Pravara is the smallest of the major tributaries of
Godavari
The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...
river located in
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. Among the 7 major tributaries, it is the only tributary which originates in the
Western Ghats akin to Godavari. Also, it is the only major tributary of
Godavari
The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...
to have both its source and confluence located within the same district -
Ahmednagar.
Etymology
As per Indian Vedas, Sage Agastya meditated by consuming only water and air for a long tenure. Due to his incredible devotion, Lord
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
appeared, blessed him, and left a stream of Ganga that came to be known as the Pravara River.
Origin
The Pravara rises on the eastern slopes of the
Sahayadris between Kulang and Ratangad mountains in the
Ahmednagar District
Ahmednagar district (Marathi pronunciation: ɦ(ə)məd̪nəɡəɾ is the largest district of Maharashtra state in western India. The historical Ahmednagar city is the headquarters of the district. Ahmednagar and Sangamner are largest cities in ...
of
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
.
Course
Close to its origin the river flows into the town of
Bhandardara
Bhandardara is a holiday resort village near Igatpuri, in the western ghats of India. The village is located in the Akole tehsil, Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra, about from Mumbai and from Ahmednagar.
Bhandardara sits by th ...
. Here, the
Bhandardara Dam
Bhandardara is a holiday resort village near Igatpuri, in the western ghats of India. The village is located in the Akole tehsil, Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra, about from Mumbai and from Ahmednagar.
Bhandardara sits by ...
is constructed across the river forming the Arthur Lake. The gates of the dam are periodically opened, to allow drownstream flow of the Pravara, giving rise to the Umbrella Falls. From hereon the river takes an east ward course and 58 km downstream, reaches another city-
Sangamner
Sangamner is a city and a municipal council located in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra state in India.
It derives its name from the site of the ''sangam'' (confluence) of three rivers in the area: Pravara, Mhalungi, and Adhala.
It is ...
, where the river Mahalungi confluences with it. This is the second largest city within the Ahmednagar District. Continuing eastwards, the river is joined by another tributary, this time on its right bank: River Mula. The river then, reaches the town of
Nevasa
Nevasa is a city in Nevasa tehsil of Ahmednagar district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Old name of this place are Nidhinivas, Nivas and Mahalaya Also town of lord Kuber.
Sant Dnyaneshwar Temple is main temple.
This place is near of P ...
and flows 12 km to the east where it finally empties itself into the
Godavari
The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...
River at Pravara Sangam
located from its source of origin.
Tributaries
In its short run, the river acquires water from two main tributaries : Mahalungi and Mula.
*''Mahalungi'' : It rises on the southern and eastern slopes of Patta and Aundha. After the course of three miles (), it passes east into the
of
Nashik
Nashik (, Marathi: aːʃik, also called as Nasik ) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari, Nashik is the third largest city in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune. Nashik ...
. It reenters
Ahmednagar, after taking a bend towards south, it ends at
Sangamner
Sangamner is a city and a municipal council located in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra state in India.
It derives its name from the site of the ''sangam'' (confluence) of three rivers in the area: Pravara, Mhalungi, and Adhala.
It is ...
, where it confluences with Pravara at its left-bank.
*''Mula'' : This river rises on the eastern slopes of the
Sahayadris between
Ratangad
Ratangad ( mr, रतनगड) is a fort in Ratan Wadi, Maharashtra, India, overlooking the locale of Bhandardara, one of the oldest artificial catchment area. This fort is located in the Ahmadnagar district of Maharashtra. It is on the bounda ...
and Harichandragad. For the first twenty miles, it flows parallel to Pravara, draining the southernmost or Kotul valley of
Akole taluka
Akole taluka is a taluka in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra State of India. Akole consists of many places like Harishchandragad, Kalsubai, Bhandardara(Wilson)Dam, Sandhan Valley, Vishramgad etc. which attract tourists. Akole is not only famo ...
. Passing the town of Kotul it takes a bend to Baleshvar. It then crosses through Sangamner, Parner. The Dam Mula is constructed across the river at Baragaon Nandur. The river drains into Pravara just before the town
Nevasa
Nevasa is a city in Nevasa tehsil of Ahmednagar district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Old name of this place are Nidhinivas, Nivas and Mahalaya Also town of lord Kuber.
Sant Dnyaneshwar Temple is main temple.
This place is near of P ...
.
*''Adhala'' : It originates in north of Akole on the Slopes of Patta and Mahakali. Merges with the Pravara 3 km (2 miles) west of
Sangamner
Sangamner is a city and a municipal council located in the Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra state in India.
It derives its name from the site of the ''sangam'' (confluence) of three rivers in the area: Pravara, Mhalungi, and Adhala.
It is ...
.
Dams
*
Bhandardara Dam
Bhandardara is a holiday resort village near Igatpuri, in the western ghats of India. The village is located in the Akole tehsil, Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra, about from Mumbai and from Ahmednagar.
Bhandardara sits by ...
*
Nilwande Dam
Nilwande dam, also called as Upper Pravara dam, in the Indian state of Maharashtra is the second largest dam on the Pravara river. The dam is located near Akole, Ahmednagar district.
Specifications
The height of the dam above lowest foundatio ...
References
{{Authority control
Rivers of Maharashtra
Tributaries of the Godavari River
Rivers of India