# The Great Rivers of Nepal — Sapta Gandaki · Saptakoshi · Karnali

**Video:** `rivers_of_nepal.mp4` (1080p, ~4:55, silent) — every major tributary, where it was born,
where it meets its parent river, the *name* of each meeting place, and real satellite imagery of
what each confluence looks like from above. Real photographs of the meeting places are embedded on
the fact cards.

Annotated stills are in `sat/*_labeled.jpg`, fact cards in `cards/`, photos in `photos/`.

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## The three systems at a glance

| System | Main stem begins | Key meeting places | Becomes | Joins the Ganga at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Saptakoshi** (east) | Sun Koshi forms above Dolalghat (Bhote Koshi + Indravati) | Dolalghat · Likhu mouth · Beni Ghat · Harkapur · **Tribenighat** · Chatara/Baraha Kshetra | Koshi | Kursela (Bihar) |
| **Sapta Gandaki** (centre) | Kali Gandaki at Nhubine Himal Glacier, Mustang (6,268 m) | Damauli (Madi+Seti) · Mugling · Benighat · Seti mouth · **Devghat** | Narayani → Gandak | Sonpur (near Patna) |
| **Karnali** (west) | Mapchachungo glaciers, Tibet (Mapcha Tsangpo) | **Galwa** · Manma (Tila) · Seti–Doti · Kuineghat (Bheri) · **Chisapani** | Ghaghara (in India) | Revelganj/Chhapra |

---

## Every confluence in the video — with pictures & maps

Open any **satellite link** to see how the rivers look where they meet. Photos are Wikimedia Commons (CC).

### SAPTAKOSHI system (east)

| # | Meeting rivers | Place name | Districts | Coordinates | See it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhote Koshi (from Tibet, the *Poiqu*) + Indravati → **Sun Koshi begins** | above **Dolalghat** | Sindhupalchok | 27.7328, 85.7797 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.7328,85.7797) |
| 2 | Likhu Khola + Sun Koshi | Likhu mouth (Okhaldhunga–Khotang reach) | Okhaldhunga/Khotang | 27.212, 86.268 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.212,86.268) |
| 3 | Tamakoshi + Sun Koshi | **Beni Ghat** | Ramechhap/Udayapur | 27.3509, 85.9806 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.3509,85.9806) · [photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meeting_point_of_Sunkoshi_and_Tamakoshi_River_from_Beni_Ghat.jpg) |
| 4 | Dudh Koshi (Everest glaciers) + Sun Koshi | near **Harkapur** | Okhaldhunga/Udayapur | 27.1494, 86.4333 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.1494,86.4333) |
| 5 | Sun Koshi + **Arun** (from Tibet's Shishapangma area) + **Tamor** (from Kanchenjunga) → **Saptakoshi** | **Tribenighat**; gorge at **Chatara**; temple at **Baraha Kshetra** | Sunsari/Udayapur | 26.913, 87.157 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=26.913,87.157) · [temple photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barahakshetra_Temple_Main_Gate.jpg) |
| 6 | Saptakoshi → India | **Koshi Barrage**; Koshi Tappu Reserve upstream | Sunsari/Saptari | 26.5263, 86.9269 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=26.5263,86.9269) · [photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Koshi_Barrage_-00003921.jpg) |

