Kosi River, Major river system in Bihar and Madhesh Province, India and Nepal
The Kosi River is a major waterway spanning 720 kilometers from the Himalayas through Nepal and northern India, where it joins the Ganges near Kursela in Bihar. The Kosi Barrage, built between 1959 and 1963, controls the water flow to support irrigation systems across the region.
The river has shifted its course westward by roughly 133 kilometers over two centuries, causing major changes to the regional landscape and human settlements. This shifting pattern remains a defining feature of how the land has transformed in this part of India.
Local communities call this river Saptakoshi, a name reflecting its formation from seven mountain streams that merge north of the Chatra Gorge.
The area around this river is best visited during the dry season when water levels are lower and roads are in better condition. Keep in mind that during monsoon season the water flow increases dramatically and some areas may be flooded.
This river carries such large amounts of sediment from the Himalayas that its bed rises above the level of the surrounding plains. This unusual situation requires constant changes to the embankments to prevent flooding.
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