GODAVARI or Godavery is a river of the Peninsula of India, which runs across the Dekhan. Estimated area of drainage basin, 112,200 square miles. The traditional source is on the side of a hill behind the village of Trimbak, in Nasik district, Bombay, only about 50 miles from the shore of the Arabian Sea. At this spot is an artificial reservoir, reached by a flight of 690 steps, into which the water trickles drop by drop from the lips of a carved image, shrouded by a canopy of stone. The Godavari disembogues into the Bay of Bengal by three mouths, after a course of 898 miles, during which it receives the Wain Ganga, 439 miles ; Manjera, 330 miles ; Purna, 160 miles ; Paira, 105 miles ; Indrawati, 140 miles. It has the town of Ganga-khair on its left bank, and the towns of Rajamundry and Coringa at its embouchure. In 1846 the sanction of the East India Company was given to the con struction, at an expense of £47,500, of a dam of sufficient height t,o command the delta, and to supply the rich alluvial soil of which that tract is composed, with the means of constant irrigation.
That dant is seven miles long, and three great barriers have been drawn across the river higher up. The \Van]ha, Pranhita, Wain-Ganga, wati, Sabari, and Pain-Gang,a, are the princivil affluents whose waters feed the Godavari.
The \Vanilla takes its rise in the liaitul district W. of Naglair, and, after flowing for some distance in a S.E. direction, is joined by the Wunna, which, passing under Hinginghat, flows to the south, and forms its junction with tile Wardha at a place called Sweet, 18 miles S. of the latter place. At thia confluence aro the hills of Zoourate, and under them is the village of Chulnnunder. The \Vanilla flows on to the S.E., until, a little before reaching Chitinla, it is joined by the Pain-Ganga, when, losing the names of Wardha and Pain Ganga, the united stream continues under the name of Pranhita to its junction with the Goda vati, a few miles below the station of Sironclia. Midway between the.se confluences is situated the third or Delvalamurry barrier, extending round in a curve for about 50 miles ; and midway down this barrier the Wain-Ganga discharges itself into the Pranhita.
From the confluence of the Godavari and Pranhita, below Sironcha, to the sea, the river carries the former name, although joined at intervals by the Indrawati and other tributaries. Thirty miles below Sironcha is the second or , Enehampally barrier ; and 80 miles below this again is placed the first or Sinteral barrier, whence to the Sea there are no material obstruc tions to a partial, thouglt not perennial naviga tiom The Godavari has seven mouths, viz. the Tulya bhp, the Atreya, the Gautami, the Vruddhag,an tami, the Bharadwajam, the Kausika, and the Vasista. The large town of Narsapur is situated at the mouth of one of the two main branches, the French settlement of Yanan at the mouth of the other. Thirty miles up the river is tho famous Dowlaishwaram anicut ; 4 miles further is Raja mundry town. Northwards still is the picturesque island of Patapattishim, covered with pagodas, the favourite resort of pilgrims.
The head of the delta is at the village of Dow laishwamm, where the main stream is crossed by the irrigation anicut. The largest of the three branches, known as the Gautatni Godavari, turns eastward, and, after passing the quiet French settlement of Yanrin, enters the sea at Point Koringa, not far from tho port of Cocanada. Tho delta has been turned into a garden of peren nial crops, by means of the anieut. This g-reat work MILS finally projected in 1814. Operations were commenced in 1847, and completed accord ing to the original design by 1850. Up to 1853 the total expenditure had been 1;153,000. The officers whose names are associated with it are Generals Sir Arthur Cotton, Frederick Cotton, Charles Adam Orr. From the anicut or weir at Dowlaishwaram, at the head of the delta, three main cauals are dratvn off. The total length of the main channels of distribution is estimated at 528 miles, capable of irrigating 780,000 acres. Of the 528 miles of canal, 463 miles arc also used for navigation.