The River Indus originates from which region?

The correct answer is Tibet.
The River Indus (historically known as the Sindhu) originates in the southwestern region of the Tibetan Plateau (China), near the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. It is one of the longest and most vital rivers... Read More

1 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MCQS

The River Indus originates from which region?

  • Gilgit
  • Tibet
  • Peshawar
  • Kabul
Correct Answer: B. Tibet

Detailed Explanation

The correct answer is Tibet.


The River Indus (historically known as the Sindhu) originates in the southwestern region of the Tibetan Plateau (China), near the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. It is one of the longest and most vital rivers on the Asian continent.


The Source and Traditional Name:



  • Sengge Zangbo: In the Tibetan language, the upper reaches of the Indus River are called the Sengge Zangbo, which translates to "Lion's Mouth" (Sengge Kabab), referring to the perennial glacial springs from which the river flows.

  • Extreme Elevation: The river begins its journey at a staggering altitude of approximately 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) above sea level, fed primarily by the glacial meltwaters of the Kailash and Trans-Himalaya mountain ranges.


Geographic Course of the Indus:


From its remote source in Tibet, the river flows northwest for about 320 kilometers (200 miles) before crossing into the Ladakh region of India. It runs between the towering Ladakh and Zanskar mountain ranges and eventually enters Pakistan through the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Skirting around the massive Nanga Parbat mountain, it turns southward, carving through the lengths of Pakistan before finally emptying into the Arabian Sea near Karachi.


Comparison of the Options:



  • Gilgit: While the Indus River flows through Gilgit-Baltistan and picks up major glacial tributaries there (like the Gilgit and Hunza rivers), it does not originate there.

  • Tibet: The correct answer; it serves as the ultimate birthplace and headwaters of the river system.

  • Peshawar: A major historical city located in the valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nowhere near the actual mountain source of the Indus.

  • Kabul: Located in Afghanistan; the Kabul River is actually a major right-bank tributary that flows eastward and joins the Indus River down at Attock, Pakistan.

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