Bhagirathi River

In Hindu texts, Bhagiratha was a descendant of King Sagara of the Suryavamsha, or Solar Dynasty. He played an important role in the descent of the Ganges. The story of Bhagiratha is narrated in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Puranas. Sage Kapila advised that only the water of the Ganges, which flowed in the heavens, could liberate them. Bhagiratha, Amshuman's grandson, undertook ascetic practices and won the favour of Brahma and Shiva. Brahma allowed the goddess Ganga to descend upon the earth, while Shiva broke Ganga's fall in the coils of his hair so that her force would not shatter the earth. ==Course==

The Bhagirathi River is mythologically known to be the source stream for the Ganges River. In hydrology, the Alaknanda is the source stream for the Ganges River due to its length and discharge. The Alaknanda River, including its tributaries, is and the Bhagirathi River, including its tributaries, is . Tributaries The Bhagirathi River is joined by several tributaries; these are, in order from the source: • Kedar Ganga at Gangotri (elevation ), • Jadh Ganga at Bhaironghati (elevation ), • Kakora Gad and Jalandhari Gad near Harsil (elevation ), • Siyan Gad near Jhala (elevation ), • Asi Ganga near Uttarkashi (elevation ), • Bhilangna River near Old Tehri (elevation ). The Bhilangna itself rises at the foot of the Khatling Glacier (elevation ) approximately south of Gaumukh. The controversial Tehri dam lies at the confluence of the Bhagirathi River and the Bhilangna, at , near Tehri. Chaukhamba I is the highest point of the Bhagirathi basin. File:Bhagirathi flowing into devprayag.jpg|The turbulent Bhagirathi as it enters Devprayag. File:Bhagirathi alaknanda ganges devprayag2008.jpg|The Bhagirathi (foreground) on its way to meet the sediment-laden Alaknanda, and to flow on as the Ganges. File:Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Confluence.jpg|Another view of the confluence at Devprayag. File:Tehri dam india.jpg|Tehri Dam, the 5th tallest dam in the world ==Dams==

There are 18 dams along the Bhagirathi River, either in operation, under construction or planned. These are, in order from the source: == Notes ==