Kushabhadra River forms the complex of river systems which form the distributaries of the Mahanadi River. It branches off from the Kuakhai River, which is a distributary of the Mahanadi, at Balianta and flows in a south western direction towards Nimapara and Gop for 46–50 miles before sinking into the Bay of Bengal near Ramachandi Temple,^[1] 15 miles east of Puri in the Puri District of Odisha.^[2][3]

Dhanua River is its main tributary, bringing in water to its parent body.