Tapti River


Tapti River Course Map

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The Tapi River is also known as the Tapti River. Tapti is the prehistoric Sanskrit name of the river. Tapi is a major River in central India . With a stretch of about 724 km, it is also one of the most crucial rivers in peninsular India. Tapti has a significant extent of religious and cultural importance in the lives of Indian people.

Tapi River: An Overview



The Tapi River is one of the three peninsular Rivers in India that flow in an east to west itinerary and the other two rivers are the Mahi River and Narmada River.

The river originates in the eastern portion of the Satpura Mountain Ranges in south Madhya Pradesh . The river subsequently moves to the west and irrigates the Nimar province in Madhya Pradesh, Kandesh in Maharashtra, and parts of eastern Vidarbha in the northwestern end of the Deccan Plateau and southern Gujarat. Ultimately, the river pours into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea in the district of Surat in Gujarat. The Tapti River, together with the adjacently running Narmada River in the north, create the borders between North and South India. The Sahyadri Range or the Western Ghats Mountain Range begins south of the Tapi River close to the boundary of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Gulf of Khambat or Cambay is the area where the Tapi River ends its itinerary. The geographical features of the Tapti River are somewhat similar to the geography of Indian peninsula. Surat was a major halt for Muslim devotees going to Mecca for Haj.

Name of the river



The source of Tapti River is located in the Betul district. The location is also known as Multai. In Sanskrit Language, the place is also known as Mulatapi, referring to the source of Tapti River or Tapi Mata.

Tapi River is the daughter of the Sun God, Surya and his wife Chhaya. In Thailand, the Tapi River had derived its name from the Tapi River in India in August 1915.

tchment area of the river is principally situated in the northern and eastern districts of Maharashtra, which include Akola, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, and Nandurbar districts. The drainage basin also covers the Surat distsrict of Gujarat and Burhanpur and Betul districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Tributaries of Tapi River

Girna River, Purna River, Panzara River, Bori River, Waghur River, and Aner River are the major tributaries of the river. Other tributaries of the river are as follows:

  • Gomai River in Nandurbar
  • Shiva River in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra State
  • Arunavati River in Dhule district of Maharashtra state
  • Vaki River in Nandurbar
  • Panzara River in Dhule and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra state
  • Burai River in Dhule (Kaan River in Dhule is a major tributary)
  • Aner River in Jalgaon, Dhule
  • Bori River in Jalgaon
  • Girna River in Malegaon, Nashik, and Jalgaon districts of the state of Maharashtra. Meets Tapti River at Kapileshwar at the boundary of Jalgaon and Dhule. (Mausam River in Malegaon and Titur River in Jalgaon are two branches of this river).
  • Purna River in Akola, Amravati, Jalgaon, and Buldhana districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The river meets Tapti River at Changdev in Jalgaon.
  • Waghur River in Aurangabad and Jalgaon
  • Sipna River in Amravati
  • Gadga River in Amravati district of Maharashtra state
  • Khandu River in Amravati
  • Khapra River in Amravati
  • Surkhi River in Amravati
  • Tigriy River in Amravati
  • Ganjal River in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh state
  • Burshi River in Amravati district of Maharashtra state
  • Nesu River in Surat district of Gujarat state
  • The tributaries and distributaries of the Purna River are as follows:
  • Vishwaganga River in Buldhana
  • Nalganga River in Buldhana
  • Mann River in Akola, Buldhana districts of Maharashtra state
  • Nipani River in Buldhana
  • Utawali River in Akola, Buldhana
  • Mas River in Akola, Buldhana
  • Nirguna River in Akola, Washim
  • Vishwamitri River in Akola
  • Aas River in Akola
  • Gandhari River in Akola
  • Morna River in Washim, Akola
  • Vaan River in Akola, Buldhana, Amravati districts of Maharashtra state
  • Bhavkhuri River in Amravati
  • Shahanur River in Amravati, Akola
  • Umaa River in Washim, Akola
  • Katepurna River in Washim, Akola districts of Maharashtra state
  • Chandrabhaga River in Amravati
  • Pendhi River in Amravati, Akola
  • Aarna River in Amravati
  • Bhuleswari River in Amravati


Places of interest on Tapi Riverbanks



Important towns beside the river include Bhusawal in Maharashtra, Betul, Multai, and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, and Surat in Gujarat.

Important passages on the river include the rail bridge at Bhusawal for the Bhusawal - Khandwa section coming under the Central Railway and the Sawalde road bridge in Dhule for National Highway 3. The river is barraged by Ukai Dam in Songadh, Gujarat and Hatnur Dam in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

Other popular places beside the river include the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district, a division of Project Tiger, on the southeastern bank next to the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Famous milestones include the Asirgarh Fort close to Burhanpur, also named as the “key to the Deccan”, and the antique Temple of Changdeo Maharaj at Changdev in Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

Melghat Tiger Reserve

If you are an adventure lover, then the Melghat Tiger Reserve is the right place for you to visit. You will find the following varieties of fauna in this reserve:

  • Leopard
  • Tiger
  • Wild dog
  • Sloth bear
  • Sambar
  • Jackal
  • Barking deer
  • Gaur
  • Chital
  • Nilgai
  • Ratel
  • Chausingha
  • Wild boar
  • Flying squirrel
  • Rhesus monkey
  • Langur
  • Pangolin
  • Porcupine
  • Python
  • Mouse deer
  • Caracal
  • Otter
  • Blacknaped hare


These wild animals enhance the attraction of this tiger reserve, which is one of the renowned wildlife sanctuaries for tigers.

Asirgarh Fort

This citadel, located in Satpura forest is around 20 km north of Bhuranpur District in Madhya Pradesh. The citadel is home to a Lord Shiva Temple built in the 10th century, which is a major attraction to watch.


Last Updated on : March 13, 2020