The Narmada river originates from:

The Narmada rises at Amarkantak, on the Maikal Range, in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, at a height of about 1,050 metres. A temple complex surrounds the Narmada Kund, the sacred tank marking its source.

Course of the Narmada:

• It is about 1,312 km long, the longest west-flowing river of India and the fifth longest river of the country.
• It flows westward through Madhya Pradesh, along the border of Maharashtra, and through Gujarat.
• It enters the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat (Cambay), near Bharuch in Gujarat.
• Its valley lies between the Vindhya Range to the north and the Satpura Range to the south.

Important features:

Maheshwar and Omkareshwar (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas) are important pilgrimage centres on its banks.

Tributaries:

Its main tributaries include the Tawa (the longest), Hiran, Banjar, Shakkar, Dudhi, Kolar and Orsang.

Dams on the Narmada:

• Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Bargi dams in Madhya Pradesh.
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, one of the largest dams in India; its inauguration is covered in a separate question.
• The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue (182 metres), of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, stands near the Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia (Ekta Nagar).

Narmada Bachao Andolan:

Led by Medha Patkar from the late 1980s, this movement opposed the large dams because of displacement of people and environmental damage.

Religious importance:

The Narmada is considered one of the holiest rivers of India. Devotees perform the "Narmada Parikrama", walking along both banks from source to mouth and back, a journey of about 2,600 km.

Amarkantak:

Amarkantak is also the source of the Son river and the Johila river. It is called the "Teerthraj" (king of pilgrimages).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna.
• ✗Multai is the source of the Tapi.
• ✗Bhimashankar is the source of the Bhima.