Overview
The Narmada, also known as the Narbada or anglicised as Nerbudda, is one of the major rivers of India and the longest west-flowing river in the country. It is the largest river in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is regarded as a lifeline of the regions through which it passes. The name Narmada is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "The Giver of Pleasure".
The river originates on the Amarkantak Plateau in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh and flows westwards for approximately 1,312 km before draining into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat, west of Bharuch in Gujarat. It traverses Madhya Pradesh, runs along the border with Maharashtra, and finally flows through Gujarat. Along with the Tapti, it is one of only two major peninsular rivers that flow from east to west.
The Narmada flows through a rift valley bordered by the Satpura range to the south and the Vindhya range to the north, and is traditionally regarded as a boundary between North and South India. As a rift valley river, it does not form a delta but instead opens into an estuary—a feature shared by other rift valley rivers such as the Damodar and the Tapti.
The river has been known by different names in historical sources. The Periplus Maris Erythraei (c. 80 AD) referred to it as the Namnadius (Ναμνάδιος), while Ptolemy called it Namadus (Νάμαδος) and Namades (Ναμάδης). During the British Raj, it was commonly called the Nerbudda or Narbada. In Hindu tradition, the Narmada is venerated as a sacred river, and its course through central India has long been associated with pilgrimage and religious observance.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on the Narmada River.