Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin?
- 1.Nagarhole National Park
- 2.Papikonda National Park
- 3.Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
- 4.Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
Nagarhole, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad are all drained by the Kaveri (Cauvery) and its tributaries, but Papikonda National Park lies along the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, so 2 is the only one that does not belong.
- ✓ 1. Nagarhole's own stream, the Nagarahole, joins the Kabini, and the Kabini is a right-bank tributary of the Kaveri.
- ✗ 2. Papikonda National Park is in the Papi Hills of Andhra Pradesh, where the Godavari cuts through the range; it belongs to the Godavari basin, not the Cauvery.
- ✓ 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Erode district (Tamil Nadu) is drained by the Bhavani, Moyar and Suvarnavathi, which are Kaveri tributaries.
- ✓ 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala is drained by the Kabini, which rises in Wayanad and joins the Kaveri in Karnataka.
Remember · Nagarhole, Wayanad and Sathyamangalam sit in the Kabini-Bhavani part of the Cauvery basin; Papikonda sits on the Godavari.
Sources
- NTCA brief note: Nagarahole Tiger Reserve ↗ “The reserve is named after a small river ‘Nagarahole’ (literally a snake stream in Kannada), which meanders within the habitat, before joining the river Kabini.”
- Inland Waterways Authority of India, Detailed Project Report: Kabini River (NW-51) ↗ “Kabini River originates from the Pakramthalam hills (Western Ghat) in Wayanad district of Kerala state at an altitude of about 2140m. It flows eastward to join the Kaveri River at Tirumakudalu Narasipura in Karnataka”
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Government of Tamil Nadu), Tiger Conservation Plan: Core Zone ↗ “Major Streams Swarnavathi & Halibidha Halla are the major streams. The Suvarnavathi is one of the Southern tributaries of the R. Kaveri.”
- Papikondalu, Eluru District (Government of Andhra Pradesh) ↗ “Papikondalu Mountain range runs along River Godavari, one of the largest and vivacious rivers in India.”
- Kerala Tourism (Government of Kerala), Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary ↗ · reference work “Rivers like the Kabini, Cherupuzha, and Bavali flow through the sanctuary, enhancing its scenic beauty and providing essential water sources for its flora and fauna.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·