Wainganga

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Wainganga River

Balaghat-district map

Balaghat District Map Part

Beni-Chandan River-Wainganga River-Bagh River

Map of Bhandara district

Gadchiroli-district-map

Wainganga (वेनगंगा नदी) river originates in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The river flows south in a winding course through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, roughly 579 km. After joining the Wardha River, the united stream, which is known as the Pranahita River, empties into the Godavari River at Kaleshwaram, Telangana. It is a key tributary of the Godavari River.

Variants

• Venaganga River वेनगंगा नदी दे. Praveni प्रवेणी (AS, p.876)
• Wainganga/Wainganga River (वैनगंगा नदी) (AS, p.876)
• Benna (बेन्ना)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Vain (वैन)/Vainiwal (वैनीवाल) (Jat clan) → Wainganga River (वैनगंगा नदी). Wainganga River (वेनगंगा नदी) originates in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, India. The river flows south in a winding course through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, roughly 579 km. After joining the Wardha River, the united stream, which is known as the Pranahita River, empties into the Godavari River at Kaleshwaram, Telangana. It is a key tributary of the Godavari River.

Ancient historical villages situated on the banks of Wainganga River like Bhandi, Puni, Ben, Chutiya in Balaghat district and Pauni in Bhandara district are associated with Nagavanshi Jat History. There is need of further research.

Course

The main stream of the Wainhanga originates at Mundara, near the village Gopalganj in Seoni District, on the southern slopes of the Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh.

The northern part is surrounded by the Mahadeo hills and Satpura Range, with an average elevation of 625 m above sea level. The valley of the Wainganga River is forested and sparsely populated.

It crosses Balaghat district with Balaghat city on its bank. Enters Maharashtra forming border of Gondia and Bhandara districts for some distance. It then traverses some distance in Gondia district and enters Bhandara district. Crosses Bhandara district moving in south-west direction. Bhandara city lies on its bank. It turns south forming border of Bhandara and Nagpur districts. It then enters again Bhandara district and moves in south-east direction in Bhandara district. The ancient historical town Pauni lies on its right bank. It then turns south and forms border of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts. Meets Wardha River at border of Maharashtra and Telangana.

Cities on the bank: Balaghat - Bhandara and Gadchiroli are the major cities located on the bank of the Wainganga River, while Beni - Chutiya (Balaghat), Tirora - Pauni (Bhandara), and Bramhapuri (Chandrapur) Desaiganj (Wadsa: Gadchiroli) are smaller urban centers on the smallest of the river banks. The Wainganga River is the water lifeline of these cities and their primary source of water.

Places on Wainganga River

Places on Wainganga River: Bhajiya (Seoni) → Pongar (Seoni) → Nainpur (Mandla) (left) → Padriganj (Balaghat) → Ghangharia → Arandiya Khursara → Kanari → Dhuti → Tiwa → Magardarra Balaghat → Khamghat → Roshna (Sarrati River meets here) → Dhapera → Bhatera → Gaykhuri → Jagpur → Bhandi → Bamhani (L) → Puni (Balaghat) → Batarmara → Bodunda Kalan → Bagh River meets → Satona → Beni → Dangorli Ghat → Siwan Ghat → Ghoti → turns west near border of MP & MS → Chandan River from Chutiya (Balaghat) meets Wainganga near Murdada (L) → Kindgipar (L) → Temani → Kumahali → Mowad (Khairlanji, Balaghat) Bawanthadi River meets here → turns south leaves border of MP and MS → Sukali Nakul (Bhandara, MS) → Deorideo → Pipari Chunni → Kawlewada Dam → Mandvi → Tamaswadi → Bori → Koshti → Dewhadi → Chargaon → Dhorwada → Dhiwarwada → Belgaon → Korambhi → Pandhi → Tiddi → Arjuni → Maudi → Jamgaon → Wadad → Itgaon → Sawargaon → Balapur → Saundal → Tamaswadi → Gosekhurd Reservoir → Kurza (Bhandara) (L) → Korambhi +Pauni (Bhandara) (R) → Sindapuri → Tapal → Dighori (Chandrapur, MS) → Bhaleshwar → Hardoli (Desaiganj or Wadsa on left bank in Gadchiroli) → Kurud (Gadchiroli) → Ranmochan (Chandrapur, MS) → Panchagaon → Chichgaon (Chandrapur, MS) → Mulur Chichgaon → Awalgaon (Chandrapur, MS) (...River meets from left) → Bodada → Akapur → Nagri → Sakhara (Chandrapur) → Nifandra (Chandrapur) (Gadchiroli is in left) → Nimgaon (Chandrapur) → Dabgaon → Kaneri (L) → Pulkhal (L) → Yevli → Bhansi → Donal (R) → Kadholi (R) → Haramba (L) → Sakhari (R) → Sirsimal (R) → Haranghat (R) → Weltur Tukum → Ekodi (L) → Jungaon → Juni Ladholi (L) → Tok (R) → Jairampur (L) → Kultha (R) → Pardi Deo → Borghat Rith (L) → Ashti (L) → Illur (L) → Thakari (L) → Chaparala () → Border of Telangana meets with Wardha River

Tributaries

The Wainganga river receives numerous tributaries on both sides and drains the western, central, and eastern regions of the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia, and Nagpur Districts of Maharashtra. The main tributaries of the Wainganga River are the Thel, Thanwar, Bagh, Chulband, Garhavi, Khobragadi, and Kathani, which meet on the left bank; and the Hirri, Chandan, Bawanthari, Kanhan, and Mul joining on the right bank.

