List of rivers of Kerala

There are 44 major rivers in Kerala, all but three originating in the Western Ghats. 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.

Features
Topography of Kerala

Kerala is wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. Geographically, the state can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands; rugged and cool mountainous terrain, the central mid-lands; rolling hills, and the western lowlands; coastal plains.[1]: 110  The eastern region of Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of the Western Ghats' rain shadow.[1]: 110  41 of Kerala's west-flowing rivers,[2] and 3 of its east-flowing ones originate in this region.[3][4] The 41 west-flowing rivers, each of which having at least a length of 15 km, gradually slopes towards the Arabian Sea coast in the western region and empty either into backwaters or Arabian Sea there.[5] The longer rivers have several tributaries and streams too.[5] The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad; hence also known Palghat, where the Palakkad Gap breaks.[6] The river Bharathappuzha flows through the Palakkad Gap. The 3 east-flowing rivers also originate in Western Ghats, but flow eastwards either into Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.[5]

Kerala's western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries,[7] and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters.[8] Kuttanad, also known as The Rice Bowl of Kerala, has the lowest altitude in India, and is also one of the few places in world where cultivation takes place below sea level.[9][10] The country's longest lake Vembanad, dominates the backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi and is about 200 km2 (77 sq mi) in area.[11] Around eight percent of India's waterways are found in Kerala.[12] Kerala's 44 rivers include the Periyar; 244 kilometres (152 mi), Bharathapuzha; 209 kilometres (130 mi), Pamba; 176 kilometres (109 mi), Chaliyar; 169 kilometres (105 mi), Kadalundipuzha; 130 kilometres (81 mi), Chalakudipuzha; 130 kilometres (81 mi), Valapattanam; 129 kilometres (80 mi) and the Achankovil River; 128 kilometres (80 mi). The average length of the rivers is 64 kilometres (40 mi). Many of the rivers are small and entirely fed by monsoon rain.[13] As Kerala's rivers are small and lacking in delta, they are more prone to environmental effects. The rivers face problems such as sand mining and pollution.[14]

West flowing rivers

This is a list of the westward-flowing rivers of Kerala state in southern India, in order of length, and their tributaries. These rivers all originate in the Western Ghats range and flow westward into the Kerala Backwaters or into the Arabian Sea. Length in kilometers is in parentheses. Kasaragod district have the maximum number of west-flowing rivers in Kerala - 12.[15]

The 244 km long Periyar, known as Choorni in ancient period, is the longest river in Kerala.[5]
Bharathappuzha, the second-longest river of Kerala of which 209 km flows through Kerala, has played a major role in shaping the Culture of Kerala.[16][17]
Kuttanad, the region having least altitude in India, is located on the bank of river Pamba, which is the third-longest river of Kerala with a length of 176 km.[18]
The oldest Teak plantation of the world at Nilambur is situated on the bank of Chaliyar, the fourth-longest river of Kerala (169 km).[19]
The 130 km long Kadalundi River, which empties into the sea near Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, is the fifth-longest river in Kerala.
Athirappilly Falls is situated on the 130 km long Chalakudy River.
  1. Periyar River (244)
    1. Edamala River
    2. Cheruthoni River
    3. Mullayar River
    4. Muthirapuzha River
    5. Perinjankutti River
    6. Ambazhachal River
    7. Kaniyampuzha River
    8. Muttar River
    9. Panniyar
  2. Bharatapuzha River (209)
    1. Thuthapuzha River
    2. Kanjirappuzha
    3. Gayathripuzha River
    4. Kalpathipuzha River
    5. Kannadipuzha River
  3. Pamba River (176)
    1. Azhuthayar
    2. Kakkiyar
    3. Kakkattar
    4. Kallar
    5. Perunthenaruvi
    6. Madatharuvi
    7. Thanungattilthodu
    8. Kozhithodu
    9. Varattar
    10. Utharappalli River
    11. Kuttemperoor
  4. Chaliyar River (169)
    1. Cherupuzha (Mavoor)
    2. Iruvanjippuzha
    3. Thottumukkam River
    4. Kuthirappuzha
    5. Kuruvanpuzha
    6. Karimpuzha
    7. Pandippuzha
    8. Neerppuzha
  5. Chalakudy River (145)
    1. Parambikulam River
  6. Kadalundy River (130)
  7. Achankoil River (128)
    1. Utharappalli River
  8. Kallada River (121)
  9. Muvattupuzha River (121)
    1. Thodupuzha River
    2. Kothayar River
    3. Kaliyar River
    4. Kariyar River
    5. Thevalakkadu River
    6. Uzhavoor River
  10. Valapattanam River (110)
    1. Bavali River
    2. Pulloopi River
    3. Payyavoor River
    4. Mundayapuzha River
    5. Veni River
    6. Aralam River
  11. Chandragiri River (105)
    1. Kudumbur River
  12. Manimala River (90)
  13. Vamanapuram River (88)
  14. Kuppam River (88)
    1. Kuttikol River
  15. Meenachil River (78)
    1. Meenachal River
    2. Kodoor River
    3. Karapuzha River
    4. Pulinackal River
    5. Moorkankavu River
  16. Kuttiyadi River (74)
  17. Karamana River (68)
  18. Shiriya River (68)
  19. Kariangode River (64)
    1. Chaithravahini River
  20. Ithikkara River (56)
  21. Neyyar River (56)
  22. Mahe River (54)
    1. Mundathode River
  23. Keecheri River (51)
  24. Perumba River (51)
    1. Vayalapra River
  25. Uppala River (50)
  26. Karuvannur River (48)
    1. Kurumali River
    2. Manali River
  27. Anjarakandy River (48)
  28. Tirur River (48)
  29. Neeleshwaram River (46)
  30. Pallikkal River (42)
  31. Kallayi River (40)
  32. Korapuzha River (40)
  33. Mogral River (34)
  34. Kavvayi River (31)
    1. Kankol
    2. Vannathichal
    3. Kuppithodu
    4. Kuniyan
  35. Thanikkudam River (29)
  36. Thalassery River (28)
    1. Ummanchira River
  37. Mamam river (27)
  38. Chithari River (25)
  39. Ramapuram River (19)
  40. Ayiroor River (17)
  41. Manjeswaram River (16)

