In Indian river geography, the two Himalayan streams Chandra and Bhaga join together to form which important river of the Indus river system?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of the headwater streams of major Himalayan rivers in the Indus river system. Many rivers are formed by the confluence of smaller streams, and remembering these source combinations is important for Indian physical geography and for map based questions in competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Two snow fed streams named Chandra and Bhaga are mentioned. • They join together to form a larger river. • The options list four well known rivers of the north western river system: Jhelum, Indus, Ravi and Chenab. • We assume standard school atlas information on the Indus and its tributaries.

Concept / Approach:
In Himachal Pradesh, the Chandra and Bhaga streams originate from glaciers in the higher Himalayas. Their confluence at Tandi in Lahaul region forms the Chandrabhaga River, which further downstream is known as the Chenab. Thus, the two streams Chandra and Bhaga are essentially the headwaters of the Chenab, an important tributary of the Indus. The other options are separate rivers with different sources.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Chandra and Bhaga are small glacial streams in the upper Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh. Step 2: Remember that these two streams meet at Tandi and from that point the combined flow is called Chandrabhaga. Step 3: Note that as the river enters Jammu and Kashmir and continues its course, Chandrabhaga is better known by its widely used name, the Chenab River. Step 4: Compare this with the known sources of Jhelum, Indus and Ravi, which do not involve the Chandra and Bhaga pair, and conclude that Chenab is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Physical maps of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir show the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga at Tandi and label the downstream river as Chenab. Standard textbooks on Indian geography also mention that the Chenab is formed by the union of the Chandra and Bhaga headstreams, which is why it is sometimes called Chandrabhaga.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (Jhelum) rises near Verinag in Jammu and Kashmir and does not originate from the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga. Option B (Indus) has its source near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet and is a separate major river with its own headwaters. Option C (Ravi) originates in the Himalayas near the Rohtang Pass region but is not formed from the Chandra and Bhaga streams.

Common Pitfalls:
• Learners sometimes confuse the different tributaries of the Indus system and mix up which streams join to form which river. • Because the name Chandrabhaga is less familiar than Chenab, some students fail to connect the headwater name with the more famous downstream name.

Final Answer:
Chandra and Bhaga join together to form the Chenab River.