Question

Where do the Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise?
A. Punjab Himalaya
B. Nepal Himalaya
C. Himachal Himalaya
D. Kumaon Himalaya

Answer 1

Hint: The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi are tributaries of the river Ganga and Ganga is a Trans –Boundary River flowing through Bangladesh & India. These rivers (mentioned above) originate from the Tibetan plateau near Mansarovar, Nepal and Tibet respectively.

Complete Answer:
1. Ghaghara – The river is also known as karnali and is a perennial Trans – Boundary River which originates on the Tibetan plateau near the Lake mansarovar. The river cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal and joins the Sharda River at Brahmaghat which is in India.
2. Gandak – The river is one of the major rivers of Nepal and lies between the kosi river system in the east and the karnali river basin in the west (of it). The Gandak is one of the left bank tributaries of Ganga.
3. Kosi – The Koshi or Kosi River drains the northern slope of the Himalayas in the Tibet region. Kamalā, Bāgmati (Kareh) and Budhi Gandak are major tributaries of Koshi in India.
Hence, as we can see that all the rivers go through Nepal before coming into India via the Himalayas, the correct answer is option (B), i.e. Nepal Himalaya (this renders the other options incorrect).
4. Punjab Himalayas – The Sutlej River crosses through Punjab and rises on the north slope of the Himalayas.
5. Nepal Himalaya – It is the correct answer (explained above).
6. Himachal Himalaya – The Beas River rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh and flows for around 470 km to meet the Sutlej River.
7. Kumaon Himalaya – The Sarayu River passes through the Kumaon Himalayas. The river rises in Sarmul which is in the extreme north of Uttarakhand.

Hence the correct answer is option B.

Note: The holy rivers Dudh kosi and sun kosi meet the Kosi River (as tributaries) near a Nepalese’s village named harkapur. The Chhoti Gandak River Basin is located between 26000’ to 27000’ N latitude and 83030’ to 84015’E longitude.