The Ganges River

The Ganges River flows through northern India and into Bangladesh. It starts high in the Himalaya Mountains. The river is very important to the people of India, especially to those who follow the Hindu religion. Many towns and cities sit along its banks.

A Sacred River

In Hinduism, the Ganges is thought of as a goddess named Ganga. People come from all over to bathe in the river. They believe the water can wash away their troubles. The city of Varanasi on the Ganges is one of the oldest cities in the world.

Life Along the River

Millions of people depend on the Ganges for water, food, and farming. Farmers grow rice, wheat, and sugarcane using its water. Fish and river dolphins live in the river too. Today, people are working to clean the Ganges because it has become polluted.

Fun Facts

• The Ganges is about 1,569 miles long.
• The rare Ganges river dolphin is almost blind and uses sound to find food.
• The river's source is a glacier called Gangotri in the Himalayas.

Did You Know?

Where the Ganges meets the sea, it forms the world's biggest river delta, called the Sundarbans, which is full of mangrove trees and tigers.