Karnataka Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas

Krishna

Rises Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra; flows to Flows through northern Karnataka into Telangana/Andhra Pradesh · 29 km

The second-longest river of peninsular India (~1,400 km), rising at Mahabaleshwar and flowing through Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal.

Cauvery

Rises Talakaveri, Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka; flows to Flows into Tamil Nadu towards the Bay of Bengal · 29 km

The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam and its Brindavan Gardens near Mysuru are among Karnataka’s best-known landmarks.

Tungabhadra

Rises Gangamoola in the Chikmagalur hills (the Tunga and Bhadra join near Kudli); flows to joins the Krishna at Alampur, Telangana · 29 km

The Krishna's main right-bank tributary; its Tungabhadra dam (Hospet) irrigates the Raichur doab.

Sharavathi

Rises Ambuthirtha, Western Ghats, Shimoga district; flows to Arabian Sea near Honnavar · 29 km

Forms Jog Falls, India’s second-highest plunge waterfall, above the Linganamakki reservoir.

Bhima

Rises Bhimashankar hills, Pune district (Maharashtra); flows to joins the Krishna near Raichur · 29 km

The Krishna's longest tributary, draining the black-soil Deccan of Maharashtra and north Karnataka.

Kabini

Rises Wayanad plateau, Kerala; flows to joins the Cauvery at Tirumakudalu Narasipura, Karnataka · 29 km

Its Kabini reservoir borders Nagarhole and Bandipur, core tiger and elephant country.

Netravati

Rises Western Ghats near Kudremukh; flows to Arabian Sea at Mangaluru · 29 km

The lifeline of Dakshina Kannada; supplies drinking water to Mangaluru.

Penner

Rises Nandi hills, Chikkaballapur; flows to Bay of Bengal near Utukuru, Andhra Pradesh · 29 km

Pennar (Penna) flows between the Krishna and Cauvery basins; the Somasila dam is on it.

Palar

Rises Nandi hills, Karnataka; flows to Bay of Bengal near Vayalur, Tamil Nadu · 96 km

Flows through the Kolar goldfields region into Tamil Nadu's Vellore, Kanchipuram belt.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

A bird sanctuary on the Cauvery near Srirangapatna, designated Ramsar in 2022. Riverine islets host painted storks, spoonbills and breeding colonies of migratory birds.

Ramsar (2022); Cauvery islets near Srirangapatna.

Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve

A wetland reserve in Huvina Hadagali taluk of Vijayanagara district, designated Ramsar in 2024, a man-made lake attracting painted storks and pelicans.

Ramsar (2024); wetland of Vijayanagara district.

Aghanashini Estuary

An estuary on Karnataka's coast near Kumta, designated Ramsar in 2024, where the Aghanashini river meets the sea through mangroves and mudflats rich in fish and birds.

Ramsar (2024); mangrove-rich estuary near Kumta.

Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve

A wetland in Gadag district designated Ramsar in 2024, a wintering ground for bar-headed geese and other migratory birds.

Ramsar (2024); bar-headed goose wintering lake in Gadag.

Nilgiri Biosphere

India's first biosphere reserve (1986), spanning Karnataka (Bandipur, Nagarhole, Mudumalai surroundings), Tamil Nadu and Kerala across the Nilgiri-Wayanad hills, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot with tigers, elephants and the lion-tailed macaque.

India's first biosphere reserve (1986); spans Karnataka, TN and Kerala.

Bandipur NP

A park in Chamarajanagar district within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, contiguous with Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala). A Project Tiger reserve since 1973, it has one of India's densest tiger and elephant populations.

Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; Project Tiger reserve since 1973.

Nagarhole NP

A park in Kodagu and Mysuru districts along the Kabini river, also in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, known for reliable sightings of tiger, leopard, dhole and Asiatic elephant.

Kabini backwaters; tiger, leopard and dhole country.

Bannerghatta NP

A park on Bengaluru's outskirts with a zoo, safari and butterfly park; home to sloth bears and an important elephant corridor to adjoining forests.

Near Bengaluru; known for its butterfly park and sloth bears.

Kudremukh NP

A park in Chikkamagaluru district in the Western Ghats, once threatened by iron-ore mining halted by a landmark Supreme Court order (2002). It protects shola-grassland mosaics and lion-tailed macaque habitat.

Iron-ore mining banned here by the Supreme Court (2002); lion-tailed macaque habitat.

Anshi NP

A park in Uttara Kannada district, contiguous with Goa's Mollem NP and now part of the Kali Tiger Reserve, protecting evergreen and semi-evergreen Western Ghats forests.

Part of Kali Tiger Reserve; contiguous with Goa's Mollem NP.

Bhadra WLS

A sanctuary in Chikkamagaluru district around the Bhadra reservoir, a Project Tiger reserve since 1998, known for tigers and over 250 bird species.

Project Tiger reserve (1998) around the Bhadra reservoir.

BRT Hills WLS

A sanctuary in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple hills that bridges the Eastern and Western Ghats, home to the Soliga tribal communities and rich in medicinal plants and birds.

Bridges the Eastern and Western Ghats; Soliga tribal landscape.

Dandeli WLS

A sanctuary in Uttara Kannada along the Kali river, known for hornbills including the great pied hornbill, occasional black panthers, and river rafting.

Kali river; great pied hornbill and black panther sightings.

Cauvery WLS

A sanctuary along the Cauvery river in Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts, protecting riverine forests with otters, mahseer fish and the grizzled giant squirrel.

Riverine Cauvery habitat for otters, mahseer and grizzled giant squirrel.