Key Facts about Ghaggar River

About Ghaggar River

• It is an intermittent river that flows only during the monsoon season.
• Course:
  • It rises from the Shivalik Range in northwestern Himachal Pradesh. 
  • It flows about 200 miles (320 km) southwest through Haryana state, where it receives the Saraswati River. 
  • It eventually dries up in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.
• This seasonal river feeds two irrigation canals that extend into Rajasthan. The Hakra, which flows in Pakistan, is the continuation of the Ghaggar River in India, and they are together called the Ghaggar - Hakra River.
• Historical Significance:
  • Several historians identify Ghaggar with the Vedic Saraswati River.
  • Along the banks of the Ghaggar River, many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been excavated.
  • Hence it is believed that the ancient settlements on its banks are the creation of ingenious Vedic Aryans.
  • It is believed that the rivers Sutlej and Yamuna once flowed into the Ghaggar-Hakra river bed.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya River, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang.

Q1) What is the Indus Valley Civilization?

The Indus Valley/Harappan civilisation was the first urban civilisation in South Asia, coexisting with Mesopotamia and Egypt. The Harappan civilisation occupied the largest area (approximately 8,00,000 sq km) among the three civilisations. It made noteworthy contributions to the art and architecture of the ancient history of India.

Source: Fight for Ghaggar’s rights: Residents