RIVERS IN KERALA

There are 44 rivers in Kerala, all but three originating in the Western Ghats.^[1] 41 of them flow westward and 3 eastward. The rivers of Kerala are small, in terms of length, breadth and water discharge. The rivers flow faster, owing to the hilly terrain and as the short distance between the Western Ghats and the sea. All the rivers are entirely monsoon-fed and many of them shrink into rivulets or dry up completely during summer.

Periyar River

It originates in the Sivagiri hills along the border of Kerala-Tamilnadu. It is the first largest river in Kerala.It flows into the Vembanattu Lake and to the Arabian Sea. The birth place of Shri.Sankaracharya, Kalady, and the famous church at Malayatur is in the banks of Periyar.

The famous festival Mahasivarathri is celebrated at the beds of this river. The Thattekadu Birds Sanctuary is situated in the banks of river. The famous Wildlife Sanctuary and Tourist place Thekkady is situated at the side of Mullaperiyar Dam. The largest Hydro Electric Project Idukki and the Arch Dam at Idukki are from this river. The Pallivasal, the Chenkulam, the Panniyar, the Neriyamangalam and the Lower Periyar are the other Hydro Electric Projects in Periyar.

The important dams of the river are the Mullaperiyar, the Bhuthathankettu, the Kundalam, the Mattupetty, the Munnar, the Idukki, the Cheruthoni, the Kulamavu, the Irattayar, the Lower Periyar, the Edamalayar, the Chenkulam, the Anayirangal and the Ponmudi.

Moggral

It originates from the black forests of Nathoorkarathka in the Kasargode district, flows through Yathir, Mathur, and Patla and merges in the Arabian Sea. 

Chittaripuzha

It is a combination of the small rivers from Cherambe, Thayakolam, and Pulloor in the Kasargode district and merges in the Arabian sea. 

Manjeshwarampuzha

It originates in the northern boundaries of Kerala in the Kasargode district. It flows through the villages of Pavoori and Badajay, then turns west and merges with the right bank of the Upplayar.  

Upplayar

It originates from Veerakamba hills in the Karnataka State, flows through the Kasargode Taluk and merges in the Arabian Sea.  

Chandragiri

It is one of the most important rivers in Kasargode Taluk in Kerala. The important tributary river is Payaswani. It originates from Pattihatu forest in Karnataka State, flows through the west and combines with Machipuram and finally merges in the Arabian Sea.  

Neeleshwaram

It originates in the Hosdurg taluk of the Kasargode district and is the main source for the Kariyankode. On the south west of the Neelaeshwaram town, near Achanthuruthu, at a place called Kottapuram it meets the Kariyankode river. 

Valapattanam

It originates in the Brahmagiri forests of Kodagu district in Karnataka State, flows through the west and combines with Kuppam River and finally merges in the Arabian Sea. The Tributary Rivers are Srikandapuram, Valiyapuzha, Bharapuzha, Venipuzha and Aralampuzha. The largest Irrigation Project, Pazhassi Project is situated in the bank of Valapattanam River.  

Thalasseri River

It originates in the western cliffs of government forests of Kunnoth in the Kannur district. It reaches the Arabian sea at the north in Mannayad. 

Peruvambayaru

It originates in the Western Ghats near Wayakkara village in Kannur district. It flows through the west of Peringgoni, Kuttur, Mathamangalam, and Kunchimangalam and reaches Ezhimala and divided into two-one into the Kowvayi canal and the other into the Arabian Sea.  

Ramapurampuzha

It originates in the Irringal village in the Western Ghats of Kannur district, flows through Pariyaram, Kolapaduvayal, Cheruthazam and Madayi into the Kowvayi canal. 

Mahe River

Also called the Maiyazhipuzha, It originates in the Wayanad Mountains in the Western Ghats and flows south-west into the Arabian Sea. 

Kuttiyadipuzha

Also called the Murad River, It originates in the Wayanad Mountains in the Western Ghats and flows through Caracara, Quilandy and Kozhikode into the Arabian sea at Kotakkal in the south west of Vadakara. Kuttyadi Hydro Electric Project is situated in this river and Kuttyadi irrigation project is also situated in this river. 

Peruvambayaru

It originates in the Western Ghats near Wayakkara village in Kannur district. It flows through the west of Peringgoni, Kuttur, Mathamangalam, and Kunchimangalam and reaches Ezhimala and divided into two-one into the Kowvayi canal and the other into the Arabian Sea.  

Chaliyar

The most important River in Kerala, It originates in the Elambalari hills of Neelagiri district in Tamil Nadu State. The tributary of the river are Cholapuzha, Cherupuzha, Chalipuzha, Punnapuzha, Pandiyar, Karimpuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Kurumbanpuzha, Vadapurampuzha, Irrinjipuzha and Iruthullipuzha.It flows through the Nilambur, Mumbad, Edavanna, Arikode, Vazhakadu and Farokke and finally merges in the Arabian Sea. It is also known as Beypur River.  

Kadalundipuzha

It is a large river flowing through the Malappuram district. It is the combination of the Ollipuzha and Veliyar rivers. It is also called the "Karimpuzha' or 'Oravanpuram Puzha' and reaches the Arabian Sea at Kadalundi. 

Bharathapuzha

It originates in the Anamalai of Tamilnadu, flows through the district of Coimbatore, Palghat, Malapuram, Thishivaperur and reaches the Arabian Sea at Ponani. It is the second largest rivers in Kerala. The important tributaries of the river are Gayathri River, Kannadi River, Kalpathi River and Thutha River. It is also known as Ponnaniyar. The irrigation projects of Bharathapuzha are the Mangalam Project, the Pothundi Project, the Gayathri Project, the Malampuzha Project, the Valayar Project, the Cheerakuzhi Project, the Chitoor Project and the Kanjirapuzha Project.  

Chalakudy River

It originates in the Anamalai region of Tamilnadu and is actually the collection of the falls from Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam. The famous Waterfalls Athirapally and Vazhachal is situated in the banks of river. The famous Hydro Electric Projects in Chalakkudy River are the Sholayar Hydro Electric Project and the Peringalkuttu Hydro Electric Project. The Chalakkudy Dam is situated in this river. It merges with the Periyar River at the village of Puthanvelikkara in Ernakulam.  

Muvattupuzha River

It originates in Idukki district, flows through Ernakulam district to merge into Vembanattu Lake and to the Arabian Sea. It is the combination of Thodupuzha River, Kaliyar River and Kothamangalam River. There is a Dam constructed for Irrigation purpose and for small Hydro Electric Project at Malankara near Thodupuzha. The famous Thommankuthu Waterfall is in this river. 

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