Key Facts about Tungabhadra River

About Tungabhadra River

• It is a major river in the south Indian peninsula.
• It is a major tributary of the Krishna River.
• Origin:
  • It is formed by the union of two rivers, Tunga and Bhadra, and hence the name. 
  • Both the Tunga and Bhadra Rivers originate on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
  • The two rivers merge at Koodli in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, giving birth to the Tungabhadra River. 
• Course:
  • It flows in a more or less northwest direction before joining the Krishna River at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Krishna River finally ends in the Bay of Bengal.
• The river has a total length of 531 km and a catchment area of 28,000 sq km.
• It flows through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is influenced chiefly by the South-West monsoon.
• Major Tributaries: Varada River and Hagari (Vedathy) River.
• The river has several dams and reservoirs built on it, including the Tunga Anicut Dam, the Bhadra Dam, the Hemavathy Dam, and the Tungabhadra Dam.
• History:
  • The Hindus consider this river sacred, and there is a mention of the river in Ramayana, where it is referred to as Pampa. 
  • In historical times, the Tungabhadra River was known as the Varada River.
  • The river was an important source of water for the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled over the region from the 14th to the 17th century.
  • The city of Hampi, which was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was located on the banks of the river. 

Q1) Which are the major tributaries of the Krishna River?

The principal tributaries joining Krishna are the Ghataprabha, the Malaprabha, the Bhima, the Tungabhadra and the Musi.

Source: 17-year old swept away in Tungabhadra river