Luni river
Topic: Drainage System of India: Rivers, Basins and Patterns · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Structure and Physiography"; Class 11, Ch 3 "Drainage System"
Meaning
The Luni river is the largest river system of Rajasthan west of the Aravallis. It rises near Pushkar as two branches, the Saraswati and the Sabarmati, which join at Govindgarh. From there it flows west to Telwara, then turns southwest and ends in the Rann of Kachchh. It is wholly ephemeral, meaning it flows only after rain. In its lower course it picks up salt from the dry soil, so its water turns salty.
Example
After a good monsoon, the Luni carries water across Ajmer, Jodhpur and Barmer districts towards the Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat. In most other months its bed is dry sand.
Don't confuse with
- Sabarmati river (Gujarat): this is a separate west-flowing river that passes Ahmedabad and reaches the Gulf of Khambhat. The "Sabarmati" that feeds the Luni is only a small headwater branch with the same name.
- Mythical Sarasvati: the Luni's Saraswati branch is a real stream. It is not the ancient Sarasvati of legend linked with the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj.
Related concepts
- Narmada river
- Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls
- Tapi river
- Narmada and Tapi as west-flowing rivers
- West-flowing rivers of the Peninsula
- Jog Falls
- Inland drainage