Lungri Khola, Jhimruk Khola, Ami River, Rohini River
• right
Arun Khola,
The West Rapti is notable for janajati ethnic groups – Kham Magar among its highland sources and then Tharu in Inner TeraiDeukhuri Valley, for its irrigation and hydroelectric potential, and for recurrent floods that led to its nickname "Gorakhpur's Sorrow".
Aciravati, Achirvati or Airavati is the ancient name for a river has been identified with the modern Rapti, flowing through what is now Nepal and the northern portion of Uttar Pradesh.[1][2] The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang knew it as A-chi-lo. Jain texts mention it as Eravai.[2]
The ancient city of Sravasti, once capital of Kosala Kingdom, stood on the western bank of the Achirvati. The river was a tributary of the Sarayu. It was one of the five great rivers that constituted the Ganges group of rivers and one of the sacred rivers of the Buddhist midland.[2][3]
Geography
The Rapti rises south of a prominent E-W ridgeline midway between the western Dhaulagiri Himalaya and the Mahabharat Range. A 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) summit on this ridgeline marks a triple divide. North of the triple divide the Karnali and Gandaki basins are adjacent; south of it the Rapti and similar but smaller Babai River (Nepali: बबई नदी; Babaī Nadī) separate the two larger basins. After crossing into India, the Babai and Rapti separately join the Karnali's continuation called Ghaghara. The Ghaghara ultimately joins the Ganges.
Hydrology
The Rapti's headwaters descend south from rugged highlands populated by Kham Magar. The western tributary Mādī Kholā (Nepali: माडी खोला) rises in northwestern Rolpa and is joined by Lungrī Kholā (Nepali: लुङग्री खोला) draining northeastern Rolpa. The Mardi then crosses into Pyuthan. It is joined by east-flowing Arun Kholā (Nepali: अरुण खोला) at Devithān (Nepali: देवीथान) where it enters a gorge through the Mahabharat Range.
Jhimruk Kholā (Nepali: झिमरुक खोला) -- east of the Mardi—mainly drains Pyuthan. Below the upper highlands, an alluvial valley opens where Bahun and Chhetri rice farmers irrigate paddy fields. At Cherneta, Pyuthan the Jhimruk approaches within 1.5 km of the Mardi and a 12 megawatt hydroelectric plant exploits the Jhimruk being 200 meters higher.
Below Cherneta the Jhimruk loops east, becoming the border between Pyuthan and Arghakhanchi District. Its valley narrows and steepens as it enters the Mahabharat Range. Partway through it joins the Mardi and the combined flow is then named the Rapti. The main river emerges from its gorge into the lower Siwalik Hills and Dang District. At Bhalubang Bazaar Nepal's east-west Mahendra Highway bridges the river.
Below Bhalubang, Inner TeraiDeukhuri Valley opens between the Dang and Dudhwa Ranges, both sub ranges of the Siwaliks. Valley, following the WNW trend of the Siwalik hills for 100 km. Although the land is fertile, before DDT came into use in the 1950s Deukhuri was so malarial that only the Tharu people who had genetic resistance could be confident of surviving the warmer months.
