It begins as the Dhaleswari (Dhalkisor) in the Chhota Nagpur plateau foothills northeast of the town of Purulia.

It then follows a tortuous southeasterly course past the town of Bankura, where it is known as the Dwarakeswar river.

Near the town of Ghatal, it is joined by the Shilabati river, where it takes the name Rupnarayan.

[1] It is famous for the Hilsa fish that thrives in its waters and is used in Bengali cuisine.

It is also notable for the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) thermal power plant built along its bank at Kolaghat in West Bengal.