Overview
The Godavari (IAST: Godāvarī) is the second longest river in India after the Ganges, and drains the third largest river basin in the country, covering roughly ten per cent of India's total geographical area. The river rises at Trimbakeshwar in the Nashik district of Maharashtra and flows generally eastwards for about 1,465 kilometres before emptying into the Bay of Bengal through an extensive network of distributaries.
The Godavari basin extends across several states, with Maharashtra accounting for the largest share, followed by Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Its drainage basin of approximately 312,812 square kilometres is among the largest on the Indian subcontinent, surpassed only by those of the Ganga and the Indus. In terms of length, catchment area and discharge, the Godavari is the largest river in peninsular India.
In Hindu tradition, the river is often referred to as Dakshina Ganga, or the "Southern Ganges", reflecting its religious and cultural significance for communities along its course. Its origin at Trimbakeshwar, the site of one of the Jyotirlinga shrines associated with Shiva, is regarded as sacred, and pilgrimage and ritual bathing are long-established practices linked with the river.
Over recent decades, the Godavari has been regulated by a number of barrages and dams, which maintain a head of water and help reduce evaporation losses. The river's broad delta is densely populated, with a population density of around 729 persons per square kilometre — nearly twice the Indian average. The deltaic region carries a substantial risk of flooding, and lower-lying parts could face heightened risks in the event of a rise in global sea levels.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on the Godavari River (source).