Waterways have shaped India's civilization, agriculture, and religious practices for millennia.
* **Major Rivers:** The Ganges (Ganga) is the most sacred river in Hinduism and the lifeline of northern India. Other crucial rivers include the Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, and Kaveri. * **Lakes:** Key lakes include Dal Lake (Jammu & Kashmir), famously dotted with houseboats; Chilika Lake (Odisha), the largest coastal lagoon in India and a major avian wintering ground; and Vembanad Lake (Kerala). * **Coastline:** India's peninsula is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south, totaling over 7,500 kilometers of coastline. * **Waterfalls:** Prominent waterfalls include Dudhsagar (Goa) and Jog Falls (Karnataka).
