Question

Which river is known as the 'Ganga of the South'?
a. Krishna
b. Godavari
c. Cauvery
d. Narmada

Answer 1

Hint: The Ganga of the South falls in the Bay of Bengal, just like the Ganga of the North. The Kumbh Mela is also organised at the banks of this river.

Complete answer:
The Ganga is the most important river of India, and it flows in the northern plains. However, there are various other nicknames of the rivers as Ganga, based on their origin.
Let’s look at our options one by one:
a. Krishna - The Krishna river falls into the bay of Bengal, but it is not the Ganga of the South. In fact, it does not have any nickname with the name Ganga in it. So, it is an incorrect option.
b. Godavari - The River Godavari is the most important river in the Southern part of India. It flows through 3 states, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is therefore known as the Ganga of the south for this reason. So, it is the correct option.
c. Cauvery - The Cauvery is a perennial river in the Southern part of India and has a lot of controversies related to it. However, it is not the Ganga of the South. So, it is an incorrect option.
d. Narmada - The Narmada river, is known as the Dev Ganga as it supplies water to the dry regions of the Deccan. So, it is an incorrect option.
So, the correct answer is, ‘b. Godavari’.

Note: Since the rivers of Godavari and Kaveri have a controversy in being called the Ganga of the South, it is required to clear a misconception. The Godavari River is mighty like the Ganga, hence it is known as the Ganga of the South. Such references also occur in the epics of Ramayana.