Understanding the Mahanadi River Course

The Mahanadi is a major river in East Central India. It originates in the highlands of Chhattisgarh and flows through Odisha before finally draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Tracing the Mahanadi's Journey

While the Mahanadi river starts in Chhattisgarh, a significant part of its course, and its delta region, lies within the state of Odisha. The river flows for a considerable length through Odisha, where important structures like the Hirakud Dam are built across it. This long stretch within Odisha constitutes the major portion of the river's journey through Indian states.

• The Mahanadi originates near Sihawa in Chhattisgarh.
• It then flows through Chhattisgarh and enters Odisha.
• The river travels across a large part of Odisha.
• It forms a large delta before entering the Bay of Bengal.

Considering the length of the river's flow within each state, the segment passing through Odisha is longer and more prominent, especially with major developments along its banks in this state. Therefore, the major portion of the Mahanadi river lies in Odisha.