The Ganga: 10 Facts About India's Holiest River

Where the Ganga begins, where it ends, and why it matters to millions: ten simple facts.

The Ganga (also called the Ganges) is India's most important river. It is a source of water and food for millions, and a sacred river in Hinduism. Here are ten facts about it.

1. About 2,525 km long

The Ganga flows for about 2,525 km, from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.

2. It begins at Gaumukh

The river starts as the Bhagirathi, at the snout of the Gangotri glacier, a place called Gaumukh ("cow's mouth") in Uttarakhand.

3. It gets its name at Devprayag

At Devprayag, the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda river. From this point on, the river is called the Ganga.

4. Five Indian states

In India, the Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, then enters Bangladesh, where its main stream is called the Padma.

5. India's National River

In 2008, the Government of India declared the Ganga the National River.

6. A river with its own dolphin

The Ganges river dolphin lives in its waters. It is almost blind and finds food using sound. India named it the National Aquatic Animal in 2009.

7. Holy cities on its banks

Haridwar, Prayagraj and Varanasi stand on the Ganga. At Prayagraj it meets the Yamuna, a meeting point called the Sangam.

8. The Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela, held on river banks including the Ganga at Haridwar and Prayagraj, is one of the largest gatherings of people in the world. UNESCO lists it as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

9. It ends in the world's largest mangrove forest

Together with the Brahmaputra, the Ganga forms a huge delta. Part of it is the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and a home of the Bengal tiger.

10. A huge basin

The land drained by the Ganga and its tributaries covers about a quarter of India's area, making it the country's largest river basin.