the great river of N India and central Bangladesh: rises in two headstreams in the Himalayas and flows southeast to Allahabad, where it is joined by the Jumna; continues southeast into Bangladesh, where it enters the Bay of Bengal in a great delta; the most sacred river to Hindus, with many places of pilgrimage, esp Varanasi. Length: 2507 km (1557 miles)
Hindi name: Ganga (ˈɡʌŋɡə, ˈɡɑːŋ-)
Ganges in American English
(ˈgændʒiz)
river in N India & Bangladesh, flowing from the Himalayas into the Bay of Bengal:c. 1,560 mi (2,511 km)