river in West Bengal state, northeastern India, forming the western boundary of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. A distributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River (Ganges River), it leaves that river just northeast of Jangipur, flows south, and joins the Jalangi at Nabadwip to form the Hugli (Hooghly) River (Hugli River) after a total course of 120 miles (190 km). Until the 16th century, when the Ganges shifted eastward to the Padma (Padma River), the Bhagirathi formed the original bed of the Ganges. Its banks sheltered the great ancient capitals of Bengal, and the river is held sacred by the Hindus. A bridge at Baharampur spans the Bhagirathi.