Its course begins east-northeast along a lineament which runs parallel to the Narmada Fault,[1] passes north of Palitana's hills, Shatrunjaya, then in a southeasterly direction past Talaja Hill, through a peninsula, before reaching the Gulf of Cambay, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Goapnath Point.

The Palitana dam was built in 1959 across the river at Nani-Rajasthali and represents Shetrunji's irrigation scheme.

[8] This scheme is meant to provide river water to a cultivation area of 56,000–86,000 acres (23,000–35,000 ha) of land.

[2] Palitana is situated near the river, serving as the base town for the hills of Shatrunjaya upon which are the Palitana temples, an important place of worship for Jains.A group of Derasars are located at the banks of the river near to the Shatrunjaya hills.

[citation needed] Middle to Upper Palaeolithic sites have been found along the river.