River Jhelum: Important Notes for Exams

 

River Jhelum: Important Notes for Exams

📜 Sanskrit Name:

• Vitasta (वितस्ता) — Mentioned in Rigveda and Nilamata Purana.

📍 Origin:

• Verinag Spring, at the foot of Pir Panjal range, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir (at an elevation of ~1,850 meters).

• Also fed by springs at Khanabal and Martand.

📏 Length:

• Approx. 725 km (in India and Pakistan).

• 400 km in India (J&K), rest in Pakistan.

🏞️ Flows Through:

• Jammu and Kashmir (Anantnag → Srinagar → Baramulla → Uri).

• Enters Pakistan-administered Kashmir near Muzaffarabad.

• Then flows into Punjab, Pakistan.

🌊 Falls Into (Confluence):

• Merges with Chenab River at Trimmu, Pakistan.

• Part of Indus River System.

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🔁 Major Tributaries (Left/Right):

Left Bank	Right Bank
Lidder River	Vishav River
Sind River	Pohru River
Neelum (Kishanganga) River

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🏗️ Important Projects & Dams on Jhelum:

Project	Location	Details
Uri Hydroelectric Project	Uri, Baramulla	480 MW
Lower Jhelum Hydel Project	Gantamulla (Baramulla)	105 MW
Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project	Bandipora	330 MW on tributary
Tulbul Navigation Project (Wular Barrage)	Sopore	Navigation & storage (dispute with Pakistan)

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📌 Other Important Points:

• Major lake Wular Lake is associated with Jhelum; river flows through it.

• Only major river flowing through the Kashmir Valley.

• Has historical and cultural importance – mentioned in Rajatarangini.

• In Pakistan, the Mangla Dam is built on Jhelum.

• Navigation and irrigation purposes in the valley.

• Controlled by Indus Water Treaty (1960) — India can use Jhelum for non-consumptive use (like hydropower).

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📚 MCQ Questions on River Jhelum:

1. What is the Sanskrit name of River Jhelum?
   a) Chandrabhaga
   b) Vitasta
   c) Sindhu
   d) Parvati
   ✅ Answer: b) Vitasta

2. River Jhelum originates from which spring?
   a) Martand Spring
   b) Verinag Spring
   c) Anchar Lake
   d) Dal Lake
   ✅ Answer: b) Verinag Spring

3. Which lake is formed by River Jhelum in Kashmir?
   a) Dal Lake
   b) Mansar Lake
   c) Wular Lake
   d) Surinsar Lake
   ✅ Answer: c) Wular Lake

4. Which is the largest hydroelectric project on River Jhelum in India?
   a) Kishanganga
   b) Uri
   c) Salal
   d) Dul Hasti
   ✅ Answer: b) Uri

5. Where does River Jhelum merge with River Chenab?
   a) Uri
   b) Muzaffarabad
   c) Trimmu
   d) Lahore
   ✅ Answer: c) Trimmu

6. Tulbul Navigation Project is located on which river?
   a) Chenab
   b) Indus
   c) Jhelum
   d) Ravi
   ✅ Answer: c) Jhelum

7. Which district does Jhelum NOT pass through?
   a) Anantnag
   b) Srinagar
   c) Pulwama
   d) Baramulla
   ✅ Answer: c) Pulwama