A Himalayan river of the Indus system, about 470 km long, that rises at Beas Kund near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, flows through the Kullu valley and Mandi, is dammed at Pandoh and Pong, and joins the Sutlej at Harike in Punjab, flowing entirely within India.
The river's character changes markedly along its course. In the upper Kullu valley it is a cold, fast stream fed by snow and glaciers; in the middle course it is a powerful river with a broad floodplain used for orchards and settlements; and in the lower course, after Pong, it is a regulated river whose flow depends largely on reservoir releases. These changes help explain why flood risk and water use differ so much between the upper and lower basin.
The Beas rises in a small glacial lake, Beas Kund, on the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal near the Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of over 4,000 m. It flows south through the Kullu valley, past Manali, Kullu and Bhuntar, and is joined by the Parvati and other streams. At Larji it cuts through a gorge and turns west towards Mandi, then flows through the lower hills of Kangra before entering the Punjab plains near Mukerian. It meets the Sutlej at Harike, where a large wetland has formed, and from there the combined water feeds canals that reach Rajasthan.
Create a free account to read 5 full pages a month, or upgrade for unlimited access. The definition above, the A–Z index and the pop-up definitions in lessons stay free.