### SAPTA GANDAKI system (centre)

| # | Meeting rivers | Place name | Districts | Coordinates | See it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Kali Gandaki + Badigaad (Ridi) Khola | **Ridi Bazaar** | Gulmi/Palpa/Syangja | 27.995, 83.437 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.995,83.437) |
| 8 | **Madi + Seti Gandaki** (the Pokhara "milk river") | **Damauli (Byas)** — town between the two rivers | Tanahun | 27.9685, 84.2684 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.9685,84.2684) · [Seti at Pokhara photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seti_Gandaki_River_at_Pokhara.jpg) |
| 9 | **Marsyangdi** (born near Manang at Khangsar + Jharsang Khola) + Trishuli | **Mugling** | Chitwan/Tanahun | 27.8578, 84.5592 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.8578,84.5592) · [Marsyangdi photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Marsyangdi_river_near_Pisang.jpg) |
| 10 | **Budhi Gandaki** (Ganesh Himal/Manaslu) + Trishuli | **Benighat** | Dhading/Gorkha | ≈27.79, 84.79 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.792,84.792) |
| 11 | Seti Gandaki + Trishuli | Seti mouth, ~5 km above Devghat | Bharatpur-29 | 27.8211, 84.4546 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.8211,84.4546) |
| 12 | **Kali Gandaki + Trishuli → NARAYANI** | **DEVGHAT** — one of Nepal's holiest sangams (Makar Sankranti mela, Sita's cave, Saligram stones) | Chitwan/Tanahun | 27.7413, 84.422 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=27.7413,84.422) · [sangam photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sangam_Devghat.jpg) |
| 13 | Narayani → India (meets Pachnad & Sonha at the border **Triveni**) | Gandak; Ganga at **Sonpur** | India | 25.6525, 85.1844 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=25.6525,85.1844) |

### KARNALI system (west)

| # | Meeting rivers | Place name | Districts | Coordinates | See it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | **Humla Karnali** (main stem from Tibet, Limi valley) + **Mugu Karnali** → KARNALI | **Galwa** | Mugu | 29.608, 81.744 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=29.608,81.744) |
| 15 | **Tila** (born as Sinja Khola — medieval Khasa capital, cradle of Nepali) + Karnali | below **Manma** | Kalikot | 29.153, 81.613 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=29.153,81.613) |
| 16 | **Seti of the west** (born on Api & Nampa peaks) + Karnali | Doti, north of **Dundras hill** | Doti | 28.9661, 81.1043 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=28.9661,81.1043) |
| 17 | **Bheri** (Thuli Bheri + Sani Bheri from the Dhaulagiri massif) + Karnali | **Kuineghat** | Surkhet | 28.742, 81.260 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=28.742,81.260) |
| 18 | Karnali breaks onto the Terai; splits into **Geruwa** & **Kauriala** (Triveni; Bardiya NP, dolphins) | **Chisapani** (proposed mega-dam site) | Surkhet/Bardiya/Kailali | 28.609, 81.303 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=28.609,81.303) · [bridge photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karnali_Bridge_Karnali_River_Chisapani_Kailali_Pradesh_7_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_(22).jpg) |
| 19 | Ghaghara (with Sharda, joined at Brahmaghat) → Ganga | **Revelganj (Chhapra)** | India | 25.7531, 84.6664 | [satellite](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=25.7531,84.6664) |

---

## Origins of each river (quick reference)

- **Kali Gandaki** — Nhubine Himal Glacier, Mustang, 6,268 m, Tibet border; world-class gorge between Dhaulagiri & Annapurna I; Saligram stones.
- **Trishuli** — Tibetan headwaters (Gyirong Tsangpo + Lende Khola) merge at Rasuwa Fort; the official source is **Gosainkund** lake (Shiva's trishula legend), joined near Dhunche.
- **Seti Gandaki** — Annapurna–Machhapuchhre snows; the "hidden river" through Pokhara valley.
- **Madi** — Sikles/Kaski hills (Kaski–Lamjung–Tanahun).
- **Marsyangdi** — confluence of Khangsar Khola + Jharsang Khola NW of Annapurna near Manang (~3,600 m).
- **Budhi Gandaki** — Ganesh Himal / Manaslu massif, via Arughat.
- **Daraudi** — Gorkha hills (one of the seven; not shown as its own segment).
- **Bhote Koshi** — Tibet (*Poiqu*), Nyalam county, enters at Kodari.
- **Indravati** — Melamchi hills, Sindhupalchok.
- **Tamakoshi** — Rongshar Chu + Lapchi Gang near Lamabagar, Dolakha (Tibet border).
- **Dudh Koshi** — Khumbu glacier lakes (~5,100 m), Everest region.
- **Likhu** — near the Rolwaling range; name = "top water" in Sunwar.
- **Arun** — Tibet, Shishapangma area (*Phung Chu* / *Bum Chu*); 33,500 km² basin, mostly in Tibet.
- **Tamor** — Kanchenjunga glaciers, Taplejung.
- **Karnali** — Mapchachungo glaciers, Tibet (*Mapcha Tsangpo*), Kailash–Manasarovar region; longest river in Nepal (507 km).
- **Mugu Karnali** — Mugu highlands (Rara Lake country).
- **Tila / Sinja Khola** — Sinja Valley, Jumla (Khasa kingdom capital).
- **Seti (west)** — Api & Nampa peaks.
- **Bheri** — Thuli Bheri (northern Dhaulagiri, Dolpa) + Sani Bheri (southern slopes) + Uttar Ganga (Dhorpatan).

