The Sarju (Kumaoni language: सरज्यू, Hindi Language: सरयू), also known as Saryu,[Negi, Kumaun: The Land and the People, pg-82] in the state of Uttarakhand.[Conder, India, pg-238] 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 the Sharda River.[Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-18] The river forms the South-eastern border between the districts of Pithoragarh and Almora district.[Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-170][Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-331] Temperate and sub-Tropical forests cover the entire Catchment area of the River.[Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-120]
Etymology
The name is a noun derived from the Sanskrit root सृ
sṛ "to flow".
as a masculine noun means "air, wind". In the feminine it is the name of the river.
Course
The Sarju rises at a place known as Sarmul (or Sarmool), which is located in the extreme north of the Bageshwar district of
Uttarakhand. The source of the river is situated at on the southern slope of a ridge of the
Nanda Kot and is separated on the east from the source of
Ramganga and on the west from the sources of Kuphini (the eastern branch of
Pindar river) by spurs leading down from the mass culminating at the Nanda Kot peak.
[Walton, Almora: A Gazetteer, pg-283] It flows initially around in southwest direction by the
Kumaon division Himalayas where it receives Kanalgadh stream from the right and Punger river from the left. About further downstream, the river receives Lahor river from the right.
[Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182] Then the river turns towards south and flows through the city of
Bageshwar, where it receives
Gomati river from the right.
[Budhawar, The Call of the Mountains: Uttrakhand Explored, pg-39][Guneratne, Culture and the Environment in the Himalaya, pg-134]
The Sarju flows to the lower 65 km in mainly southeastern direction.[Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182] Much of the drainage of Gangolihat region of Pithoragarh 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 in Almora district; notable ones being Gatgadh, Jalairgadh, Bhaurgadh, Alaknadi and Saniaungadh.[Walton, Almora: A Gazetteer, pg-284] About 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 above its mouth, Ramganga meets the left side on the Sarju at Rameshwar, situated at an elevation of . Finally Sarju reaches at Pancheshwar at the Nepalese border to Sharda River after travelling a total of .
Geology
Sarju transfers a sedimental load of 498.4 kg/sec during the peak of raining season.
[Bhatt, Ecology of the Mountain Waters, pg-48,49]
|
+ Water Quality Characteristics of Sarju during water years 1987 and 1988[All values in mg/L except ph and conductivity][Bhatt, Ecology of the Mountain Waters, pg-97] |
| Sulphate |
| 2.41 |
Tributaries
Gomati
Gomati river originates in the higher reaches of Bhatkot and merges into Sarju at
Bageshwar.
[Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19] It flows through the
Katyuri kings Valley which constitutes a major Agricultural zone of
Kumaon division.
[Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19]
Kuloor
The Kuloor river rises above the Bhadrkali Temple near
Sani-Udiyar, and flows through Rawatsera, Bans Patan and Ganai Gangoli, before joining the Sarju at Seraghat.
Punger
Punger river rises near village Sangar and joins Sarju from the left at Sartana.
[Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-183]
Lahor
Lahor is a small river that joins Sarju from the right.
[Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182]
Panar
Panar originates on the northern slopes of the Mornaula Range, south-east of
Almora.
[Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19] Panar joins Sarju near Rameshwar.
[Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19]
Ramganga
Ramganga East is the largest tributary of Sarju. It originates from the
Namik Glacier in Pithoragarh district of
Uttarakhand and flows towards Southeast.
[Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-115][Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-18] The river is fed by numerous small and big rivers and finally joins river Sarju at Rameshwar.
[Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-48]
Gallery
File:Camping on saryu river - panoramio.jpg|Camping on Saryu river
File:Saryu Bageshwar 02.jpg|Saryu river at Bageshwar
File:Saryu river - panoramio.jpg|Close-up view of Sarju water flowing
File:Saryu Bageshwar.jpg|Saryu river at Bageshwar
File:Saryu Jhula Pul 05.jpg|Suspension Bridge over Saryu river at Bageshwar
File:Sarayu River AJTJ P1020789.jpg|Sarayu River
File:Sarju Ghat.jpg|Sarju River at Ghat, Pithoragarh
Notes
Bibliography
