Kamal Ghorui
The Vishwamitri River passes through the city of Vadodara in Gujarat and is commonly known as India’s Crocodile River due to the presence of mugger crocodiles in and around the urban area. Unlike other rivers, where crocodiles are known to reside in distant forests, Vishwamitri is special in the sense that these reptiles are found to thrive in proximity to human habitations. The river originates from the Pavagadh hills, passes through the city of Vadodara, and finally merges with the Dhadhar River, forming marshes, ponds, and riverbanks that are conducive to the habitation of crocodiles. Over the years, encounters, particularly during the monsoon season when the water level rises, have brought the river to the notice of the entire nation. Today, the Vishwamitri River stands as a testament to the survival and coexistence of wildlife in the urban setting of India.
Vishwamitri River is called the ‘Crocodile River of India’
Vishwamitri River originates in the Pavagadh Hills of Gujarat and flows straight through the heart of Vadodara. Yes, through the city. Not around it.Unlike India’s giant rivers, the Vishwamitri is relatively short and stays entirely within Gujarat. It eventually joins the Dhadhar River before meeting the Arabian Sea. On paper, it doesn’t sound dramatic. In reality, it is.The river is home to hundreds of Mugger crocodiles, a freshwater species known for adapting well to lakes and rivers. Seeing a crocodile basking on a muddy bank isn’t unusual here.
Why the Vishwamitri River became a crocodile hotspot
Not every river with crocodiles earns a reputation for it. Many rivers across India support small crocodile populations, but the Vishwamitri stands out for how comfortably its reptiles have settled into city life. A big reason is the river itself. Long stretches of the Vishwamitri move slowly, especially outside the monsoon season, and its muddy, uneven banks are almost perfect for Mugger crocodiles to bask, nest, and slip back into the water unnoticed. It’s the kind of landscape they seem to prefer.Then there’s human behaviour. Ironically, pollution and limited recreational use may have helped the crocodiles. Since people rarely swim or wash clothes in the river, the animals face less disturbance than they would in cleaner, more crowded waterways. Conservation awareness has also played a role. Instead of being hunted or removed, many crocodiles were protected and monitored, allowing their numbers to grow steadily over time. Strangely, the city and the crocodiles learned how to coexist.
How crocodiles and urban life adapted to each other over time
The Vishwamitri River shows that wildlife doesn’t always vanish when cities expand. Sometimes, it adapts, waits, and learns how to survive alongside us. A river full of crocodiles flowing through a major Indian city feels like it shouldn’t exist. And yet, it does, calmly, stubbornly, and on its own terms. It makes you wonder how many other wild stories are hiding in plain sight.
How many crocodiles are there currently in the Vishwamitri River
The Vishwamitri River in Vadodara, Gujarat, is now known for its unexpectedly large population of mugger crocodiles, which seem to thrive in spite of being found in the middle of an urban area. The latest census conducted in 2025 by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation estimates that there are currently 442 crocodiles in the area, spread out in different parts of the river. This is a significant increase from the 2020 census.This increase has been attributed to several factors by experts, including the availability of food in the form of fish and stray animals, the adaptability of the crocodiles to the river environment, and the fact that there is less human interference in some parts of the river.
