Indus River

About Indus River:

• The Indus River is one of the longest rivers in Asia. It rises from Mansarovar in Tibet at an elevation of about 5182 m and flows for about 2880 km up to its outfall into the Arabian Sea. The length of the river in India is 800.75 km.
• Tributaries: Its principal tributaries are the Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum.
• It flows through China, India, and Pakistan, serving as a vital water source for agriculture, hydropower, and human consumption.
  • The Indus flows through India only through the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Drainage: The Indus basin extends over an area of 11,65,500 sq. km and lies in Tibet, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • The drainage area in India is 321289 sq. km. which is nearly 9.8% of the total geographical area of the country.
  • It is bounded on the north by the Karakoram and Haramosh ranges, on the east by the Himalayas, on the west by the Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges and on the south by the Arabian Sea.
• Historical Significance: The river has played a crucial role in the development of ancient civilizations, including the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the earliest urban cultures.

Indus River Civilisation:

• Indus Valley civilization is the earliest known urban culture of the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent.
• It is one of the world’s three earliest civilizations along with Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. This civilization flourished from approximately 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
• Most of the sites discovered earlier, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, are present in the Indus valley which gives the name to it. Harappa was the first excavated site therefore, it is also called Harappan culture.