About the Mahi
The Mahi River crosses the Tropic of Cancer twice — once in Rajasthan flowing south, and again in Gujarat flowing west — a geographical curiosity that makes it unique among Indian rivers. The river's catchment spans the Vindhya highlands, the Rajasthan scrublands, and the Gujarat plains, draining a diverse cross-section of western India's geology and ecology. The Kadana and Wanakbori dams on the lower Mahi have created reservoirs that are important wintering sites for thousands of migratory waterbirds.
The upper Mahi tributaries in Rajasthan pass through some of the state's finest remaining wildlife habitats, and the river corridor provides important connectivity between the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and the broader Rajasthan wildlife landscape. The river's lower course through the tribal belt of Gujarat's Panchamahal district passes through landscapes inhabited by the Bhil and Tadvi communities who have traditionally used the river for irrigation, fishing, and ritual. The Mahi estuary near Vadodara is an important wintering ground for the endangered Pallas's fish eagle.
Som · Jakham · Anas · Panam