Thanwar: The Thanwar River joins the Wainganga at the Nainpur Forest Range, at the border of the Seoni District and Mandla District, before the Dhuty Dam on the Wainganga. It originates from the forest of Chiraidongri in the Mandla District. There is a medium-sized dam at the village of Bejegaon on the bank of this river, which opened in 1980. River water stored in the dam is used to irrigate the farmland of 50 villages. The Halon River and the Chakor River (catchment from Nainpur Forest Range) are some of the well-known tributaries to this small, fully utilized river. Geographically, this river misses a few miles due to a Satpura foothill to become the Narmada's first major tributary. The main towns on this tributary are Nainpur and Pindrai. The river has been in recreational use since ancient times, as it was on the route of pilgrimage from South to North India. The village Jhulpur, on the bank of this river, was a stoppage and temple town. The major bridge over the river is at the town Pindrai by Indian Railway (Jabalpur-Gondia rail track).

Kathani: The Kathani River originates in the Pendhri Hills at Dhanora and joins Wainganga near Gadchiroli city.

Hirri: The Hirri River originates in Moondapar, Seoni District and flows through Jeonara. It joins Wainganga near the Dhuty Dam.

Chandan River: The Chandan River is an important river of the Balaghat District. It flows through Waraseoni. The Nahalesara dam is built upon the Chandan River. One of the major features along the river is the Rampayali's temple. This meets Wainganga river in Maharashtra Mahalgaon (Murdara) village.

Bawanthadi: The Bawanthadi River is an important river which originates in the Kurai plateau of Seoni District in Madhya Pradesh. It divides Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra near Mowad and Bonkatta. The Bawanthadi River joins Wainganga after flowing 48 km south, near Mowad, Madhya Pradesh. There is a middle size dam over this river which irrigate farm lands of M.P. and Maharastra.

Kanhan: The Kanhan River is Wainganga's longest tributary, at 275 km . It rises in the hills at the southern edge of the Satpura Range in the north-western region of Chhindwara District.

History

Tirodi Copper Plate Inscription of the Maharaja Pravarasena II mention Beni .... The plates were issued from Narattangavari (नरत्तंगवारी) by the Vakataka Maharaja Pravarasena II. The object of record the grant of the village Koshambakhanda (कोशम्बखण्ड) to a Brahmana named Varunarya (वरूणार्य) (Of the Harkari and the Atharvaveda, who was a resident of Chandrapura (चान्द्रपुर) and was proficient in three Vedas. The donated village was bounded on the east by Jamali (जमली), on the south by Vardhamanaka (वर्धमानक), on the west by Mrigasima (मृगसिम) and on the north by Mallakapedhaka (मल्लकपेधक). (p.48). ...The donated village was situated in Bennakata (बेन्नाकट). ...Kosambakhanda, the donated village, is evidently Kosamba, about 6 miles to the north-east of Tirodi, where the plates were found. ....Kosamba, which now represents ancient Koshambakhanda, is only 20 miles from the Wainganga, and was evidently included in the western division (apara-patta) of Bennakata. (p.49)

वेनगंगा नदी

वेनगंगा नदी = दे. प्रवेणी नदी (AS, p.876)

वेनगंगा नदी परिचय

वेनगंगा गोदावरी नदी की बाएँ हाथ की एक सहायक नदी है। यह नदी महाराष्ट्र-मध्य प्रदेश में महादेव की पहाड़ियों से निकलती है। वेनगंगा बालाघाट (मध्य प्रदेश) तथा भंडारा और चंद्रपुर (महाराष्ट्र) से होकर गुजरती है। दक्षिण की ओर बहती हुई वेनगंगा गोदावरी नदी में मिल जाती है। इसका उपजाऊ मैदान चावल की खेती के लिए प्रसिद्ध है।

प्रवेणी नदी

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है .....प्रवेणी नदी (AS, p.589): 'प्रवेणी प्रवेण्युत्तरमार्गे तु पुण्ये कण्वाश्रमे, तापसानामरण्यानि कीर्तितानि यथा-श्रुति'। वनपर्व महाभारत 88, 11 इस उल्लेख में प्रवेणी नदी के निकट कण्वाश्रम की स्थिति बताई गई है तथा संभवत: इसी नदी के तट के समीप माठर वन (माठरस्यवनं पुण्यं बहुमूल फलं शिवम' -वनपर्व महाभारत 88, 10) को स्थित बताया है। श्री वी एस अग्रवाल के मत में प्रवेणी दक्षिण की वेनगंगा है. (दे. वेणी).