Ganges River Facts

"The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga." ~ 'Discovery of India' by Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India

India is a land of many rivers, one such being the river Ganges. River Ganges or Ganga, as the river is popularly known in India by its Hindu name, is considered a sacred river by the people of India. Being the greatest water ways in India, it is also one of the longest rivers in the world. There are many popular beliefs and interesting facts surrounding the river Ganges.

Ganges River History

There are many legends and myths in Hindu mythology associated with the river Ganges. The Ganga was considered to be a goddess in ancient texts of the Vedas and Puranas. The Ramayana and Mahabharata tell stories about the descent of the Ganga in different ways. It is believed that Ganga descended from the heaven and is invoked in the religious books for graces to be bestowed. There is an interesting story about the descent of the Ganga that is told as a tradition. According to a popular myth in Hindu mythology, the river Ganga was the daughter of the mountain god Himalaya. Another myth is that, the Ganges was to go to heaven to soothe the wrath of the gods with its waters. In the Hindu religion, there is one more story told about the descent of the river Ganges. King Bhagiratha performed penance to find salvation for the souls of his ancestors who were cursed by a sage. In order to bring down the river Ganges from heaven, he offered prayers to Lord Shiva and his prayers were granted. The river Ganges came down from heaven through the matted hair of Lord Shiva to purify the Earth and wash away the sins of mankind.

Interesting Facts about the Ganges River

The banks of the sacred river of India which has a spiritual significance, is one of the most densely populated regions, in the country. Not only used for irrigation, crops like rice, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, grains, etc. are grown on the river's fertile plains. Given below are some more Ganges river facts.

• The origin of the Ganges is a glacier called Gangotri, this is where the river Ganges got its name from. The Gangotri is a glacier on the Himalayas situated approximately 14,000 feet above sea level.
• The major route of the river is in India, with a lesser part flowing through Bangladesh before entering the Bay of Bengal.
• Being the longest river in India, the river Ganges is approximately 2506 kilometers (1557 miles) long. The river Ganges is a perennial river.
• The two rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, conjoin to form the river Ganges.
• The largest delta in the world, the Sunderbans, is situated on the banks of the Ganges. This delta has the highest number of royal Bengal tigers.
• The plains on the banks of this river are very fertile and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world with half of India's population living and depending on the banks of Ganges.
• There is an ecosystem flourishing in the river Ganges, with the Ganges river dolphin being on the top of the food chain. They are being hunted and are on the list of endangered species.
• Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad and Rishikesh are the centers of pilgrimage situated on the banks of this river. They are also some of the major cities of India.
• The Ganges is a spiritual center in India with many dead bodies being cremated on the banks of the river. This is quite a popular practice in India and it is believed that after death the souls will directly attain 'moksh' or salvation. It is also believed that the water from the Ganges has healing properties and can cure even the deadliest of diseases.
• Another belief of the people in India is that if they die in Varanasi, the holiest city in India, they will be freed from their sins.
• Last but not the least, the Ganges is a major site for river rafting in India. With its forceful, frothy waters, rafting in the river has become an adventure sport, with a unique and diverse experience that can be enjoyed by everyone.

This was a brief glimpse of Ganges river facts. Though the Ganges has become polluted, it still remains a religious icon of the world. People, especially Hindus, across the globe make it a point to pay a visit to India to get a glimpse of this sacred river and wash off their sins.