India’s geography and culture have been deeply influenced by its rivers, which have supported ancient civilizations, trade, and urban growth. From the sacred Ganga and Yamuna in the north to the mighty Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery in the south, rivers play a key role in shaping cities and ecosystems.

Riverbank cities like Ahmedabad (Sabarmati) and Varanasi (Ganga) are important industrial and religious centers. Recently, Patna (Ganga) has gained importance due to inland waterway projects, while Hyderabad (Musi) focuses on river restoration. Ayodhya (Sarayu) is emerging as a cultural hub with the Ram Temple development boosting tourism.

Key Points:

• Rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery shape India’s geography and cities.

• Cities on rivers combine history, religion, economy, and environment.

• Ahmedabad (Sabarmati) – Industrial city; Varanasi (Ganga) – religious center.

• Patna (Ganga) – important for inland waterways.

• Hyderabad (Musi) – river cleaning projects are ongoing.

• Ayodhya (Sarayu) – cultural growth due to the Ram Temple.

• Projects like Namami Gange and Smart Cities focus on rivers.

This article offers a state-wise overview of major Indian cities on rivers, useful for aspirants of bank, SSC, and UPSC exams. A PDF is available for offline preparation. For any queries, check the FAQ section given below. 

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Aspirants can attend to this type of question and can score well. Here we are providing the PDF, which covers cities on river banks in India, along with the states, which helps to gain knowledge about this topic.

Cities on River Banks 2025 PDF Download Link

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FAQs

Here, we have given the common FAQs for your reference.

Q: Which city is called the City of Rivers?

A: Delhi is called the city of rivers.

Q: What is the calm part of a river called?

A: Off-channel area - Any relatively calm portion of a stream outside of the main flow.

Q: Why are all the major cities of India located on the banks of the river?

A: Rivers provide the necessary water supply for the growth of cities. Major cities in India are mostly located on the banks of rivers.

Q: Which city is located on the banks of the Ganga River?

A: Varanasi, Patna, and Haridwar are major cities situated on the banks of the Ganga.

Q: Which river flows through Kolkata?

A: The Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganga.

Q: Which European city is situated on the banks of the Danube River?

A: Budapest, Hungary

Q: Which city is the most ancient Riverside Indian City? 

A: Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

Q: How do riverbank cities benefit economically?

A: Through port trade, tourism, agriculture, and fishing industries.

Q: What are the common environmental challenges for river-bank cities?

A: Flooding, water pollution, erosion, and habitat destruction.