Burhi Gandak
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Overview
The Burhi Gandak rises in West Champaran district of Bihar near the Nepal border and flows south-east through north Bihar, roughly parallel to the Gandak.
It passes Muzaffarpur and joins the Ganga near Khagaria. Like other north-Bihar rivers, it floods frequently in the monsoon.
Muzaffarpur on its banks is famous for litchi, which has a GI tag.
Geography and key facts
- Himalayan-system river of the Ganga basin, Bihar
- Rises in West Champaran
- Flows past Muzaffarpur
- Joins the Ganga near Khagaria
Why it matters for UPSC
Don't confuse it with the Gandak, which rises in Nepal and joins the Ganga near Patna. Both feed the north-Bihar flood problem.
Note for UPSC
A north-Bihar tributary of the Ganga.
Prelims asks about tributaries, the states a river flows through, its basin and the projects on it, so trace the course on the map.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Burhi Gandak yet.
Key facts
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Physical Features and Drainage of India (map lesson)
- Drainage Systems of India: Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers (map lesson)
- The Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation (map lesson)
- Harappan Civilisation: Sites, Town Planning and Phases (map lesson)
- Mahajanapadas and the Rise of Magadha (map lesson)