The Krishna

The Krishna is one of the mighty rivers in Peninsular India. It rises about 64 Km from the Arabian Sea in the Western Ghats, north of the hill station of Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra State. Taking a south-easterly course through the States of Maharashtra and Karnataka, it forms the border between the districts of Mahaboob Nagar and Kurnool and enters the Guntur district at the south-western portion of Macherla range near the Ganikonda hills at an elevation of roughly 182 m above sea level.

It runs through a gorge in a broad northerly direction, seperating Macherla from Achampet in Mahaboobnagar. It then flows forward collecting in quick succession, tthe Jarrivagu from its right bank and Dindi river from its left. Taking loop it winds its way in a north-easterly direction through the spurs of the Nallamalais. It then placidly traverses along the ancient Buddhist Shrine of Nagarjunakonda. Widening considerably almost for 1.6 Km, it encompasses a sizeable island to the east of which the mighty Nagarjunasagar Dam has been constructed. Passing by a ridge of low hills, the river receives the Chandravanka, Golivagu, Dandivagu and Naguleru, which fertilize the adjoining tracts. It continues its easterly course through Venkatayapalem range and scales the slopes of Gundimettakonda and broadens gradually flowing with a wide and shallow bed in an easterly direction with a slight inclination towards the south, it touches Vijayawada and then runs eastwards and southwards. It ultimately turns sharply south-eastwards and joins the sea at Hamsaladivi and Nachugunta in Krishna district.