A Ganges Journey The Ganges is the longest river in India It stretches for 1 550 miles 2 500 km Fed by many different streams it flows from the Himalayas in northern India to the Indian Ocean You will follow the river from its source through India and Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal A source of water A Life Giving River For thousands of years people living on the banks of the Ganges have relied on its waters for drinking washing cooking and watering their crops The vast Ganges plain is one of the most fertile farming areas in the world Its rice and wheat feed hundreds of millions of people Use of the Ganges for growing crops goes back to ancient times Today canal systems help to supply water to farms across the fertile Ganges valley Because so much water is diverted the river is less used for transport but in West Bengal and Bangladesh farmers still use boats to take their goods to market v The Ganges plain stretches for 746 miles 1 200 km across northern India When the river floods rich silt is left behind to feed the
CHINA PAKISTAN 3 500 ft 4120 m C Alaknanda River TIBET AUTONO MOUS REGION Bhagirathi River Haridway Devprayer New Delhi 29 029 Re B48 ml NEPAL BHUTAN Farrukhaba UTTA PRASH CANCES Plan BANGLADESH Allahabudaranas INDIA JHARMAND BNGAL ASIA River Kolkat MYANMAR BuRMA Bay of Bengal A Holy River A Many rivers known as tributaries join the Ganges on its journey to the Indian Ocean For India's Hindus the Ganges is a holy river Its waters are believed to wash away sins Every Hindu hopes one day to visit the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges and bathe in the river Each year more than a million Hindus make this special journey which is known as a pilgrimage washing bathing and praying beside the Ganges is a daily ritual for millions of
