The Tapti River originates from the eastern slopes of the Satpura Range at Multai in Madhya Pradesh. It is the tenth longest river in India, and one of the few Indian rivers that flows westward, running roughly parallel to the Narmada into the Arabian Sea.
The Tapti is personified as a goddess in Hinduism, also called Tapati or Tapi, considered the daughter of the Sun God Surya - her name relates to his heat and brilliance, and she is also called Suryaputri. Multai, her place of origin, was originally called 'Mool Taapi', meaning root of Tapi. Tapati is mentioned in the Mahabharata, Puranas, and Ramayana - King Samvarana married her, and their son Kuru became the progenitor of the Kuru dynasty.
At Multai, there are seven sacred kunds (ponds), each with its own story: Surya Kund, where the Sun God himself bathes once a year; Tapti Kund, symbolizing her protection of all beings; Dharma Kund, where Lord Dharmaraj bathed; and Paap Kund, where sinners bathe to cleanse their sins.
Course: The Tapi flows across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat. Its main tributaries include the Purna, Girna, and Panjhara rivers.
Key Places: The Ukai Dam is the most important dam on the Tapti, forming the Vallabh Sagar Reservoir, Gujarat's second largest. Mughal empress Mumtaz Mahal was initially buried on the banks of the Tapti in Burhanpur before her tomb was moved to Agra. Key cities along the river include Multai, Burhanpur, Surat (the "Diamond City"), Bhusawal, and Jalgaon.