Just west of the city it is joined by the smaller Rohini rising further east in Nepal's Nawalparasi and Rupandehi Districts, draining 794 km2 in Nepal then 1892 km2 in India. 60 km beyond Gorakhpur the Rapti joins the Ghaghara (Karnali) at Rajpur. About 120 km further on at Chhapra, the Ghaghara reaches the Ganges.[4][5][6][7]
Resource utilisation
The Rapti's flow has great seasonal variation because the river lacks sources in high elevation glaciers and snowfields to buffer pre-monsoon drought. Average monthly flows at Jalkundi (27°58'N, 82°14'E) in Deukhuri Valley vary from 17.6 m3/s in pre-monsoon April to 451 m3/s at the peak of the monsoon in August. Maximum recorded flood was 7,390 m3/s on 10 September 1981. 100-year flood flows are predicted at 10,100 m3/s. Every year, floods threaten over 700,000 acres (280,000 ha) in Uttar Pradesh.[citation needed]
Flood control projects under study include a dam at Jalkundi that would inundate 71,000 acres (29,000 ha) of farmland in Deukhuri Valley. An alternative dam site is upstream at Naumure on the Pyuthan-Dang district border (27°53'N, 82°48'E). This would be an earthen dam 169 m high with 351 million cubic meters live storage capacity, storing excess monsoon flows for irrigation use during the following dry season and generating up to 207 megawatts. Impoundment would mainly be in gorges through the Mahabharat Range, inundating less farmland than the Jalkundi alternative. Plans are also underway for three irrigation sub-projects – Kapilvastu District 30,500 hectares (75,000 acres) involving interbasin water transfer to the southeast, Deukhuri Valley 9,500 hectares (23,000 acres), and Banke District 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres).[8]
References
^Hoey, William. (1907). "The Five Rivers of the Buddhists". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 39: 41–46. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00035498. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
^ abcKapoor, Subodh (2002). Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography. p. 5. ISBN9788177552980. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
^W. Hoey. "The Five Rivers of the Buddhists". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1907, pp. 41-46. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
^"Basti". Basti district administration. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
^"Sant Kabir Nagar district". Sant Kabir Nagar district administration. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
^Negi, Sharad Sing (1991). Himalayan rivers, glaciers and lakes. p. 115. ISBN9788185182612. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
^Dwarika N. Dhungel, Santa B. Pun (18 January 2009). The Nepal-India Water Relationship: Challenges. p. 93, p. 389. ISBN9781402084034. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
External links
Media related to West Rapti River at Wikimedia Commons
west, rapti, river, confused, with, east, rapti, river, other, uses, rapti, west, rapti, also, known, kuwano, drains, rapti, zone, western, region, nepal, then, awadh, purvanchal, regions, uttar, pradesh, state, india, before, joining, ghaghara, major, left, b. Not to be confused with East Rapti River For other uses see Rapti West Rapti also known as the Kuwano drains Rapti Zone in Mid Western Region Nepal then Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh state India before joining the Ghaghara a major left bank tributary of the Ganges known as the Karnali inside Nepal Rapti NadiWest Rapti river at BhalubangNative nameर प त नद Hindi र प त ख ल Nepali LocationCountryNepal IndiaPhysical characteristicsSource locationRapti Zone Nepal south of border of Rukum District with Rolpa District coordinates28 28 33 N 82 52 44 E 28 4757 N 82 8788 E 28 4757 82 8788 elevation3 500 m 11 500 ft Mouth locationGhaghara River coordinates26 17 20 N 83 40 08 E 26 289 N 83 669 E 26 289 83 669 Coordinates 26 17 20 N 83 40 08 E 26 289 N 83 669 E 26 289 83 669 elevation60 m 200 ft Basin size23 900 km2 9 200 sq mi Discharge average136 m3 s 4 800 cu ft s Basin featuresRiver systemGangesTributaries leftLungri Khola Jhimruk Khola Ami River Rohini River rightArun Khola The West Rapti is notable for janajati ethnic groups Kham Magar among its highland sources and then Tharu in Inner Terai Deukhuri Valley for its irrigation and hydroelectric potential and for recurrent floods that led to its nickname Gorakhpur s Sorrow Contents 1 History 1 1 As ancient Airavati river 2 Geography 3 Hydrology 4 Resource utilisation 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditAs ancient Airavati river Edit See also Sarayu river Aciravati Achirvati or Airavati is the ancient name for a river has been identified with the modern Rapti flowing through what is now Nepal and the northern portion of Uttar Pradesh 1 2 The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang knew it as A chi lo Jain texts mention it as Eravai 2 The ancient city of Sravasti once capital of Kosala Kingdom stood on the western bank of the Achirvati The river was a tributary of the Sarayu It was one of the five great rivers that constituted the Ganges group of rivers and one of the sacred rivers of the Buddhist midland 2 3 