PRACTICAL WORK

44 RIVERS IN KERALA

WEST FLOWING RIVERS

1. ANJARAKKANDI RIVER 

     The river Anjarakandy is flowing through the Anjarakandy in Kannur district. This place is prominent for its Cinnamon estate. Cinnamon Valley, Anjarakandy Spread over nearly 200 acres, the cinnamon valley on the banks of the Anjarakandy River, is considered the largest cinnamon plantation in Asia. It covers an area about 200 acres.

 2.  ACHENKOVIL RIVER 

     It originates from the hills of Achankovil in the Pathanamthitta and flows through Mavelikkara, Thiruvalla and Karthikapally Taluk into the left of river Pamba near the Vembanattu Lake. Pathanamthitta is the gift of river Achankovil originating from the high ranges of the Western Ghats near the ancient forest shrine of Achankovil in the north eastern border of Kollam district so close to Senkotai and Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu.    

               

3. THANIKKUDAM RIVER 

     Thanikkudam River is a small river flows 29 km originates from the slopes of Vazhani ranges and Chenkalli and is oriented in a north-east to South-west direction. In Thrissur district which divides the Thanikkudam village into two areas.    

4.  BHARATHAPUZHA RIVER 

     Bharatappuzha, is also called Perar and Nila, is known as Dakshina Ganga (Southern Ganges), the South Indian equivalent to the Holy Ganges River in North India.With a length of 209 km, it is the second-longest river in Kerala, after the Periyar River. The word "Nila" indicates the culture more than just a river. We see the name "Peraar" indicating the same river in ancient scripts and documents. The river ‘Bharatha-puzha’ got its name from the epics where ‘puzha’ means just river and Bharatha though correlates to the word ‘Hindustan’, here refers to Bharathamba.

5. CHALAKKUDY RIVER 

     Chalakudy River or Chalakudy Puzha is the fifth longest river in Kerala, India. The river though has its origin in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu, is actually a collection of some major tributaries originated from Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala. The river flows through Palakkad district, Thrissur District and Ernakulam District of Kerala. The total drainage area of the river is 1704 km². Out of this 1404 km² lies in Kerala and the rest 300 km² in TamilNadu. The length of the river is 145.5 km.

6. CHALIYAR RIVER 

     Chaliyar is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Beypore River as it nears the sea. Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode, Kizhuparamba, Cheruvadi, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Feroke and Beypore are some of the towns/villages situated along the banks of Chaliyar. Chaliyar River has a total drainage area of 2,923sq Km, of which 2,535sq Km is in Kerala and the rest in Tamil Nadu. The river meets the Arabian Sea at an 'azhi' (estuary). The Chaliyar originates in the Western Ghats range at Elambalari Hills and finally empties into the Arabian Sea.

7. CHANDRAGIRI RIVER 

     Chandragiri Puzha is located at around 3 km from Kasaragode Town and it’s the main river in Kasaragode district. It is two main tributaries are the Payaswani and the Chandragiri. Chandragiri, a famous tourist destination in Kasargode District, located on the banks of the river is a major point of attraction. Chandragiri River also originates from Patti Ghat Reserve Forest and Karnataka State and joins the Payaswani at Machipura.

8. CHITTARI RIVER 

     This is the combination of the small rivers from Cherambe, Thayakolam, and Pulloor in the Kasargode district and meets the Arabian Sea in the west. Chittari River originates from Chettiamchal at an elevation of 91 m and flows through Kasaragode and drains into Arabian Sea. Its main tributaries are Kalnad, Bekal and Chittarithode. Bekal River originates from Kaniyadka. It has a catchment area of 48 Km. Kalnad River arises from Chattanchal with a catchment area of 32 Km.

9. ITHIKKARA RIVER 

     Ithikkara River is an important river flowing through the districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. This 56 km long river, with a catchment area of about 642 sq km, originates from the Madathurikunnu hills at a height of 240 m. Vattaparambu and Vattam Thodu are the main tributaries of the river. The village of Ithikkara is located on the river. Ithikkara River is in the Western Ghats flows through Kollam District, finally emptying into Paravur Kayal.

10. KAARIYANKODE RIVER 

     Kaariangode River, the second longest river in Kasargode District, Kerala flows through a total area about 64km, passes through both Kasargode and Kannur districts before it drains into the Arabian Sea. Padinalkad Ghat Reserve Forest in Coorg district, Karnataka is the place where it begins its flowing by the confluence of several small streams from the hills. Its two main tributaries, Mundore, Padimalahole and Ariakkadavu hole are the main tributaries of the river. The river is known as Pulingoruchal.

