Gandak
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Overview
The Gandak comes from Nepal, where it is the Kali Gandaki, and flows through Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to join the Ganga near Patna. It is one of the left-bank Himalayan tributaries of the Ganga, with the Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Kosi and Mahananda.
Pataliputra stood at the meeting of the Ganga, Son and Gandak, a water fort that was easy to defend and ideal for river trade. A Susta dispute with Nepal exists in the Gandak river area.
Geography and key facts
- Called the Kali Gandaki in Nepal
- Left-bank tributary of the Ganga; joins near Patna
- Pataliputra stood at the Ganga–Son–Gandak confluence
- Susta dispute area (India–Nepal)
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on the Himalayan rivers that join the Ganga below Prayagraj (2024), a 2023 statements question and a river map question (1997).
Note for UPSC
From Nepal (Kali Gandaki); joins the Ganga near Patna.
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
- UPSC Prelims 2024 · Q6With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct ?…
- UPSC Prelims 2023 · Q1Consider the following statements : How many of the statements given above are correct?…
- UPSC Prelims 1997 · Q76In the map shown in the given figure, rivers labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Gandak.
Key facts
- Type
- River
- States / UTs on its course
- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh
- River system
- Himalayan
- Basin
- Ganga
- Extent on map
- 25.6°–27.7°N, 83.8°–85.2°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 3 questions · 2024, 2023, 1997
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.