Teesta River or Tista River तीस्ता नदी, Bengali - তিস্তা নদী |
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Countries | India, Bangladesh |
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States | Sikkim, India, West Bengal, India, Rangpur, Bangladesh |
Tributaries | |
- left | Dik Chhu, Rangpo River, Lang Lang Chu, Lachung River, Rani Khola |
- right | Ranghap Chhu, Rangeet, Ringyong Chhu |
City | Rangpo, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri |
Source | Pauhunri, Zemu Glacier, Lake Cholamu, Gurudongmar Lake |
- location | Sikkim, India |
- elevation | 7,068 m (23,189 ft) |
Mouth | Brahmaputra river |
- location | Fulchori, Rangpur, Bangladesh |
Length | 309 km (192 mi) |
Basin | 12,540 km2 (4,842 sq mi) |
Map of combined river system in North Bengal
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The Teesta River (or Tista River) is a 309 km (192 mi) long river flowing through the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim, before going to Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh. It carves out from the verdant Himalayas in temperate and tropical river valleys and forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal. It flows through the cities of Rangpo, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong and joins the Jamuna (Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh. It drains an area of 12,540 km2 (4,840 sq mi).
The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri (or Teesta Kangse) glacier above 7,068 metres (23,189 ft), and flows southward through gorges and rapids in the Sikkim Himalaya.
It is fed by rivulets arising in the Thangu, Yumthang and Donkha mountain ranges. The river then flows past the town of Rangpo where the Rangpo River joins, and where it forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar. Just before the Teesta Bridge, where the roads from Kalimpong and Darjeeling join, the river is met by its main tributary, the Rangeet River.
At this point, it changes course southwards flowing into West Bengal. The river hits the plains at Sevoke, 22 kilometres (14 mi) northeast of Siliguri, where it is spanned by the Coronation Bridge linking the northeast states to the rest of India. The river then goes merging up with the Brahmaputra River after it bifurcates the city of Jalpaiguri and flows just touching Cooch Behar district at Mekhliganj and moves to Fulchori in Bangladesh.