The Sutlej (सतलुज) is the longest river flowing through Himachal Pradesh, covering 320 km within the state before entering Punjab. It originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet, enters HP through Shipki La Pass in Kinnaur, and powers some of India’s most important hydroelectric projects. This page covers everything about the Sutlej — its origin, course, tributaries, towns, dams and exam-ready MCQs.
Quick Facts
| FACT | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Satluj, Satadru, Shatadru, Shutudri, Langqen Zangbo (Tibet) |
| Origin | Lake Rakshastal, near Mount Kailash, Tibet (4,570 m) |
| Entry Point in HP | Shipki La Pass, Kinnaur district (6,608 m altitude) |
| Exit Point from HP | Bhakra, Bilaspur district |
| Total Length | ~1,448 km |
| Length in HP | 320 km |
| Catchment Area in HP | ~20,000 sq. km |
| Districts Covered | Kinnaur → Shimla → Kullu → Mandi → Bilaspur → Una |
| Major Tributaries | Spiti, Baspa, Soan, Ropa, Kashang |
| Drains into | Indus River (via Panjnad) in Pakistan |
| Vedic Name | Satudri / Shatadru |
| Also Called | “Red River” — due to reddish sediment during floods |
Course of Sutlej – From Origin to Punjab
Major Tributaries of Sutlej in HP
Major Towns on bank of Sutlej in HP
Major Hydro Projects on Sutlej in HP
| Project | Location | Capacity | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathpa Jhakri | Kinnaur/Shimla | 1,500 MW | Run-of-river | 2004 |
| Karcham Wangtoo | Kinnaur | 1,091 MW | Run-of-river | 2011 |
| Bhakra Dam | Bilaspur | 1,325 MW | Gravity dam | 1963 |
| Koldam (Kol Dam) | Bilaspur | 800 MW | Concrete dam | 2015 |
| Baspa II | Kinnaur | 300 MW | Storage | 2003 |
| Rampur HEP | Shimla | 412 MW | Run-of-river | 2014 |
Bhakra Dam & Gobind Sagar – Key Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Dam Type | Straight gravity dam — world’s highest gravity dam at time of completion |
| Height | 226 metres (741 feet) |
| Location | Bhakra village, Bilaspur district, HP (dam sits at HP-Punjab border) |
| Reservoir | Gobind Sagar Lake — named after Guru Gobind Singh ji |
| Reservoir Capacity | 9.34 billion cubic metres (3rd largest in India) |
Did You Know? – Sutlej Facts
- Sutlej is the longest river in HP with a course of 320 km within the state
- Its Vedic name is Satudri / Shatadru — mentioned in the Rigveda
- Known as “Red River” during floods due to reddish silt content
- One of only three trans-Himalayan rivers cutting across the main Himalayan range
- Sutlej divides HP into two halves — sometimes called Red and Yellow river zones
- Spiti river meets Sutlej at Namgia, Kinnaur district
- Baspa river meets Sutlej near Karcham, close to Kalpa
- Sutlej allocated to India under Indus Waters Treaty 1960
- Tattapani on Sutlej is famous for hot sulphur springs
- Gobind Sagar is the largest artificial lake in HP
- Origin and entry point of Sutlej into HP — very frequently asked
- Which river joins Sutlej at Namgia / Karcham — standard MCQ
- Bhakra Dam height / Gobind Sagar capacity — repeats every year
- Sutlej’s Vedic name and “Red River” nickname — popular MCQ
- Total length and districts covered in HP — basic factual question
Practice MCQs – Sutlej River
FAQs
The Sutlej (Satluj) is the longest river in Himachal Pradesh, flowing for approximately 320 km within the state before entering Punjab at Bhakra.
The Sutlej originates from Lake Rakshastal near Mount Kailash in Tibet at an altitude of about 4,570 metres. It enters India through Shipki La Pass in Kinnaur district.
Nathpa Jhakri (1,500 MW),
Karcham Wangtoo (1,091 MW),
Bhakra Dam (1,325 MW),
Koldam (800 MW) and
Rampur HEP (412 MW).
Together they generate nearly 4,825 MW — about 50% of HP’s total hydro capacity.
Gobind Sagar is the reservoir created by the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej river in Bilaspur district. It is the largest artificial lake in HP with a capacity of 9.34 billion cubic metres, named after Guru Gobind Singh ji.
The Sutlej is called the “Red River” because during floods it carries a large amount of reddish-brown sediment from the Tibetan plateau, giving the water a reddish appearance.
Continue Learning – HP Rivers
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