Rebuilding 113-Year-Old Saryu Bridge | 10 Nov 2025

Why in News?

The Government of Uttarakhand has sanctioned ₹1.8 crore for the reconstruction of a historic suspension bridge over the Saryu River in Bageshwar district.

Key Points

• About:

  • The bridge, built in 1913, has connected the town’s markets and residential areas for more than a century and holds deep local significance.

  • The bridge has witnessed generations of local movement, festivals, and daily economic exchanges, making it not just an infrastructure asset but a living part of Bageshwar’s cultural and historical landscape.

• Saryu River:

  • The Saryu River (also spelt Sarju) originates from the glaciers near Sarmool in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, at the southern slopes of the Nanda Kot peak in the Kumaon Himalayas.

  • It flows south and southwest through Bageshwar and parts of Pithoragarh districts before joining the Kali River (Sharda) near the Indo-Nepal border.

    • The Kali River eventually joins the Ghaghara River (Karnali in Nepal), a major tributary of the Ganga River system.

  • Major tributaries that enhance its flow in this region include the Gomti (which joins it at Bageshwar) and the Ramganga (East).
  • The river holds deep religious importance, especially the Ghaghara’s lower course, which is revered as the Saryu River in Ayodhya, where it is associated with Lord Rama.