Godavari

River running from west to east in central India. The Godavari’s headwaters lie
in the state of Maharashtra on the
inland side of the western Ghats. It
meanders through that state to Andhra
Pradesh, where it enters the Bay of
Bengal. The Godarvi is traditionally
considered one of India’s seven sacred
rivers, along with the Ganges, Yamuna,
Cauvery, Saraswati, Narmada, and
Indus. The Godavari has special status
in central India, where it is often referred
to as the “Ganges”—the most sacred
river for Hindus. Although its entire
length is considered sacred, the
Godavari’s most important religious
sites are all in the west: Nasik,
250
Goa
Tryambakeshvar, and Paithan. See
also ghat.