Barakar River

Barakar River
Barakar River at Barano, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
Location
CountryIndia
StateJharkhand, West Bengal
Physical characteristics
SourcePadma, Hazaribagh
 • locationHazaribagh district, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand
Length256 km (159 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftUsri River
 • rightBarsoti River

The Barakar River is the main tributary of the Damodar River in eastern India. Originating near Padma in Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand it flows for 256 kilometres (159 mi) across the northern part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, mostly in a west to east direction, before joining the Damodar near Dishergarh in Asansol, Bardhaman district of West Bengal. It has a catchment area of 6,159 square kilometres (2,378 mi2). Its main tributaries Barsoti and Usri flow in from the south and north, respectively. Apart from the two main tributaries, some 15 medium or small streams also join it.

The Barakar skirts the northern portion of Parasnath Hills, 1,350 metres (4,430 ft) above sea level, the highest hill in the region, located in Giridih district of Jharkhand and a centre of Jain pilgrimage. Barakar Rivers forms the boundary between West Bengal & Bihar (now Jharkhand).