Upper Ganga Canal

canal system, India

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Upper Ganga Canal is a significant irrigation system in India, originating at Haridwar and extending with its branches for approximately 5,950 miles (9,575 km). This canal system, along with others like the Lower Ganga Canal and the Sarda Canal, plays a crucial role in increasing the production of cash crops such as sugarcane, cotton, and oilseeds in the Ganges valley of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The use of Ganges water for irrigation has a long history, dating back over 2,000 years, with records from Greek historian Megasthenes in the 4th century BCE and further development during Muslim rule and by the British.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ganges River
Irrigation
The Upper Ganga Canal, which begins at Haridwar, and its branches have a combined length of 5,950 miles (9,575 km). The Lower Ganga Canal, extending 5,120 miles (8,240 km) with its branches, begins at Naraura. The Sarda Canal irrigates land near Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh.
Read More
The Upper Ganga Canal, which begins at Haridwar, and its branches have a combined length of 5,950 miles (9,575 km). The Lower Ganga Canal, extending 5,120 miles (8,240 km) with its branches, begins at Naraura. The Sarda Canal irrigates land near Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh.
Read More