11. KADALUNDI RIVER 

     Kadalundi River, also known as Karimpuzha or Oravanpurampuzha. Kadalundi River that serves as a borderline between the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts is 130kms in length with a drainage area of 1,099 sq.km. Also known by the names Karimpuzha and Ravanpurampuzha, the river is formed by the union of its two main tributaries; Olipuzha (originates from Cherakkombanmala from the Silent Valley reserve forests at an elevation of 1219 m above the sea level.

12. KALLADA RIVER 

     Kallada River originates from Ponmudi hill ranges in Kulathupuzha in Kollam district. This is river formed from the merger of five small streams starting from the Western Ghats. The main tributaries of Kallada River are Kulathupuzha, Chenthurnipuzha and Kalthuruthipuzha. The river flows down Ottakkal, Punalur and passes by Pathanapuram. The Chalikkari Aar also joins Kallada a little downstream. These two rivers flow westward and fall into the Ashtamudi Lake. The river is 121 kilometers long.

13. KALLAI RIVER 

 

     Kallayi is one of the rivers in Kerala, India. It originates in Cherikkulathur in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 45 m and is 40 km long. It is linked to the Chaliyar River by a man-made canal on the south side of the small timber village of Kallayi lying on its banks. Its basin is located in the Kozhikode District. It runs only 22 kilometers to meet the Arabian Sea, but long history of culture, tradition and foreign trade runs through the veins of this great river. Kallai gained its international fame for its timber trade.

14. MAMAM RIVER 

     Mamam River originates in Panthalacode hills in Trivandrum district and flows 27 km westward direction and ends up at Anchuthengu (anchengo) lake. Mamam river catchment areas are 114 km². Attingal is surrounded by Vamanapuram River and Mamam River through the southern part of Mudakkal Panchayat. Kizhivilam panchayat is also at the bank of this river. .

15. KARAMANA RIVER 

 

     Karamana River is in Thiruvananthapuram district. The river origins at Agasthyarkoodam peak and owe its name to the place through which it flows, Karamana. This peak is situated at the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats. This river flows 68 km westward and falls into the Arabian Sea at Panathura area near Kovalam. The river is named after a suburb of Trivandrum city, Karamana through which it meanders.

16. KARUVANNOOR RIVER 

     The Karuvannur River or Karuvannur Puzha is in Thrissur district, Kerala which originates at Pumalai Hills in Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary in the Western Ghats. The river is 48 km in length. The Kurumali River or Kurumali Puzha is a tributary of the Karuvannur River. Kurumali River joins with Manali River at Palakkadavu and forms Karuvannur River. Kurumali River originates as the Chimmony Aar from Pumalai about 1116 m from Sea Level in the Western Ghats.

17. KAVAI RIVER 

     Kavvayi River originates from Cheemeni hills and flows 31 km westward to Kavvayi Lake at an altitude of +385 m and flows past Alpadampa, Vadasseri, and Udamanthai before emptying in to the Kavvayi backwaters. The river enters the backwaters at Udamanthai. It has a catchment area of 143 sq. km. MBM and Kochen Island is the two very small islands other than Kavvayi Island in between Kavvayi Lake.

18. KEECHERI RIVER 

     Keecheri River is one of the smallest rivers in Kerala. This is also called the Vadakancheri River. Keecheri River originates in Thalapalli Taluk at Machad hills in Trissur district in the western cliffs of the Western Ghats. The river is 51 km in length flowing westward through the Keecheri and Koll canal at Madukarai and empties to Arabian Sea at Chettuva Lake. It has only one tributary and is Choondalthodu. Vazhani Dam constructed across the Keecheri River at Vazhani.

19. KORAPPUZHA RIVER 

     Korapuzha is also called Elathur River originates in the mountains of Wayanad district flows 40 km and empties into the Arabian Sea at Elathur. Korapuzha is formed by the confluence of two streams, Agalapuzha and Punnoorpuzha. This river is popular water sports and boating destinations in Kerala. This river is the venue of ‘Korapuzha Jalotsav’ the Water festival of Kerala. It flows through various cities such as Vadakara, Beypore, Kallai, Kozhikode and Kappad beach and is 19 km away from the river side.

20. AYIROOR RIVER 

     Navayikulam, flows through M.C.Road into the Edava-Nadayarakayal. The term “navaya” means “the place where Vedic scriptures are taught”. Therefore, it is believed that Navaikulam was an ancient center of excellence and wisdom. Ayiroor is on the banks of the river Ayiroorpuzha, one of the smallest rivers in Kerala. On the southwest side of this village is the Edavanadayara Lake.

21. KUPPAM RIVER 

     Kuppam or Payyangadi river is in Taliparamba, Kannur District originated from Western Ghats of Kerala boarder in the Padinalkadu forests of Kodagu District in Karnataka State, merges with Valapattanam river and then into the Arabian Sea. The tributary of the river are Pakkatupuzha, Alakutathode, Kuttilol Puzha, Mukkuttathodu and Chiriyathode. Kuppam River has navigational water from Kooveri about 15 Km. Its overall length may be 50 km.

