The river Satluj originates from which of the following locations?

Introduction / Context:
The Satluj (Sutlej) is one of the important tributaries of the Indus river system and plays a crucial role in the hydrology of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Knowledge of the source regions of major Indian rivers is a standard component of physical geography. This question asks for the specific origin of the Satluj river, distinguishing it from other well known river sources in the Himalayas and central India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The river in question is Satluj (Sutlej).
• The options include Himalayan slopes, a spring at Verinag, Rakas Lake near Mansarovar, the Amarkantak plateau, and Rohtang Pass.
• We must know which of these is correctly associated with the Satluj source.

Concept / Approach:
The Satluj originates beyond the Indian border in the Tibetan plateau. More precisely, its source is near Rakas Lake (also called Rakshastal), close to the sacred Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. From there it flows west and south through the Himalayas into Himachal Pradesh and then into Punjab. Other rivers like the Jhelum arise at Verinag, and the Narmada and Son originate at the Amarkantak plateau. Thus, the approach is to match each option with the correct river and eliminate those that do not correspond to Satluj.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Satluj is a trans Himalayan river that begins beyond the Indian border. Step 2: Identify that its source is near Rakas Lake, which lies close to Mansarovar in Tibet. Step 3: Recognise that the spring at Verinag is known as the source of the Jhelum River, not Satluj. Step 4: The Amarkantak plateau is associated with the origin of Narmada and Son rivers in central India, not Satluj. Step 5: Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh is associated with rivers like Beas and not with the main origin of Satluj.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps of the Indus river system and standard geography references confirm that the Satluj originates near Rakas Lake (Rakshastal) in Tibet, just west of Mansarovar Lake. It then flows through the Shipki La pass into India. Jhelum sources at Verinag, Narmada at Amarkantak, and Beas near Rohtang, so none of those locations can be the origin of Satluj. This cross checking confirms that Rakas Lake is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Northern slopes of the Kailash range: A vague description that does not match the specific named source often cited for Satluj.
• A spring at Verinag in Kashmir: This is associated with the Jhelum River, not Satluj.
• Amarkantak plateau in Madhya Pradesh: Source region for Narmada and Son rivers, not a Himalayan river like Satluj.
• Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh: Linked with Beas River origin, not Satluj.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many Indian rivers originate in the Himalayas or in central India, students sometimes memorise only general regions and not precise locations. This can lead them to pick broad phrases like northern slopes of the Kailash range instead of the more accurate Rakas Lake. Another pitfall is mixing up the sources of Jhelum, Narmada, Beas, and Satluj. A labelled map of river sources is a very useful revision tool for this topic.

Final Answer:
The Satluj river originates from Rakas Lake near Mansarovar in Tibet.