Did you know that Luni is a strange Indian river that never meets the ocean?
Rivers always flow into a larger body of water; however the Luni saline river does not. Here are some key facts about India's sole river in the western desert region.
Luni flows into the western region
Luni is a lesser-known, west-flowing river that flows primarily through desert area in western Rajasthan. However, it is a seasonal river that dries up in the summer, and gets most of its water from the drainage from the Aravalli Range's southwest slopes.
It does not drain into any sea or ocean
As the Luni flows through Rajasthan, the hot weather and lack of rainfall cause an inconsistent delivery of large amounts of water. Furthermore, the region's sandy soil prevents the river from carving a deep bed, so the water overflows the banks, forming a broader channel as the river flows on. Luni then runs into the Thar Desert until coming to a halt near Barine, Gujarat, in the north-eastern part of the wetland known as the Rann of Kutch. Here, the river's water empties into a shallow bed, eventually leading to its end without pouring into another body of water.
The story behind its name
Luni comes from the Sanskrit word ‘lavanavari’ which means salt water. The river is called so because of its excessive salinity. The water in Luni is fresh for the first hundred kilometres, but when it approaches Balotra in Barmer, it begins to turn saline due to the high salt content of the surface it flows on.
Baltora in Barmer offers the best view of Luni
During the monsoon season, visitors can view Luni in full flow in Balotra in Rajasthan's Barmer district. During this period, the river receives the most rainfall. They may also pay a visit to Barmer during the Thar Festival, which takes place in early March.
It is a major source or irrigation in Rajasthan
Despite being saline, the river Luni serves as a key source of irrigation in Rajasthan's dry regions, and hence holds religious significance for the locals.
The river has many names
It originates from the western slopes of the Naga hills of the Aravalli Range at an elevation of 772 metres above sea level in Ajmer. Here, it is known as Sagarmati. It meets its tributary, Sarsuti, which originates from Pushkar Lake, after crossing through Govindgarh. It is known as the Luni River from this point. Then, it meanders south-west towards Gujarat, passing through the region's hills and plains. It flows over 495 kilometres across the Rajasthan districts of Nagaur, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jalore.
Various tributaries of Luni
The Jawai, Sukri, Guhiya, Bandi (Hemawas), and Jojari rivers are the main tributaries of Luni. The single right-bank tributary is Jojari, while the left bank has ten. It is also the only tributary of the Luni River that does not originate on the Aravalli range.
The story behind Jaswant Sagar Dam
To use the water from Luni, Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur built the Jaswant Sagar Dam near Pichiyak village, Jodhpur district, in 1892.