Banas River: Origin, Tributaries, dams, Concern

Banas river originates in the Khamnor Hills of the Aravalli Range, near Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand.  It is a tributary of the Chambal River and is approximately 512 kilometres in length. It is also known as ‘Van Ki Asha‘ (Hope of forest). There is another river in Rajasthan with name of Banas, which flows in western direction and is also called as West Banas River.

Banas River Summary Sheet

Banas River in Indian mythology

It is said that Sage Vashishth did intense meditation and got the river down from Swarg Lok (heaven). The sage, concerned about its future, asked Lord Shiv how she will survive without water from glaciers. Shiv blessed her: ―The forests will protect you and you in turn will nourish the forests. I will appear at various places on your banks to increase your influence. Hence the river got the name: Ban ki Aas‘ (hope of the forest) which later became Banas.

Lord Parshuram, an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, is linked strongly with Banas. Parshuram had killed his mother, Renukaji, on the order of his father. He went to several places seeking salvation. He saw that a calf, who had turned black on killing a man, turned white again after taking a dip in river Banas. Parshuram did the same and was relieved of the sin. The place is now called: Matrikundya‘ and falls in Bhilwara district. It is also known as the: Haridwar of Rajasthan‘.

Veeron ka Math‘ (monastery of the brave) is a holy place that abutts the origin point of Banas. It is said that here Parshuram gave arms training to Karan and Bhishm, the two heroes of epic Mahabharat. Jargaji, an important pilgrimage, is located around 10 km from the origin point. Jarga ji was a devotee of Baba Ramdev, chief deity of the Meghwal community.

The triveni dham near Mandalgarh in Bhilwara district where Berach and Menali rivers meet Banas also holds great value. The Gokaran Mahadev or Gokaraneshwar temple in tonk district is also of great significance as it is believed that Ravan, the famous anti-hero of epic Ramayan, meditated and offered his head to Lord Shiv here. At Sawai Madhopur, Rameshwaram Ghat is a famous pilgrimage spot as Banas merges into Chambal here.

Banas River Basin:

Banas lies completely within Rajasthan and has the largest catchment area (45,833 square km) in Rajasthan. Banas drains the east slope of the central portion of the Aravalli Range, and the basin includes all or part of Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Tonk, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur  districts.

Banas River Tributaries:

Major tributariesof Banas include the right bank tributaries of Berach and Menali and the left bank tributaries of Kothari, Khari, Dai, Dheel River, Sohadara, Morel and Kalisil.

Berach or Bedach

Berach originates at Gogunda hills in the Udaipur District and is known by name of Ayar river.  It is called Berach after appearing from Udaisagar lake near Udaipur. It flows northeast through Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts, joining the Banas near Bigod village of Bhilwara district.

Berach has significant historical significance with banks of Ahar having thrown up evidences of settlements dating back to the Harappan and pre-Harappan eras cultural levels, thus exhibiting connection with Indus Valley civilization. Additionally, evidences of big palaces were found at Nagri, an ancient site around 16 km from Chittorgarh.

Berach River Summary Sheet

Kothari River:

Kothari River rises from the Aravalli hills near Devgarh in the Rajsamand. It flows through Bhilwara and ultimately joins the Banas river at Nandrai in Kotri tehsil. The Meja dam on the Kothari river provides drinking water to the Bhilwara district.

Kothari River Summary Sheet

Khari River

Dai River

• River Dai originates in the southeastern slopes of the Aravalli Range, near Nasirabad Tehsil of Ajmer.
• It flows southeast and then east in Ajmer District and for a short distance through Tonk District, before joining Banas River near Bisalpur village in Tonk District.

Dheel River

• Dheel River originates in the plains near Bauli village in Tonk District. It flows generally from north to south through Jaipur, Tonk and Sawai Madhopur.
• It joins the Banas near Philpura village in Sawai Madhopur district.
• River Gudia is its tributary.

Morel River

• One branch of River Morel originates in the hills near Dharla and Chainpura villages in Bassi Tehsil of Jaipur District and the second branch makes by receiving water from the catchment area of foothills of Paplaj Mataji mountains, district Dausa.
• It flows southeast and then southwest to meet river Dhund, and then again southeast through Jaipur, Dausa and Sawai Madhopur , eventually joining Banas river near Hadoli of Sawai Madhopur District.

KaliSil River

• The River Kalisil originates in the hills near Rajpura village in Sawai Madhopur District. The river flows generally southwest, partly through hills and partly in the plains of Sawai Madhopur District, finally joining the Morel River.

Major Dams on Banas River

• Bisalpur Dam is a gravity dam on the Banas River near Deoli in Tonk district, Rajasthan, India. The dam was constructed in 1999 for the purpose of irrigation and water supply.