Jhelum River

The Jhelum River is the westernmost of the five rivers of the Punjab and the primary waterway of the Kashmir Valley. Flowing for about 725 kilometers, it originates from the Verinag Spring in Jammu and Kashmir, passes through Srinagar, crosses into Pakistan, and joins the Chenab River.

Geographic and Hydrological Features

• Origin: The river starts at the foot of the Pir Panjal range in Anantnag, India.
• Course: It flows northwest through the Vale of Kashmir, meanders through Wular Lake, and weaves through deep gorges before entering Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Punjab plains.
• Tributaries: Its largest tributary is the Kishenganga (Neelum) River.
• Hydrology: The river’s water levels rely heavily on spring snowmelt from the Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges.

Historical Significance

Known as Vitasta in Sanskrit and Hydaspes in ancient Greek, the river is famous for the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BCE). Fought on its banks, this was the famous and costly victory of Alexander the Great over King Porus of the Paurava kingdom.

Economic and Strategic Importance

• Agriculture & Power: The river is the lifeline of the Kashmir Valley and Pakistan’s Punjab province. It supports massive irrigation networks and vital hydroelectric infrastructure, including the Uri project in India and the Mangla Dam in Pakistan.
• Treaty: The river is a core focal point of the Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates how its waters are shared between India and Pakistan.