Ravi River: Indus Basin River of India and Pakistan

The Ravi River, an eastern Indus basin river, flows through India and Pakistan, supporting irrigation, hydropower, and Sikh cultural heritage.

Ravi River

Syllabus: Geography (UPSC Prelims)
Source: TH

Context:

Floodwaters from the Ravi River recently submerged the Kartarpur Corridor complex in Pakistan’s Narowal district, including Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Over 100 people were stranded, prompting large-scale evacuations.

Location & Basin

One of the three eastern rivers of the Indus Basin, allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960).
Flows through Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir (India) and into Punjab (Pakistan) before merging with the Chenab.

Source & Course

Origin: Bara Bhangal in the Chamba region, Himachal Pradesh.
Flows through deep Himalayan gorges, then into Punjab plains via Madhopur.
Forms a short India–Pakistan boundary stretch, enters Pakistan near Narowal, passes Shahdara (Lahore), and joins the Chenab near Ahmadpur Sial.

Tributaries

Right bank: Budhil, Baira, Siul.
Left bank: Ujh (J&K), Basantar, Sewa.

Major Infrastructure in India

Ranjit Sagar (Thein) Dam – irrigation + hydropower.
Shahpur Kandi Project – downstream storage & irrigation.
Madhopur Headworks – supplies the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC).
Chamera Hydropower Projects (Himachal Pradesh).
Proposed Ujh Multipurpose Project (J&K).

Physiography & Soil

Upper course: Narrow gorges in Himalayas.
Lower course: Fertile alluvial plains (Punjab Doabs).
Soils: Alluvial (plains), savanna and ferrallitic (sub-mountain tracts).

Climate & Hydrology

Snowmelt + monsoon-fed river.
Seasonal floods common in Pakistan Punjab (Narowal, Shahdara, Lahore).
Peak flow: July–September (monsoon).

Economic & Cultural Importance

Key source of irrigation in Punjab’s Doab region.
Important for hydropower (Chamera, Thein projects).
Religious significance: Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) and other Sikh heritage sites.