi Hills where it joins the Siang river to form the Brahmaputra river. 
• The Lohit river carries abundant amounts of lateritic soil, which gives it a reddish colour.

Burhi Dihang / Burhi dihing river

• It is formed by the confluence of two small rivers, Namphuk and Namchik, which originate in the Patkai hills, part of the Eastern Himalayan ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Burhi Dihing river flows through the Patkai hills and changes its course over time, creating various oxbow lakes around it.
• It finally joins the river Brahmaputra in the Assam plains.
• Its basin is used for the cultivation of tea.

Dhansiri river

Dhansiri originates from southwest Nagaland, flowing along the Intanki national park. It joins the river Brahmaputra in the Assam plains.

Kopili river

• The Kopili river originates in the Saipong reserve forest in South East Meghalaya 
• It forms part of the border between Assam and Meghalaya States.
• It joins the river Brahmaputra in the Koplimukh in the Assam plains.

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Left bank and Right bank tributaries of brahmaputra

Right bank tributaries

Right bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra have common features: a steep slope, coarse sandy beds, shallow braided channels, and carry a heavy silt charge.

Have a look at them one by one:

Subansiri river

• The Subansiri River rises beyond the Himalayas in the Tibet region, so technically, it’s a trans-Himalayan river.
• Subansiri is formed by the culmination of various small streams that have “chu” in their names, such as Tsari chu, chayal chu. And sikung chu is the main source of the Subansiri river.
• The Subansiri River is the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• Subansiri enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the Miri hills.
• Subansiri joins the river Brahmaputra in Assam at Jamurighat.

Kameng river

• The Kameng River rises near the Gorichen mountains in Arunachal Pradesh, near the Indo-Tibetan border.
• Flowing through the Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, it enters the Assam plains and joins the river Brahmaputra.
• The Kameng River flows between two important protected areas, Sessa and the eagle nest sanctuary on its west and the Pakke tiger reserve on its east.

Manas river

• The Manas River is a trans-Himalayan river that originates in the Tibet region.
• Originating from Tibet, it flows for 24 km before entering Bhutan and finally into India, where it joins the river Brahmaputra.
• Manas river system is the largest river system in Bhutan.
• The Manas river flows through two crucial protected areas: the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan and the Manas wildlife sanctuary in India. 

Sankosh river

• The Sankosh river rises in Bhutan’s northern part. It is the right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra river. Flowing through hills, it carries lots of silt with it and has steep slopes and shallow braided channels.
• It is known as Puna Tsang Chu in Bhutan and is one of the most beautiful rivers in Bhutan.
• The Sankosh river enters India and flows, forming the border between Assam and West Bengal.
• Flowing further, it enters Bangladesh and joins the Brahmaputra river near the Indo- Bangladesh international boundary.

Teesta river

• The Teesta river originates in the Himalayas of North Sikkim at the Zemu glacier in the Kanchenjunga ranges.
• The Teesta river is the lifeline of Sikkim.
• Originating in the Himalayan heights, it has created a deep gorge in the Darjeeling hills and divides them into the Tiger Hill Range and the Kalimpong Hill Range.
• Flowing further, it enters Bangladesh and joins the mighty Brahmaputra river.

This is all about the river Brahmaputra in its short form. If you still need more, look at this government of India official document.

Recent news about the Brahmaputra river of Assam

29 August 2021: Assam floods hit 2.25 lakh people.

The Brahmaputra river is prone to flooding annually. It is flooded two times annually. One flood is because of the melting of the Himalayan snow in the summer season, and the second is because of the monsoon flows.

Jan 2022

Bishing Village

The Chinese PLA abducted an Arunachal youth.

• Bishing village is located on the left bank of the Siang River and is the last Indian village before the Chinese border. It is a border village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district, Gelling Circle.
• The Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) enters India at Bishing, from where it is known as the “Siang River“.
• As it enters India, the Tsangpo River takes an S-shaped bend. The Actual Control Line (LAC) runs parallel to the river through the turn. Bishing is located in the bottom right-hand corner.
• The Bishing village is home to around 100 people, mainly from the Memba tribe.

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