List of Riverside Cities in India

Rivers have shaped India's civilization, fostering ancient cities and modern metropolises. This article lists notable Indian cities located on major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, and Brahmaputra, across various states. These riverside hubs are crucial for livelihoods, cultural practices, and economic activities, highlighting their enduring significance in India's national identity and growth.

Rivers have molded India's civilization, economy, and culture over thousands of years. Many of the oldest cities and most significant Indian cities have come up along the banks of principal rivers, providing them with drinking, irrigation, and trading waters. Read along for an all-encompassing list of notable Indian riverbank cities in each river and state, placed alongside what gives them importance.

Why Do Riverside Cities Matter?

• Nourishing Cradles for Civilizations: Most ancient civilizations in India thrived around rivers.

• Livelihood: Rivers supply water, facilitate agriculture, and support local industries.

• Cultural Significance: Large rivers and their cities are usually linked to religious and spiritual practice.

• Economic Opportunities: Rivers facilitate transport, commerce, and many economic activities.

Major Cities on Important Indian Rivers

Ganga (Ganges) River

• Uttar Pradesh: Varanasi, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Kanpur, Farrukhabad, Fatehgarh, Shuklaganj, Chakeri, Mirzapur, Mathura, Kannauj, Etawah, Agra, Auraiya, Jaunpur

• Bihar: Patna, Bhagalpur, Munger, Jamalpur, Hajipur

• West Bengal: Kolkata, Baranagar, Murshidabad

Yamuna River

• Delhi: New Delhi

• Uttar Pradesh: Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Etawah, Kalpi, Hamirpur, Prayagraj, Auraiya, Kanpur, Shuklaganj

• Haryana: Panipat, Yamunanagar

Godavari River

• Maharashtra: Nashik, Nanded, Gangakhed, Paithan

• Telangana: Nizamabad, Ramagundam

• Andhra Pradesh: Rajahmundry

Krishna River

• Maharashtra: Sangli, Karad

• Karnataka: Bagalkot, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi

• Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada, Amaravati, Kurnool

Brahmaputra River

• Assam: Guwahati, Dibrugarh

Mahanadi River

• Odisha: Cuttack, Sambalpur, Banki

Narmada River

• Madhya Pradesh: Jabalpur, Narmadapuram, Mandala, Maheshwar

• Gujarat: Bharuch

Hooghly River

• West Bengal: Kolkata, Murshidabad

Kaveri (Cauvery) River

• Tamil Nadu: Tiruchirapalli, Erode

• Karnataka: Srirangapatna

Sutlej River

• Punjab: Ferozpur, Ludhiana

Sabarmati River

• Gujarat: Ahmedabad

Other Important Rivers and Their Cities

• Ajmer (Anasagar Lake) – Rajasthan

• Hyderabad (Musi) – Telangana

• Kota (Chambal) – Rajasthan

• Rourkela (Brahmani) – Odisha

• Dibrugarh (Brahmaputra) – Assam

• Lucknow (Gomti) – Uttar Pradesh

• Surat (Tapi) – Gujarat

• Pune (Mula, Mutha) – Maharashtra

• Coimbatore (Noyyal) – Tamil Nadu

Below is a comprehensive table listing notable riverside cities in India along with their corresponding rivers and states. 

Key Points

• Riverside cities are spread across all regions of India and include both ancient and modern urban centers.

• The Ganga and Yamuna basins host the densest cluster of riverside cities due to their historical and religious importance.

• Many rivers also run through multiple states, with cities along their course playing pivotal roles regionally and nationally.

India’s riverside cities continue to be hubs of culture, spirituality, commerce, and innovation, shaping the nation’s identity and growth