Satluj River - सतलुज नदी

River Name Satluj River Length of River 1,448 km Course China, Pakistan and Northern India Starting Point Mansarovar Lake - China Ending Point Indus in Pakistan Points of Interest Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi, The point where it meets River Ganges. The water here is supposed to be auspicious Starting Coordinates Major Tributaries Baspa River, Spiti River, Nogli Khad and Soan River Wikipedia Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satluj_River

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Satluj rises from beyond Indian borders in the Southern slopes of the Kailash mountain near Mansarover lake from Rakas lake, as Longcchen Khabab river ( in Tibet ). It is the largest among the five rivers of Himachal Pradesh. It enters Himachal at Shipki ( altitude = 6,608 metres ) and flows in the South-Westerly direction through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. Its corse in Himachal Pradesh is 320 km. from Rakastal, with famous tributaries viz. the Spiti, the Ropa, the Taiti, the Kashang, the Mulgaon, the Yula, the Wanger, the Throng and the Rupi as right bank tributaries, whereas the Tirung, the Gayathing, the Baspa, the Duling and the Soldang are left bank tributaries. It leaves Himachal Pradesh to enter the plains of Punjab at Bhakhra, where the world's highest gravity dam has been constructed on this river. Its toatl catchment area in Himachal Pradesh is 20,000 sq. km. Its vedic name is Satudri and Sanskrit name Shatadru. The Satluj finally drains into the Indus in Pakistan. The catchment area of about 50,140 km. of Satluj river is located above the permanent snow-line at an altitude of 4,500 metres. The upper tracts of the Satluj valley are under a permanent snow cover. The prominent human settlements that have come on the banks of the Satluj river are Namgia, Kalpa, Rampur, Tattapani, Suni and Bilaspur. Its total length is 1,448 km.

Also known as the Red River, Satluj /Satlej river is the longest river amongst the five rivers flowing through the cross river of Pakistan and Northern India. Satluj is one of the three Trans Himalayan Rivers originating in the high Tibetan Plateau which cuts across the Himalayan Ranges. Satluj crosses the three main mountain ranges - the Zanzkar Range, the Great Himalayan Range and the Dauladhar Range. However the source of Satluj river in India is the Mansarovar lake at 18500ft in Tibetan Range.

The Mighty Satluj River lies in the Ngari region of the Tibet, the Dauladhar range forms its Southern Range - the Uttarkashi Range making a part of Uttar Pradesh and the Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. Satluj River enters India through Shipki La - as high as 6, 608 mts from sea. The major tributaries to the Satluj River is the Indus Valley River - the main river of Pakistan.

In India Satluj River makes an important source to cultivate various fruits and plants in the North Eastern Part. On both the sides of the river can be found crops of orchids , apricots, apples and grapes. It is the major source of providing life to many ornamental plants which are grown in Indian Hill Stations - especially in the Northern India.

Satluj crosses some of the major cities of India. Its course includes crossing - Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Solan, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. Some of the major tributeries of Satluj are viz. the Spiti, the Ropa, the Taiti, the Kashang, the Mulgaon, the Yula, the Wanger, the Throng and the Rupi as right bank tributaries, whereas the Tirung, the Gayathing, the Baspa, the Duling and the Soldang are left bank tributaries. Out of all these Baspa River, Spiti River, Nogli Khad and Soan River are the major Tributaries of Satluj River.

In the Himalayan Ranges too, the Satluj River has a large deep area. This area is known as Pshong - Tong. Pshong Tong is a called as the fruit Valley for the variety of fruits it bears. Apples, apricots, grapes, cherries - all of them fill the lush green grounds making them colorful.

Though there isin't much of Religious aspects related to Satluj River, still it is considered to have the waters of Satluj River in any of the Religious Functions.

Adventures : Satluj is very famous for a exciting and thrilling adventure. Popular as it is, Rafting is one of the most sought after adventures of India. All the three places which the river crosses - Zanzkar Valley, the Dauladhar Range and the Uttarkashi Range are famous for rafting. People from all over the country and also from outside countries come to enjoy this thrill. It s a thing one must go for.

Suggestions

Satluj River crosses places which are at quite a height. These places are Snow cladded in the Winters (November - January end) and require a lot of woolens to be taken along. However the summers (February to May end) are the best months to be here. (Sometimes there can be snowfall in February too, so check out before planning a tour).

Ranges like Dauladher and Zanzkar are not considered as Hill Stations. So you can expect more of open places and easy Hotel Reservations. Not less than any other Hill Stations, these are beautiful places to go to in the Spring Season. Shimla and Uttarkashi however can be quite crowded in the springs and winters as these are very famous Hill Stations of India. Ask us for all the details.

