The Sarju (Kumaoni: सरज्यू, Hindi: सरयू), also known as Saryu, is a major river draining Central Kumaon regionNegi, Kumaun: The Land and the People, pg-82 in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.Conder, India, pg-238 Originating from Sarmul, Sarju flows through the cities of Kapkot, Bageshwar and Seraghat before joining Mahakali at Pancheshwar. The Sarju is the largest tributary of the Sharda River.Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-18 The river forms the South-eastern border between the districts of Pithoragarh and Almora.Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-170Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-331 Temperate and sub-Tropical forests cover the entire Catchment area of the River.Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-120
Etymology The name is a noun derived from the Sanskrit root सृ sṛ "to flow". as a masculine noun means "air, wind". In the feminine it is the name of the river.
Course The Sarju rises at a place known as Sarmul (or Sarmool), which is located in the extreme north of the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. The source of the river is situated at on the southern slope of a ridge of the Nanda Kot and is separated on the east from the source of Ramganga and on the west from the sources of Kuphini (the eastern branch of Pindar River) by spurs leading down from the mass culminating at the Nanda Kot peak.Walton, Almora: A Gazetteer, pg-283 It flows initially around in southwest direction by the Kumaon Himalayas where it receives Kanalgadh stream from the right and Punger river from the left. About further downstream, the river receives Lahor river from the right.Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182 Then the river turns towards south and flows through the city of Bageshwar, where it receives Gomati from the right.Budhawar, The Call of the Mountains: Uttrakhand Explored, pg-39Guneratne, Culture and the Environment in the Himalaya, pg-134
The Sarju flows to the lower 65 km in mainly southeastern direction.Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182 Much of the drainage of Gangolihat region of Pithoragarh district flows into the river via Bhadrapatigad stream, which flows into it from the left. Similarly, several streams join it from right draining much of the Chaugarkha region situated in Almora district; notable ones being Gatgadh, Jalairgadh, Bhaurgadh, Alaknadi and Saniaungadh.Walton, Almora: A Gazetteer, pg-284 About downstream from its confluence with Gomati in Bageshwar, it receives the Panar river from the right. A small river Jaingan gets merge into Sarju river at Seraghat in Almora-Pithoragarh border. About five Km further downstream, at above its mouth, Ramganga meets the left side on the Sarju at Rameshwar, situated at an elevation of . Finally Sarju reaches at Pancheshwar at the Nepalese border to Sharda River after travelling a total of .
Geology Sarju transfers a sedimental load of 498.4 kg/sec during the peak of raining season.Bhatt, Ecology of the Mountain Waters, pg-48,49 + Water Quality Characteristics of Sarju during water years 1987 and 1988All values in mg/L except ph and conductivityBhatt, Ecology of the Mountain Waters, pg-97 Parameter pH Alkalinity Hardness Conductivity Calcium Magnesium Sodium Potassium Chloride Sulphate Value 7.9 111.2 101.32 137.11 18.89 11.11 3.50 1.80 8.10 2.41
Tributaries
Gomati
Gomati river originates in the higher reaches of Bhatkot and merges into Sarju at Bageshwar.Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19 It flows through the Katyur Valley which constitutes a major Agricultural zone of Kumaon.Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19
Kuloor The Kuloor river rises above the Bhadrkali Temple near Sani-Udiyar, and flows through Rawatsera, Bans Patan and Ganai Gangoli, before joining the Sarju at Seraghat.
Punger Punger river rises near village Sangar and joins Sarju from the left at Sartana.Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-183
Lahor
Lahor is a small river that joins Sarju from the right.Aggarwal, Uttarakhand: Past, Present, and Future, pg-182
Panar Panar originates on the northern slopes of the Mornaula Range, south-east of Almora.Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19 Panar joins Sarju near Rameshwar.Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-19
Ramganga
Ramganga East is the largest tributary of Sarju. It originates from the Namik Glacier in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand and flows towards Southeast.Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-115Rawat, Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya, pg-18 The river is fed by numerous small and big rivers and finally joins river Sarju at Rameshwar.Negi, Himalayan Rivers, Lakes, and Glaciers, pg-48
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