A major tributary of the Banas River is the Berach River, which flows in Rajasthan. The river rises in the hills of the Udaipur district, which is in the northeast of the city of Udaipur. The river covers a drainage basin of 7,502 sqkm and has a length of 157 km covering the districts of Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara. It joins the Banas River near Bigod village in Mandalgarh taluk of Bhilwara District.
The city of Chittorgarh is situated on the banks of the Berach River. Its major tributaries are Ayar, Wagli Wagon, Gambhiri and Orai. The tributaries join the Berach River from the right. The Ahar River flows through the city of Udaipur before joining the Berach at the reservoir of Udai Sagar. It flows in a hilly region up to Badgaon reservoir and then through plains.
Nature of Berach River
Berach River has a semi-arid climate. The land area is cultivated; still some natural vegetation is preserved. The landscape is mostly covered with rain fed croplands. The climate is classified as a subtropical steppe, with a subtropical dry forest bio-zone.
Natural Hazards at Berach River
Berach River can have low impact earthquakes, with occurrences at <5 Richter. When an earthquake occurs, it may be felt by both indoor and outdoor people. There is an extremely high occurrence of drought.
Nearby Attractions
There are many tourist attractions near Berach River. Places like Chittorgarh Fort and Udaisagar can mesmerise tourists with their natural and architectural beauty.
Chittorgarh Fort
The Chittorgarh Fort lies on the banks of Berach River. This fort is one of the largest forts in India and probably the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site. The fort, popularly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated in Chittorgarh City. It was initially ruled by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from the 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180m in height spread over an area of 691.9 acres above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River.
The fort complex comprises 65 historic built structures, among them 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 20 of them now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall, and have a combined storage of 4 billion liters. These water bodies are in the form of ponds, wells and step wells.
Udaisagar
Udai Sagar Lake, a charming lake on the Berach River constructed in 1565 by Maharana Udai Singh II. The lake covers a wide area of 10.5 sq. km and is being used for agricultural purposes. The lake has sufficient water inflow and maintains required water level for the use of Udaipur Region.
The dam sight is highly impressive and the panoramic view of Aravalli peaks is exciting. The lake is very calm and evenings are very pleasant. Inflow of visitors to this place is commendable, to enjoy the natural beauty and century old constructions.
Actually, Udai Sagar Lake was the result of a dam that took its start in 1559.Maharana Udai Singh constructed this dam on Berach River, to ensure adequate supply of water in his kingdom. Dam at Udaisagar Lake drains about 479 sq km of the country and covers an area of 10.5 sq kms. To manage the overflowing lake during rainy season, one channel has been made connecting to Berach River. The lake usually has plenty of water with the exception of lean years. People visit this lake to enjoy the serene waters of this lake.
