Which of the following rivers originates from the Amarkantak Plateau?

The correct option is Narmada.

Here is a step-by-step explanation of why this is the correct answer:

1. Origin of the Narmada River:
The Narmada River, one of the major west-flowing rivers of peninsular India, originates at the Amarkantak Hill (Amarkantak Plateau) located in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The elevation of this source is approximately 1,057 meters above sea level.

2. Flow Direction and Termination:
Unlike most of the major peninsular rivers that flow eastwards into the Bay of Bengal, the Narmada flows westward through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. It eventually empties into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.

3. Understanding the other options:
• Godavari: Originates in the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik in Maharashtra.
• Mahanadi: Originates in the Sihawa highlands of Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh.
• Krishna: Originates near Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.

Therefore, the river that originates from the Amarkantak Plateau is the Narmada.