Why this matters now
Brahmaputra is tested for: Chemayungdung Glacier source near Mansarovar Lake Tibet; flows east as Yarlung Tsangpo ~1,700 km before the Great Bend (Namcha Barwa, 7,756 m) — deepest gorge in world; enters India at Tuting/Gelling Arunachal as Dihang/Siang; joins Dibang + Lohit at Sadiya to become Brahmaputra; 720-km stretch through Assam Valley; Majuli world’s largest river island 421 sq km; enters Bangladesh as Jamuna; joins Padma + Meghna → Bay of Bengal; “Sorrow of Assam” annual floods.
Course (3 countries)
| Country/Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tibet (Tsangpo) | Source Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Mansarovar, ~5,300 m elevation. Flows ~1,700 km eastward parallel to Himalayas. Bends sharply south at Namcha Barwa (7,756 m) — Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon world’s deepest gorge (5,000+ m). |
| Arunachal (Dihang/Siang) | Enters India at Tuting/Gelling. Called Dihang/Siang. Joins Dibang + Lohit near Sadiya, Assam = Brahmaputra begins. |
| Assam Valley (720 km) | Wide braided river. Cities: Pasighat, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Tezpur, Guwahati, Dhubri. |
| Majuli | 421 sq km world’s largest river island; 144 satras (Vaishnava monasteries founded by Sankardev 16th c). |
| Bangladesh (Jamuna) | Enters at Dhubri. Called Jamuna. Joins Ganga (Padma in Bangladesh) at Goalundo. Padma + Jamuna + Meghna → Bay of Bengal — world’s largest delta (Sundarbans). |
Major tributaries
North bank (Himalayan, glacier-fed, large discharge):
- Subansiri — longest tributary; 442 km; rises Tibet (Lower Subansiri HEP).
- Kameng — Tawang area; cuts deep valley.
- Manas — Manas Tiger Reserve UNESCO.
- Sankosh.
- Dhansiri.
- Teesta — rises Tso Lhamo Lake N Sikkim; flows Sikkim + WB + Bangladesh.
South bank (peninsular, smaller, monsoon-fed):
- Lohit — from Tibet, joins at Sadiya.
- Dibang — from Arunachal Mishmi Hills.
- Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri, Kopili.
Features + Issues
- Floods: “Sorrow of Assam”. ~40% of Assam land area flood-prone. 1950 Assam earthquake (Mag 8.6) reshaped the river course; annual floods.
- Bridges: Dhola-Sadiya Bridge / Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu (9.15 km) — India’s longest river bridge over Lohit (Brahmaputra tributary), inaugurated 26 May 2017 by PM Modi.
- Bogibeel Bridge — 4.94 km road-rail; inaugurated 25 Dec 2018.
- HEP projects: Lower Subansiri HEP (2,000 MW) at Assam-Arunachal border — India’s largest under construction; commissioning 2025.
- Inland Waterway 2 (NW-2) — Sadiya to Dhubri, 891 km.
- China’s Medog Mega-Dam in Tibet announced 2020 — 60 GW capacity, world’s largest; strategic concern for India + Bangladesh. Construction reportedly began December 2024.
- Kaziranga National Park — on Brahmaputra’s south bank; one-horned rhinos; UNESCO 1985.
UPSC angle
Know BRAHMAPUTRA RIVER — 2900 km; SOURCE CHEMAYUNGDUNG GLACIER near Mansarovar Tibet ~5300 m elevation; NAMES: TSANGPO Tibet (Yarlung Tsangpo)+DIHANG/SIANG Arunachal+Brahmaputra Assam+JAMUNA Bangladesh; flows 1700 km east parallel Himalayas → bends sharply south at NAMCHA BARWA 7756 m → YARLUNG TSANGPO GRAND CANYON world’s deepest gorge 5000+ m; enters India Tuting/Gelling Arunachal; joins DIBANG+LOHIT at SADIYA Assam = Brahmaputra; 720-KM ASSAM VALLEY braided wide; cities Pasighat+Dibrugarh+Sibsagar+Tezpur+Guwahati+Dhubri; MAJULI WORLD’S LARGEST RIVER ISLAND 421 sq km 144 satras (Sankardev 16th c Vaishnava); enters Bangladesh Dhubri as Jamuna joins PADMA at GOALUNDO + Meghna → Bay of Bengal world’s largest delta SUNDARBANS; NORTH BANK TRIBUTARIES (Himalayan glacier-fed large): SUBANSIRI longest 442 km Tibet (Lower Subansiri HEP), Kameng (Tawang), MANAS (Manas TR UNESCO), Sankosh, Dhansiri, TEESTA (Tso Lhamo Lake N Sikkim, Sikkim+WB+BD); SOUTH BANK (peninsular monsoon-fed): Lohit (Tibet)+Dibang (Mishmi)+Burhi Dihing+Dhansiri+Kopili; FLOODS “SORROW OF ASSAM” 40% land flood-prone, 1950 Assam earthquake 8.6 reshaped course; DHOLA-SADIYA BRIDGE / DR BHUPEN HAZARIKA SETU 9.15 km India’s longest river bridge over Lohit, inaug 26 May 2017 PM Modi; BOGIBEEL BRIDGE 4.94 km road-rail inaug 25 Dec 2018; LOWER SUBANSIRI HEP 2000 MW Assam-Arunachal India’s largest under construction commissioning 2025; NW-2 Sadiya-Dhubri 891 km; CHINA MEDOG MEGA-DAM Tibet 2020 announced 60 GW world’s largest, construction reportedly Dec 2024; KAZIRANGA NP south bank 1-horned rhino UNESCO 1985.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Brahmaputra originate?
Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, at ~5,300 m elevation. Flows east as Yarlung Tsangpo for 1,700 km before the Great Bend at Namcha Barwa.
What are the different names of Brahmaputra?
Tsangpo in Tibet (Yarlung Tsangpo), Dihang/Siang in Arunachal, Brahmaputra in Assam, Jamuna in Bangladesh — one of India’s only major rivers with male name (others are female).
What is Majuli?
The world’s largest river island at 421 sq km — in the Brahmaputra in Assam. Home to 144 satras (Vaishnava monasteries founded by Sankardev in 16th century).
What is the Great Bend?
The point at Namcha Barwa (7,756 m) where Tsangpo bends sharply south through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon — the world’s deepest gorge (5,000+ m).