| Markanda River | |
| Source1 Location: | Near Katasan Devi Temple, Baraban, Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh |
| Mouth: | Ghaggar River |
| Mouth Location: | Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 30.0905°N 76.3943°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | India |
| Length: | 90km (60miles) |
| Tributaries Left: | Begna river, Ran, nakati |
| Waterbodies: | Jalbehra barrage in Kurukshetra |
| Bridges: | Markanda Bridge, Haryana |
The Markanda (Hindi: मारकंडा नदी) is a river in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. It is a tributary of the Ghaggar river, flowing through Sirmaur District, Ambala district and Shahabad Markanda, a town in Kurukshetra district.[1] [2] The Markanda river's ancient name was Aruna.
The Markanda river is an eponymous seasonal river in Haryana state, which is a main tributary of the Ghaggar River.[3]
The Markanda river originates in the Shivalik hills on the border of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh State, and flows along the haryana and Punjab, India border before meeting with Ghaggar river at the confluence.[4]
The basin is classified in two parts, Khadir and Bangar, the higher area that is not flooded in rainy season is called Bangar and the lower flood-prone area is called Khadar.[4]
Several archaeologists identify the old Ghaggar-Hakra River as the Sarasvati river, on the banks of which the Indus Valley civilisation developed.