Except Uttarkashi, there are no restrictions on the kind of food you eat. Uttarkashi being a religious Hill Stations, abets its travellers from having Non - Vegetarian Food.

If you intend to take a trip to Mansarovar, then it is easy to reach from Zanzkar Range. Contact us for further details.

Keep all your belongings with you. Take minimum luggage while on excursion. Keep your important documents in the Hotel Locker.

Do not pass out any information about your Passport and Travelers Cheque with anyone.

The path of Satluj River is the best place to go for Rafting. If you are here, do not leave it out.

Important Tributaries of river Satluj

Baspa River : Baspa is an important tributary of the river Satluj in its upper courses. The Baspa is joined by many smaller channels draining snow melt waters. The Baspa river has cut across the main Himalayan range. Thereafter it empties itself into the river Satluj in district Kinnaur. Baspa originates from the Baspa hills, joins it from the left bank near Karcham ( Kalpa ). Satluj river leaves Kinnaur district in the West near Chauhra and enters Shimla district

Spiti River

The Spiti river originates from Kunzum range and Tegpo and Kabzian streams are its tributaries. Water draining the famous Pin valley area are also a part of the Spiti river system. Its position across the main Himalayan range deprives it from the benefit of the South-West monsoons that causes widespread rain in most parts of India from June to September. The river attains peak discharge in late summers due to glacier melting. After flowing through Spiti valley, the Spiti river meets Satluj at Namgia in Kinnaur district traversing a length of about 150 km. from the North-West beyong that it flows in South-West direction in the Pradesh. Huge mountain rise to very high elevations on either sides of the Spiti river and its numerous tributaries. The mountains are barren and largely devoid of a vegetative cover. The main settlements along the Spiti river and its tributaries are Hansi and Dhankar Gompa.

The Nogli Khad

It joins Satluj just below Rampur Bushahar. It touches Kullu district in Nirmand tehsil opposite to Rampur tehsil of Shimla district. The river Satluj enters Mandi district near Firnu village in the Chawasigarh and passes through the areas of Mahunm, Bagra, Batwara, Derahat and Dehar. Practically, the whole of the ancient Suket state except Jaidevi and Balh circles drains into Satluj. The main tributaries of the Satluj in district Mandi are Siun, Bahlu, Kotlu, Behna, Siman, Bantrehr, Khadel and Bhagmati. Soan River : The Soan river rises from the Southern slopes of the Shivalik range also known as Solasinghi range in the tract to the East of the Beas gap across the Southern periphery of the Kangra valley. It joins the boundary of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Its gradient is not very steep and the slopes of the Soan catchment vary from gentle to steep. In the summer the discharge dropes drastically, while during monsoon it is in spate.

The Satluj river basin in Himachal Pradesh covers an area of about 6,553 square kilometers. To the east lies the Ngari region of Tibet; the Dhauladhar range forms its southern boundary, separating it from Uttarkashi District of Uttar Pradesh and the Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh. In the west, the Srikhand Dhar marks the boundary between Kinnaur and Kulu. Spiti is on the northern border of Kinnaur the boundary being formed by the rivers Spiti and Pare Chu near the Indo-Tibetan border.

The source of the Satluj lies in near the Mansarovar Lake at 18500 ft. in the Tibetan Plateau. The Satluj is one of only three Trans Himalayan rivers originating in the high Tibetan Plateau that cuts across the mighty Himalayan ranges. The other two are the Indus and the Brahmaputra. It enters India through a fearsome gorge near the Shipki La. Thereafter, it flows through the cold tracts of Kinnaur to the hamlet of Wangtoo. It is one of the major tributaries of the Indus River system. In its passage across Kinnaur, the Satluj River successively crosses three great mountain ranges -- the Zanskar range, the Great Himalayan range and the Dhauladhar range. To the east of the Satluj the valleys are narrow while in the west, they are wide and open. Many tributaries join the main Satluj River one after the other from the south. The Baspa is one of the major tributaries of the Satluj. The valley of the Satluj extends on both flanks of the Satluj River - from where it enters Kinnaur to the place where it makes its exit. It is the largest valley of Kinnaur, extending in a northeast to southwest alignment for a length of about 140-km along the Satluj River. The northeastern part of this valley is drier and conditions become humid towards the southwest. The Satluj River has carved a deep gorge across the main or Great Himalaya near Pshong- Tong. In the southern part of this valley, there is extensive cultivation of fruits and agricultural crops. Barring some parts, extensive vineyards, thriving crops and orchards of apricot, apples and grapes are to be found in the entire region.