22. KUTTIYADI RIVER 

     Kuttiyadi River originates from Narikotta ranges in the Western Ghats, at an elevation of 1220 m above MSL and joins the Arabian Sea at Kottackal, after travelling 74 km across the State. This river flows through Vadakara, Koyilandy and Kozhikode Taluks. It empties into the Arabian Sea at the historical Kottakkal Fort, 7 km, South of Vadakara. This river has a length of 74kms.It passes through Oorakuzhi, Kuttiadyl, Tiruvallur, Muyipoth, Maniyur and Karuvancheri. A storage dam built across the Kuttiyadi River at Peruvannamuzhi is the nearby attraction. 

23. MAHI RIVER 

     Mahi River also known as Mayyazhipuzha, the 54kms long has its origin from the forests situated on the western slopes of the Wayanad Hills and culminating in the Arabian Sea at Mahe. The villages through which the river passes are Vanimel, Iringanoor Peringalam, Edachery, Eramala, Kariyad, Mahe etc. Mahe River has no major tributaries but is fed by numerous rivulets from both sides.

24. MANJESWARAM RIVER 

     Manjeswaram River is the shortest river in Kerala and it has only 16 km length. The river originates from Balappooni hills and falls in to the Uppala Lake in Kasargode district.  Manjeswaram River joins the Arabian Sea at Manjeswaram estuary between Bengara and Manjeswaram. 

25. MANIMALA RIVER 

     Manimala River also known as Valla Puzha has its origin on the Muthavara Hills in Kottayam district near Peerumedu in Idukki District of Kerala. The river passes through the districts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and finally joins the Pamba River at Muttar in Alappuzha District. Erumeli, Manimala, Mallappally, Kaviyoor, Kalloppara, Thalavadi, Kozhimukku, Mundakayam, Kanjirappally and Champakkulam lies on the banks of Manimala River.  It has a length of 91.73 Km and drainage area of 802.90 Km.

26. MOUGRAL RIVER 

     Mougral River originates from Kanathur in Karadka reserve forest in Kasaragod district. The river has a length of 34 km of which a distance of 20 km from the sea mouth is tidal. It has a drainage area of 132 square meters. It flows in a north-westerly direction through Bettipadi and Muliyar where it is joined by another stream rising from the northern part of Karadka reserve forest. The river empties into the Arabian Sea in Mougral Puthur after forming a long stretch of back waters about 5 km in length.

27. MEENACHIL RIVER 

     Meenachil River flows through the heart of Kottayam district. The river, 78 km long, flows through Poonjar, Teekoy, Erattupetta, Palai, Ettumanoor and Kottayam before emptying itself into the Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom. The Meenachil River is formed by several streams originating from the Western Ghats. The general elevation ranges from 77 m to 1156 m in the high lands and less than 2 m in the lowlands and 8 to 68 m in the midlands. The Meenachil has a watershed area of 1208.11 km². The river has 38 tributaries including major and minor ones.

28. MOOVATTUPUZHA RIVER 

     Muvattupuzha River runs for 121 km through Ernakulum District and enters Kottayam district as well. Muvattupuzha River the name is made up of three Malayalam words: 'Moo', which stands for 'three', 'aaru' - Small River, and 'puzha'. The three rivers in this case are the Kothamangalam River or Kothayaar, Kaliyar and Thodupuzhayaar, which merge to form a single river. Muvattupuzha River was practically free from Pollution which slowly is changing due to the growth of small towns on the river's banks as well as Industrial Endeavours. Green People, an environmental organization is now leading a campaign to save the Muvattupuzha River.

29. NEELESWARAM RIVER 

     Nileswaram River rose from the Hosdurg Taluk of Kasargode District and flows 46 km all the way through Nileswaram and finally joins with the Tejaswini River or Kariyankode River at Kottapuram. Nileshwaram lies between these two rivers of Nileshwaram and Kariyankode and finally reaches to the west in the Arabian Sea.

30. NEYYAR RIVER 

     The Neyyar River is a 56km distance river starts it flows from Agastya Mala ( Agastyarkoodam) hills of Western Ghats. It flows down south-west direction in the mountainous region and empties into the Arabian Sea. The important tributaries are the Kallar, Mullayar River and Karavali Aar. 

31. PAMBA RIVER 

     The Pamba River is the third longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha and the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. 

32. PERIYAR RIVER 

     Periyar River is popularly called as the Lifeline of Kerala. It has a length of 244 km and is the longest river in Kerala. It is a perennial river and is used beneficial for the purpose of irrigation, drainage and navigation. Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats and flows through the Periyar National Park and reaches the Periyar Lake, which is a man made reservoir created in 1895.

