River Systems of India 

The rivers in India are classified as follows -

1)The Himalayan River System
2)The Peninsular River System

Himalyan River System -

The Himalyan rivers are formed by melting of snow and glaciers and therefore they are perennial .

Indus river (3,180 km)-It originates from Mansarovar lake (Western Tibet) and flows through India and thereafter through Pakistan and finally falls in the Arabian Sea near Karachi .Its main tributaries are Jhelum (725 km) from Kullu Hills near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh ,Beas (470km) from near Rohtang pass and Satluj (1,050km) from Mansarovar Lake .

Ganga river(2,510 km) 

Origianting from Gangotri Glacier in the Uttarkhand ,traverses through Uttarakhand ,Uttar Pradesh ,Bihar and West Bengal states and forrms the Sundarbans delta before it drains into the bay of Bengal .The rivers Bhagirathi and Alakhnanda meet at Devprayag to form the Ganga River .The Bhagirathi river rises at the foot of Gangotri glacier ,at Gaumukh .Alakhnanda river from Badrinath and Mandakini river from Kedarnath .Yamuna is the Largest tributary of the Ganga ,which meets it at Allahabad .Other tributaries are Ghaghara ,Gandak ,Kosi,Gomati and Damodar .In Bangladesh ,the Ganga is known as the Padma .

Brahmaputra river (2,900 km)

This river originates from MAnsarovar Lake (Western Tibet).In Tibet ,it flows in the name of Tsang Po and when it enters in India ,it is known as Dihang.The main Tributaries of this river are Sibansiri,Dhansiri,Manas,Teesta and Kameng .Before it enters Bay of Bengal ,it is known as Meghna.
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The Peninsular River System

These are seasonal rivers as their flow depends mainly on rainfall.They carry about 30 percent of the total discharge .These  can be divided into following categories .

a)East flowing rivers
b)West flowing rivers

East flowing rivers -

Mahanadi (890km) - Mahanadi rises from the north-west of the Deccan Plateau and enters into the Bay of Bengal.

Godawari(1,450km) -Godavari rises from the Western Ghats and is the longest peninsular river system .It is also called Vriddha or Dakshin Ganga ..

Krishna(1,290km) - Krishna rises from the Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar and enters into Bay of Bengal .It is the second largest peninsular river system .

Cauvery(760km) - Cauvery rises from the western ghats and enters into the Bay of Bengal .

West Flowing Rivers 

Narmada(1290km)-Narmada rises from Amarkantak Plateau(north-west of Deccan Plateau)and enters into the gulf of Khambat .

Tapti(724km)- Tapti rises from north west of Deccan Plateau and flows into the Arabian Sea

Sabarmati(416km) -Sabarmati rises from Aravali and flows in the Arabian sea.

Periyar (300km) - Periyar rises from Sahyadri and enters into Arabian Sea.

Sharavati -Sharvati rises from Sahyadri .It forms the famous Jog or Gersoppa falls(289m).

Some rivers in Rajasthan do not reach the sea and make inland drainage .The Ghaggar is an inland drainage river .

Water Bodies of India -

1)Chilka Lake  is the largest lake of India and is  in the state of Odisha .It is also the largest brakish water lake of India .

2)Wular Lake is the largest fresh water lake of India ,present in Jammu and Kashmir .

3)Sambhar Lake is in Rajasthan .Salt is produced from this lake .

Some other important lakes are Dal Lake in Jammu and KAshmir,Pulicat and Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh and Vembanad in Kerala .

Important gulfs in India

1) Gulf of Kachchh(Gujrat)- It has the highest potential of tidal energy generation .

2)Gulf of Cambay(Gujrat)-River Tapti Narmada,Sabarmati,and Mahi drain into it.

3)Gulf of Mannar(Tamil Nadu) -It is the first Marine Biosphere in Asia .