The Holy River Godavari is also known as Gautami. The
popular belief is that Ganga River and Godavari
River South Ganga .
The river is also known as Gautami because Sage Gautama is
said to have brought Ganga in the form of Godavari .
It is also stated in the Brahma Purana that to the south of
Vindhyas Ganga is known as Gautami.
A few miles below Rajahmundry Town, the river divides into
two main streams, the Gautami Godavari on the east and the
Vasishta Godavari on the west.
Godavari is the second longest river in India and it one of the seven sacred rivers in India.
Godavari River rise at Trimbakeshwar in Nashik District of
Maharashtra at an elevation of 1067 meter and after flowing for about 1465 km
in southeasterly direction through Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,
Godavari debauches into the Bay of Bengal. The river has a drainage area of
about 3,12, 813 sq.km.
The principal tributaries of the river are Pravara, Purna,
Manijra, Penganga, Warda, Wainganga, Pranahita, Kinnerasani, Sabari,
Indravati, Kolab and Machkund.