33. PERUMPA RIVER 

     Perumpa River originates from Pinkunnumala and it has a length of 51 Km. It is also called Panappuzha and is a fresh water river which flows through malabar region.

 34.  PALLIKKAL RIVER 

     Pallikkal River flowing for 42 km and ends in the Kallada river. Many people depend this river for irrigation and fishing. Mynagappally is a beautiful village with paddy fields in Kunnathoor Taluk of Kollam district. Its western border is separated by Pallikkal River from Thodiyoor Panchayath. A part of Pallikkal river starts here. The view of river in the evening is mind boggling. The place is blessed with natural beauty, resourses and peace.

35. RAMAPURAM RIVER 

     Ramapuram Puzha is a smallest stream in Kannur district having 19 Km length and originates from Iringal. Out of 44 rivers in Kerala 7 are in Kannur district. They are Ramapuram River, Kuppam River, Peruvamba River, Valapattanam River, Ancharakandy River, Thalassery River and Mahe River. The Ramapuram River which drains in to the Kavvayi backwaters. It has its source in the hills coming in the village limits of Iringal at an altitude of 57 m above Mean Sea Level with catchment area of the basin is 52 Km.

36. SHIRIYA RIVER 

     Shiriya River in 61 km in length. Shiriya river flows through Badoor village at Kozhikode and Kumbla, is a small town located 11 km north of Kasaragode town, in Kasaragode District, Kerala. Kumbla located at the mouth of a lagoon formed by the Shiriya River. River Shiriya and a few more minor rivers come together to form the Kumbala estuary some 10km north of Kasaragode town It hosts a range of flora and fauna that are inevitable for the life of the local people here.

37. THALASSERI RIVER 

     Thalassery or Ponnayam River originates and flows 28 km from the western cliffs of Kunnoth forest and finally joins the Arabian Sea. It is also called Kuyali Puzha. It has one tributary and is Muriya. Thalassery is at the bank of this river and Kunduchira dam is at Moozhikkara. The geography of Thalassery is adorned with four rivers, seven hills and a long coast line.

38. TIROOR RIVER 

     Tirur River originates from Athvanad village of Tirur Taluk and flows 48 km up to Thirunavaya and joins with Bharathapuzha to ends up it flows in Arabian Sea Ponnani in Malappuram district.

39. UPPALA RIVER 

     Uppala river is also known as Kalai River, originates from the Veerakamba Hills in Karnataka.Uppala river enters Kerala through Kasargode Taluk in Manjeshwar and through Uppala to ends to the Arabian Sea. The length of the river is about 50 km. The Uppala River originates at about 150 m height from the sea level. 

40. VALAPATTANAM RIVER 

     Valapattanam River is the largest river in the Kannur district, located in the South Indian state of Kerala. Valapattanam also known as Baliapattom, located 7 km from Kannur, lies on the banks of the Valapattanam River is well known for its wood-based industries and timber trade. Six rivers drain Kannur the longest being the Valapattanam river with a length of 110 km. The Valapattanam River originates in the Western Ghats of Kodagu.

41. VAMANAPURAM RIVER 

     Vamanapuram River is an 88-km long river in southern Kerala. The river originates in the Chemunjimotta hills (alt. 1860m) hills on the southern side of the Western Ghats, and flows through Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of Kerala. It ends in Anjengo Lake (Anchuthengu Lake) near Varkala. The two tributaries of this river are the Upper Chittar & Manjaprayar streams. The Vamanapuram River supplies water to the community of Vamanapuram village. 

EAST  FLOWING  RIVERS

42. PAAMBAR RIVER 

     Pambar originates from the Benmore Tea Estate of Devikulam in Idukki district. It flows 29 km eastward through Kerala state and enter in to Tamilnadu state. It is also known as The Thalayar. Pambar is also a tributary of the Cauvery River. The total drainage area of the Pambar basin within Kerala State is 384 sq. km. The main tributaries of this river are Iravikulam, Mylady, Theerthamala, Chengalar, and Thenar (Vattavada River). Pambar joins with Thenar in Tamil Nadu in Kovikadvu.

43. BHAVANI RIVER 

     Bhavani River is a tributary of the River Cauvery originating from the South West Corner of the Nilgiri hills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu states.  It enters Kerala through Palakkad district between two high forested ridges about 20 km up to Mukkali, after the abrupt turn in the northeast direction through a totally degraded and denuded catchment about 25 km where the whole population of the Attappady valley lies up to Koodappatti. 

44. KABANI RIVER 

     Kabani River originates from Pakramthalam hills in Wayanad district and flows 58 km towards eastern side to the Karnataka state. It is the only one river which flows out of the state to Karnataka state. Makkiyad River, Periya River, Panamaram River and Kalindi River join with Kabani on its way. Panamaram River joins Kabini near Payyampally at Koodal Kadavu. Spot 'Kuruva islands' situated on the banks of the Kabani River.