| Burhi Gandak River | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | India[1] |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bihar[2] |
| Length: | 320km (200miles) |
| Discharge1 Location: | Between Gogri Khagariya and Bariarpur Munger |
| Source1: | Chautarwa Chaur |
| Source1 Location: | near Harpur, West Champaran district[3] |
| Mouth: | Ganges |
| Mouth Location: | Khagaria |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 25.4339°N 86.6069°W |
| Basin Size: | 10150km2 |
The Burhi Gandak River is a tributary of the Ganges. It is also known as the Sikrahna river.[4] The Burhi (“Old”) Gandak flows parallel to and east of the Gandak River in an old channel.[5] [6]
The Burhi Gandak originates from Chautarwa Chaur near Bisambharpur in the district of West Champaran in Bihar.[7] It initially flows through the East Champaran district. After flowing for a distance of about, the river takes a southerly turn where two rivers - the Dubhara and the Tour – join it. Thereafter, the river flows in a south-easterly direction through the Muzaffarpur district for about . In this portion, the river spills over its banks and a number of spill channels take off and rejoin it later.[5]
The Burhi Gandak runs a zig-zag course through the districts of Samastipur and Begusarai before covering a short distance in Khagaria district, running by the side of the town of Khagaria, and flows into the Ganges near Gogri and near Bairarpur in Munger . It forms the western boundary of the Khagaria town and a protection embankment built along the eastern side of this river, protects Khagaria town from the floods of Burhi Gandak.[8] [9] [10]
The total length of the river is . The drainage area of the river is .[5]
The main tributaries of the Burhi Gandak are - Masan, Balor, Pandai, Sikta, Tilawe, Tiur, Dhanauti, Kohra, Anjankote, Danda and lauriya, .[1]