East flowing rivers
The east-flowing Bhavani River flows near Silent Valley National Park.

There are three rivers rise in Kerala and flow eastwards, Kabini into Karnataka and the other two into Tamil Nadu. All the three rivers ultimately join the Kaveri river.

  1. Kabani (57)
  2. Bhavani (38)
  3. Pambar (25)

See also

References
  1. Srikumar Chattopadhyay; Richard W. Franke (2006). Striving for Sustainability: Environmental Stress and Democratic Initiatives in Kerala. ISBN 978-8180692949. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. S. N. Sadasivan (2003). River Disputes in India: Kerala Rivers Under Siege. Mittal Publications. p. 223. ISBN 978-8170999133. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. Pratiyogita Darpan (September 2006). Pratiyogita Darpan. Pratiyogita Darpan. p. 72. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. Motilal (UK) Books of India (2008). Tourist Guide Kerala. Sura Books. p. 11. ISBN 978-8174781642. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  5. Chandran 2018, p. 341.
  6. Chandran Nair, Dr.S.Sathis. "India – Silent Valley Rainforest Under Threat Once More". rainforestinfo.org.au. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  7. Danny Moss (2010). Public Relations Cases: International Perspectives. Taylor & Francis. p. 41. ISBN 978-0415773362. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  8. Edgar Thorpe (2012). The Pearson CSAT Manual 2012. Pearson Education India. p. 3. ISBN 978-8131767344. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  9. Press Trust of India (1 June 2020). "Kerala Boat Ferries Lone Passenger To Help Her Take Exam". NDTV. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  10. Suchitra, M (13 August 2003). "Thirst below sea level". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  11. Majid Husain (2011). Understanding: Geographical: Map Entries: for Civil Services Examinations: Second Edition. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 9. ISBN 978-0070702882. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  12. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI—Ministry of Shipping) (2005). "Introduction to Inland Water Transport". IWAI (Ministry of Shipping). Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 19 January 2006.
  13. India., Planning Commission (2008). Kerala Development Report. Academic Foundation. p. 224. ISBN 978-8171885947.
  14. Padmalal D, Maya K, Sreebha S & Sreeja R, (2007), "Environmental effects of river sand mining: a case from the river catchments of Vembanad lake, Southwest coast of India", Environmental Geology 54(4), 879–89. springerlink.com. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  15. Chandran 2018, p. 448.
  16. Binoy, Rasmi (27 September 2018). "The river sutra". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  17. Menon, A. Sreedhara (2007). A Survey of Kerala History. DC Books. ISBN 9788126415786.
  18. Chandran 2018, p. 342.
  19. "Oldest teak plantation, Conolly's Plot, to reopen after maintenance". Mathrubhumi. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2020.

Notes
  • Chandran, VP (2018). Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019 (Malayalam Edition). Kozhikode: P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode.
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