The
chief rivers are the Wardha and the
Penganga both of which flow along the boundary of the District. Each has
various tributaries, which traverse its center. The Wardha is also called the
Vasishtha , and is said to have been created by a Rishi (sage) of that name. It
is navigable in the rains up to Kosara in the north east corner of Kelapur
taluka, where rocks form a barrier. About forty years ago a small steamer
actually went up to Chinchmandal in the north of Wani taluka , but there is now
no navigation. The bed of the Wardha is broad and deep, but the banks are
sometimes overflowed in very large floods. There is a strong current in the
rains but in the hot weather there is little water, and the river can be forded
at numerous points. None of the other rivers are navigable. The Penganga has is
parts a very rough course, and there is fine scenery upon it. Its general
direction is almost due east, but it flows in a great curve to the north-west
round the extremity of Pusad taluka. Below this change of direction it is
called Banganga.
There
are waterfalls near Murli in Pusad taluka called Sahasrakund (the thousand
pools). It is said that Parasu-Rama, son of Jamdagni, a Rishi, here made a
course for the river by driving an arrow (ban) into the ground. The chief
tributaries of the Wardha are the Bembala and the Nirguda. The Bembala flows
across the north of Yavatmal taluka below the ghats(hill sides). Its total
leangth is about 80 miles, but only the last 21 miles are within the District.
It contains water all the year round but has little current in the hot weather.
The road from Yavatmal to Dhamangaon crosses it by a bridge 1000 feet in
leanth. The Nirguda is about 40 miles long. Its whole course is in Wani taluka
and it passes close to Wani town. It contains water all the year round. The
Penganga has six tributaries of some size- the Pus Arunavati, Adan, Waghadi,
Khuni, and Vidarbha. The Pus flows post Pusad town and right across Pusad
taluka. Its total length is about 80
miles of which about 50 miles are within the District. The Arunavati and Adan
flow across Darwha taluka and a part of Kelapur taluka. The Arunavati is about
70 miles in length, and the Adan about 130. They unite about eight miles from
the Penganga. The Waghadi flows across parts of Yavatmal and Kelapur talukas,
the Khuni across part of Kelapur taluka and the Vidarbha through the south of
Wani taluka. Each of the three is under 50 miles in length. These rivers all
contain water for the greater part of the year.
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