## "Sapta" lists

- **Sapta Gandaki** (per Wikipedia's Gandaki River article): Kali Gandaki + Trishuli, plus the
  Trishuli's five: Daraudi, Seti, Madi, Marsyangdi, Budhi Gandaki.
- **Saptakoshi**: the seven upper rivers — Sun Koshi, Arun, Tamor, Tamakoshi, Dudh Koshi, Likhu,
  Indravati (the Koshi article also lists an eighth, Bhote Koshi, as the Sun Koshi's upper course).

## Honest notes on contested points

- **Madi + Seti:** OpenStreetMap shows the Madi joining the Seti at **Damauli (Byas)**, and the
  Seti's mapped course then runs alone to the Trishuli mouth. Some Nepali media instead place a
  "Madi-Seti" sangam at Gaighat, Anbukhaireni (that area is actually the **Marsyangdi's** valley —
  see The Rising Nepal, "Conflux of Madi, Seti and Trishuli"). I followed the OSM geometry and
  satellite imagery: Damauli.
- **"Tribeni" names are common** — there are at least three on these rivers: Tribenighat (Koshi's
  triple sangam), Tribeni (Narayani's border meeting with Pachnad/Sonha), and Triveni (Karnali's
  channel split near Bardiya). The Udayapur town "Tribeni" (Katari) is a different, smaller sangam
  (Kamla–Tawa–Dudhauli).
- **Galwa** (Humla + Mugu Karnali) comes from secondary sources (the main-stream Wikipedia article
  doesn't name it) — flagged, but the junction is clearly visible on satellite at the given coords.
- **Budhi Gandaki + Trishuli** is at Benighat per Wikipedia; the exact junction coordinate is
  approximate (±1 km) — OSM lacks a named Trishuli way there.

## How this was made

Python (Pillow) + ffmpeg on macOS: Esri World Imagery tiles fetched and stitched per confluence
(Web Mercator math), labels drawn at exact lat/lon, fact cards rendered with Pillow, Ken Burns
motion via ffmpeg `zoompan`, concat-demuxer assembly. Scripts: `fetch_sat.py`, `restitch*.py`,
`label_sat.py`, `make_cards.py`, `make_overview.py`, `build_video.py`; research data in
`research/`.

## Credits

- Satellite: **Esri World Imagery** — Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics & the GIS User Community.
- Photos (CC BY-SA / CC BY, authors in `research/photo_credits.md`): Rajivkilanashrestha, Anuja
  Sharma, Pushpendra khadka, Vyacheslav Argenberg, Saddam19, Rajesh Dhungana, Bijay Chaurasia,
  Anup Sadi, Solundir.
- Facts & coordinates: Wikipedia (Koshi/Gandaki/Ghaghara & tributary articles), OpenStreetMap
  contributors (ODbL), Wikimedia Commons.