Geography EditThe Rapti rises south of a prominent E W ridgeline midway between the western Dhaulagiri Himalaya and the Mahabharat Range A 3 500 metres 11 500 ft summit on this ridgeline marks a triple divide North of the triple divide the Karnali and Gandaki basins are adjacent south of it the Rapti and similar but smaller Babai River Nepali बबई नद Babai Nadi separate the two larger basins After crossing into India the Babai and Rapti separately join the Karnali s continuation called Ghaghara The Ghaghara ultimately joins the Ganges Hydrology EditThe Rapti s headwaters descend south from rugged highlands populated by Kham Magar The western tributary Madi Khola Nepali म ड ख ल rises in northwestern Rolpa and is joined by Lungri Khola Nepali ल ङग र ख ल draining northeastern Rolpa The Mardi then crosses into Pyuthan It is joined by east flowing Arun Khola Nepali अर ण ख ल at Devithan Nepali द व थ न where it enters a gorge through the Mahabharat Range Jhimruk Khola Nepali झ मर क ख ल east of the Mardi mainly drains Pyuthan Below the upper highlands an alluvial valley opens where Bahun and Chhetri rice farmers irrigate paddy fields At Cherneta Pyuthan the Jhimruk approaches within 1 5 km of the Mardi and a 12 megawatt hydroelectric plant exploits the Jhimruk being 200 meters higher Below Cherneta the Jhimruk loops east becoming the border between Pyuthan and Arghakhanchi District Its valley narrows and steepens as it enters the Mahabharat Range Partway through it joins the Mardi and the combined flow is then named the Rapti The main river emerges from its gorge into the lower Siwalik Hills and Dang District At Bhalubang Bazaar Nepal s east west Mahendra Highway bridges the river Below Bhalubang Inner Terai Deukhuri Valley opens between the Dang and Dudhwa Ranges both sub ranges of the Siwaliks Valley following the WNW trend of the Siwalik hills for 100 km Although the land is fertile before DDT came into use in the 1950s Deukhuri was so malarial that only the Tharu people who had genetic resistance could be confident of surviving the warmer months The river crosses from Dang into Banke District Approaching Nepalganj largest town in Nepal s western Terai the Dudhwa Hills fall away and the river turns SE crossing into Uttar Pradesh India and flowing through districts Shravasti Siddharth Nagar Basti Sant Kabir Nagar and Gorakhpur passing Gorakhpur city at about 135 air miles 215 km from Nepal citation needed Just west of the city it is joined by the smaller Rohini rising further east in Nepal s Nawalparasi and Rupandehi Districts draining 794 km2 in Nepal then 1892 km2 in India 60 km beyond Gorakhpur the Rapti joins the Ghaghara Karnali at Rajpur About 120 km further on at Chhapra the Ghaghara reaches the Ganges 4 5 6 7 Resource utilisation EditThe Rapti s flow has great seasonal variation because the river lacks sources in high elevation glaciers and snowfields to buffer pre monsoon drought Average monthly flows at Jalkundi 27 58 N 82 14 E in Deukhuri Valley vary from 17 6 m3 s in pre monsoon April to 451 m3 s at the peak of the monsoon in August Maximum recorded flood was 7 390 m3 s on 10 September 1981 100 year flood flows are predicted at 10 100 m3 s Every year floods threaten over 700 000 acres 280 000 ha in Uttar Pradesh citation needed Flood control projects under study include a dam at Jalkundi that would inundate 71 000 acres 29 000 ha of farmland in Deukhuri Valley An alternative dam site is upstream at Naumure on the Pyuthan Dang district border 27 53 N 82 48 E This would be an earthen dam 169 m high with 351 million cubic meters live storage capacity storing excess monsoon flows for irrigation use during the following dry season and generating up to 207 megawatts Impoundment would mainly be in gorges through the Mahabharat Range inundating less farmland than the Jalkundi alternative Plans are also underway for three irrigation sub projects Kapilvastu District 30 500 hectares 75 000 acres involving interbasin water transfer to the southeast Deukhuri Valley 9 500 hectares 23 000 acres and Banke District 40 000 hectares 99 000 acres 8 References Edit Hoey William 1907 The Five Rivers of the Buddhists Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 39 41 46 doi 10 1017 S0035869X00035498 Retrieved 10 March 2011 a b c Kapoor Subodh 2002 Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography p 5 ISBN 9788177552980 Retrieved 18 August 2010 W Hoey The Five Rivers of the Buddhists Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1907 pp 41 46 Retrieved 18 August 2010 Rapti River india9 Retrieved 28 May 2010 Basti Basti district administration Retrieved 30 May 2010 Sant Kabir Nagar district Sant Kabir Nagar district administration Retrieved 30 May 2010 Negi Sharad Sing 1991 Himalayan rivers glaciers and lakes p 115 ISBN 9788185182612 Retrieved 28 May 2010 Dwarika N Dhungel Santa B Pun 18 January 2009 The Nepal India Water Relationship Challenges p 93 p 389 ISBN 9781402084034 Retrieved 28 May 2010 External links Edit Media related to West Rapti River at Wikimedia Commons Nepal portal Water portal Renewable energy portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Rapti River amp oldid 1101412593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
