In Indian physical geography, which river is regarded as the only perennial river of Peninsular India, flowing throughout the year?

Introduction / Context:
Many Indian rivers in the peninsular region are seasonal, with their flow varying greatly between the monsoon and dry months. Exam questions often highlight one important exception that is considered perennial because it carries water throughout the year. This question asks you to recall which Peninsular river is commonly described in textbooks as perennial, an idea that appears frequently in school level geography and competitive exams focused on India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on Peninsular India, not the Himalayan region.
• We need the river that is regarded as perennial, meaning it has flow in all seasons.
• Options include Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, and Bhima.
• We assume the standard school geography classification of rivers in India.

Concept / Approach:
Himalayan rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra are clearly perennial due to snow and glacier melt. In contrast, most Peninsular rivers depend more directly on monsoon rainfall and therefore show strong seasonal variation. However, one south Indian river, the Kaveri, has a comparatively dependable flow because of its basin conditions and rainfall pattern in both the southwest and northeast monsoon seasons. To answer, we recall which of the listed Peninsular rivers is emphasised in geography texts as perennial.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the river must originate and flow mainly in the Peninsular region. Step 2: Godavari and Krishna are large Peninsular rivers but many stretches show strong seasonal fluctuations in discharge. Step 3: Bhima is a tributary river in the Deccan plateau and is clearly monsoon dependent, so it is not treated as perennial in most texts. Step 4: The Kaveri river rises in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and flows through Tamil Nadu to the Bay of Bengal. Step 5: Because the Kaveri basin receives both southwest and, to some extent, retreating northeast monsoon rains, its flow is relatively steady. Step 6: Standard exam references therefore describe the Kaveri as the only prominent perennial river of Peninsular India.

Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to remember famous river water sharing disputes in south India involving a river that supplies water for irrigation and cities even during non monsoon periods. This river is the Kaveri, which supports intensive agriculture in the Kaveri delta and urban supply in cities such as Bengaluru via projects that tap its basin. This practical importance aligns with its classification in exam oriented geography as a perennial Peninsular river.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Godavari, though long and important, is strongly monsoon fed and many of its tributaries dry up significantly outside the rainy season. Krishna also shows pronounced seasonal variation in flow volume and is not typically singled out as the only perennial Peninsular river. Bhima is a tributary with even more limited flow in the dry months. Hence these rivers, while partly perennial in a technical hydrological sense, are not the classic textbook answer for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to interpret perennial in a very broad sense and assume that any large river must be perennial. This can lead to guessing Godavari or Krishna because they are famous and long. Competitive exams, however, follow the school geography convention that specifically highlights the Kaveri. To avoid confusion, always link key terms to how they are treated in standard textbooks as well as exam preparation material.

Final Answer:
The river regarded as the only perennial river of Peninsular India is the Kaveri river.