Correct Answer:
B. Lake Manasarovar, Tibet
The correct answer is Lake Manasarovar, Tibet. The mighty Indus River, the lifeline of Pakistan, begins its long journey close to the sacred Lake Manasarovar in the high Tibetan Plateau, near Mount Kailash.
The Source of the Indus River
- Origin in Tibet: The Indus rises from the Sengge Zangbo (Lion's Mouth) spring north of the Himalayas in western Tibet, about 100 km south of Mount Kailash. This region is closely associated with the sacred Lake Manasarovar, a key geographical landmark.
- Why Not the Himalayas or Other Ranges?: While the Indus flows through the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges during its course, its ultimate source lies in the Trans‑Himalayan region of the Tibetan Plateau, not within the mountain ranges themselves. The river cuts through these ranges later.
- Mythological and Cultural Significance: Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash hold deep religious importance in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Indus, one of the great rivers of Asia, shares this sacred birthplace.
- Course to the Sea: From Tibet, the Indus flows northwest through the Ladakh region, then into Gilgit‑Baltistan, Pakistan, and finally empties into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. Its total length is about 3,180 km.
Therefore, the Indus River originates near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet.