| Sarju | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Aarti at Sarju Ghat,Bageshwar | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| region | Kumaon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Sarmul, 15 km south ofNanda Kot[1] |
| • coordinates | 30°7′58″N80°1′56″E / 30.13278°N 80.03222°E /30.13278; 80.03222 |
| • elevation | 3,000 m (9,800 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Sharda River,[2]Uttarakhand, India |
• coordinates | 29°26′38″N80°14′33″E / 29.44389°N 80.24250°E /29.44389; 80.24250 |
• elevation | 429 m (1,407 ft)[3] |
| Length | 130 km (81 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Ramganga, Punger |
| • right | Gomati, Panar, Lahor |
TheSarju (Kumaoni: सरज्यू,Hindi: सरयू), also known asSaryu,[4] is a major river draining CentralKumaon region[5] in theIndian state ofUttarakhand.[6] Originating from Sarmul, Sarju flows through the cities of Kapkot, Bageshwar and Seraghat before joining Mahakali at Pancheshwar. The Sarju is the largest tributary of theSharda River.[7] The river forms the South-eastern border between the districts ofPithoragarh andAlmora.[8][9] Temperate and sub-Tropical forests cover the entireCatchment area of the River.[10]
The name is a noun derived from the Sanskrit root सृsṛ "to flow".saráyu- as a masculine noun means "air, wind". In the feminine it is the name of the river.[citation needed]
The Sarju rises at a place known as Sarmul (or Sarmool), which is located in the extreme north of theBageshwar district ofUttarakhand. The source of the river is situated at30°7′58″N80°1′56″E / 30.13278°N 80.03222°E /30.13278; 80.03222 on the southern slope of a ridge of theNanda Kot and is separated on the east from the source ofRamganga and on the west from the sources of Kuphini (the eastern branch ofPindar river) by spurs leading down from the mass culminating at the Nanda Kot peak.[11] It flows initially around 50 km (31 mi) in southwest direction by theKumaonHimalayas where it receives Kanalgadh stream from the right and Punger river from the left. About 2 km (1.2 mi) further downstream, the river receives Lahor river from the right.[12] Then the river turns towards south and flows through the city ofBageshwar, where it receivesGomati from the right.[13][14]
The Sarju flows to the lower 65 km in mainly southeastern direction.[15] Much of the drainage ofGangolihat region ofPithoragarh district flows into the river via Bhadrapatigad stream, which flows into it from the left. Similarly, several streams join it from right draining much of the Chaugarkha region situated inAlmora district; notable ones being Gatgadh, Jalairgadh, Bhaurgadh, Alaknadi and Saniaungadh.[16] About 55 km (34 mi) downstream from its confluence with Gomati in Bageshwar, it receives the Panar river from the right. A small river Jaingan gets merge into Sarju river at Seraghat in Almora-Pithoragarh border. About five Km further downstream, at 20 km (12 mi) above its mouth,Ramganga meets the left side on the Sarju at Rameshwar, situated at an elevation of 1,500 ft (460 m). Finally Sarju reaches atPancheshwar at the Nepalese border toSharda River after travelling a total of 130 km (81 mi).
Sarju transfers a sedimental load of 498.4 kg/sec during the peak of raining season.[17]
| Parameter | pH | Alkalinity | Hardness | Conductivity | Calcium | Magnesium | Sodium | Potassium | Chloride | Sulphate |
| Value | 7.9 | 111.2 | 101.32 | 137.11 | 18.89 | 11.11 | 3.50 | 1.80 | 8.10 | 2.41 |
Gomati river originates in the higher reaches of Bhatkot and merges into Sarju atBageshwar.[20] It flows through theKatyur Valley which constitutes a major Agricultural zone ofKumaon.[21]
The Kuloor river rises above the Bhadrkali Temple nearSani-Udiyar, and flows through Rawatsera, Bans Patan and Ganai Gangoli, before joining the Sarju at Seraghat.
Punger river rises near village Sangar and joins Sarju from the left at Sartana.[22]
Lahor is a small river that joins Sarju from the right.[23]
Panar originates on the northern slopes of the Mornaula Range, south-east ofAlmora.[24] Panar joins Sarju near Rameshwar.[25]
Ramganga East is the largest tributary of Sarju. It originates from theNamik Glacier inPithoragarh district ofUttarakhand and flows towards Southeast.[26][27] The river is fed by numerous small and big rivers and finally joins river Sarju at Rameshwar.[28]
