Key Facts about the Tungabhadra River

About the 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, 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 Vijayanagar Empire.
  • The city of Hampi, which was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, was located on the banks of the river.