Figure 17 – Water divide between east flowing and west flowing rivers

Large rivers flowing on the Peninsular plateau have their origin in the Western Ghats and discharge their waters in the Bay of Bengal. Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri, Tungabhadra are some example of it. The Narmada and Tapi are two large rivers which are exceptions. They along with many small rivers discharge their waters in the Arabian Sea. These small rivers have origin in Western Ghats such as Mandavi, Netravati, Sharavati, and Periyar rivers.

Nearly 77 per cent of the drainage area consisting of the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Mahanadi, the Krishna, etc. is oriented towards the Bay of Bengal while 23 per cent comprising the Indus, the Narmada, the Tapi, the Mahi and the Periyar systems discharge their waters in the Arabian Sea.