Sabarmati River

The Sabarmati River originates in the Aravalli Range of the Indian state of Rajasthan. The river has a total length of 371 km (231 mi).^[4] After flowing for 48 km (30 mi) in Rajasthan it enters the state of Gujarat where it is joined by its left-bank tributary, Wakal, near the village Ghonpankhari.^[5] The river then continues southwest towards Mhauri, where it is joined by the right-bank tributary the Sei River. Before entering the Dharoi Reservoir, the river is joined by the left-bank tributary Harnav River. After the Sabarmati passes the Dharoi dam it meets another left bank tributary, the Hathmati River.^[5]. The river then flows past Ahmedabad, where it is joined by the left-bank tributary the Vatrak River. The Sabarmati eventually flows into the Gulf of Khambhat, in the Arabian Sea.^[5]

The catchment area of the Sabarmati basin is 21,674 km² (8,368 sq mi) out of which 4,124 km² (1,592 sq mi) lies in Rajasthan State and the remaining 18,550 km² (7,160 sq mi) in Gujarat.^[6] The basin is located in a semi-arid zone with rainfall ranging from 450 to 800 mm (18 to 31 in) in different parts of the basin.^[7] The river traverses three geomorphic zones: rocky uplands, middle alluvial plains, and lower estuarine zone.^[8]

The major tributaries are the Watrak, Wakal, Hathmati, Harnav, and Sei rivers.^[3][6][9] Average annual water availability in the Sabarmati basin is 308 m³ (10,900 cu ft) per capita, which is significantly lower than the national average of 1,545 m³ (54,600 cu ft) per capita.^[10]

The Sabarmati is a seasonal river whose flows are dominated by the monsoon, with little or no flows post-monsoon.^[7] An average flow of 33 m³ (1,170 cu ft) per second was measured at Ahmedabad during the period 1968–1979.^[11] Over the past century, the flood of August 1973 is considered to be the largest flood,^[7] when a flow of 14,150 m³ (499,700 cu ft) per second was measured at Dharoi.^[12]

In Rajasthan, it is believed that the Sabarmati River originated due to the penance of ascetic Kashyapa on Mount Abu.^[13] His penance had pleased Shiva and in return, Shiva gave ascetic Kashyapa the Ganges River. The Ganges River flowed from Shiva's hair onto Mount Abu and became the Sabarmati River.^[13] In another legend surrounding the origin of the river, Shiva brought the goddess Ganga to Gujarat and that caused the Sabarmati to come into being.^[14]

Rajashekhara's Kavya-mimamsa (10th century) calls the river Shvabhravati (IAST: Śvabhravatī). The 11th century text Shringara-manjari-katha calls it "Sambhramavati" (literally, "full of fickleness").^[15]

Jain acharya Buddhisagarsuri has written many poems about the Sabarmati River.^[16]

During India's independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram as his home on the banks of this river.^[17]

In 2018, an assessment by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) named the Kheroj-Vautha stretch of the Sabarmati among the most polluted river stretches in India.^[18] Ahmedabad civic body's failure to build a sewage treatment plant in Motera resulted in further pollution of the river water.^[19]

The Narendra Modi Stadium and future Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave are situated near the river.

There are several reservoirs on the Sabarmati and its tributaries. The Dharoi dam is located on the main river.^[23] The Hathmati, Harnav and Guhai dams are located on the tributaries meeting the main river upstream of Ahmedabad while Meshvo reservoir, Meshvo pick-ueir, Mazam and Watrak dams are located on tributaries meeting downstream. The Kalpasar is planned project in the Gulf of Khambhat.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002, water from the Narmada river was released into the Sabarmati River through the Sardar Sarovar dam.^[24]

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  Lithograph by Dutchman Philip Baldeus depicting Ahmedabad and Sabarmati River circa 1752
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  Sabarmati River in 1890
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  Watercarts in Sabarmati near Ahmedabad in 1890s
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  View of the Harnav, a tributary of the Sabarmati
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  Construction work going on near the river under the Sabarmati River Front Development Project
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  River Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
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  Sabarmati River near Ambod

• Ahmedabad
• Sabarmati River Front
• List of most-polluted rivers
• List of rivers in India
• Sabarmati Ashram