Bharathappuzha
Encyclopedia
Bharathappuzha also known as River Nila, is a river in India
in the state
of Kerala
. 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. Nila has groomed the culture and life of south Malabar part of Kerala. We see the name "Peraar" indicating the same river in ancient scripts and documents.
in the Western Ghats
, and flows westward through Palakkad Gap
, across Palakkad
, Thrissur
and Malappuram districts of Kerala, with many tributaries
joining it, including the Tirur River
. For the first 40 km or so, the Bharathappuzha follows an almost northerly course till Pollachi
. At Parli both Kannadippuzha and Kalpathippuza merge and flow as Bharathappuzha and follows a westerly course until it empties into the Arabian Sea
at Ponnani
. Thootha River merges with Nila at Pallippuram. As Thootha river is rich in water, after its merger, Nila
becomes thicker in flow.
The river is not navigable along most of its course except the small stretch where it joins the sea. With a watershed
of 6,186 km², Bharathapuzha basin is the largest among all the river basins in Kerala. A little more than two-thirds of this area (4400 km²) is within Kerala and the remaining area (1786 km²) is in Tamil Nadu. Though Bharathapuzha has a large basin, the water flow is relatively less compared to other long rivers in Kerala because a large portion of the basin is located in the comparatively drier regions (Tamil Nadu and Palakkad Gap). The construction of a number of dams after independence
has also reduced the river flow. In fact in the summer
months, there is almost no flow in most parts of the river. The river is the Nile
of Kerala and has the name Nila
also.
The Bharathappuzha is the lifeline of many cities and villages; (in Chittur, Bharathappuzha is known as "Sokanasini", this name was given by Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan), (Chittur-Thathamangalam,) (Kodumbu-Thiruvalathur) Palakkad
, (Parli-Kottayi), (Mankara-Perigottukurissi ), (Lakkidi-ThiruvilwamalaKillikkurussimangalam
, Ottappalam, Shoranur
, Cheruthuruthy Pattambi
, Thrithala
, Thiruvegappura
, Kudallur
, Pallipuram and Kumbidi. The village of Parudur
, including the town of Pallipuram, stand near the confluence of this river and the River Thootha or, simply, Thuthapuzha
.
The Bharathappuzha is extensively dammed and there are 11 reservoirs along the course of the river, and two more are under construction. Malampuzha
dam is the largest among the reservoirs built across Bharathapuzha and its tributaries. Other dams in the Bharathapuzha basin are: Walayar dam, Mangalam dam, Pothundi dam, Meenkara dam, Chulliyar dam, Thirumoorthy,Aliyar,Upper Aliyar, Chitturpuzha regulator and Kanhirappuzha dam. Most of these reservoirs serve the purpose of irrigation only. A total area of 773 km² is irrigated by these irrigation projects. One irrigation dam at Chittur in Attappadi Hills is under construction. The construction of these two dams will increase the area irrigated by another 542 km².
Another major project is the Regulator cum bridge at Thrithala built on the Velliyankallu bridge inaugurated by Kerala Chiefminister VS Achyudanandan. The bridge connects the two villages Pallippuram
and Thrithala
. The main objective of the regulator is drinking watersupply. The water supply projects towards Thrissur district has already started. The shutter height of the regulator is 5 m and it can contain a huge quantity of water. Also the new bridge reduces the distance from Thrissur
to Kozhikode
by 11 km. This project is the largest in Bharathappuzha in last many decades.
Kerala Kalamandalam
, which is a major center for learning Indian performing arts like Kathakali
, Koodiyattam
and Ottamthullal
, is situated at Cheruthuruty on the banks of this river—in Thrissur district. The birth place of famous Malayalam satire poet and founder of the Ottamthullal art form, Kunchan Nambiar is located at Killikkurissimangalam near Lakkidi, again on the banks of the Nila. Many leading Malayalam writers who were born along its banks include M. T. Vasudevan Nair
, M. Govindan
, VKN, O.V. Vijayan, (M.Sukumaran). Late poet P. Kunhiraman Nair
, a native of north Malabar, drew literary inspiration from the scenic beauty of the landscape along the Bharatapuzha.
There are a number of famous Hindu temples like Thiruvilwamala
Sree Rama
Temple, Thirunavaya
Navamukunda
Temple, Chamravattam Ayyappa Temple and Panniyur Sree Varahamurthy temple are on the bank of Nila.
Legend says that those cremated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha achieve salvation. It is also one of the important places in the state where the sons pay homage to their late fathers by conducting a Pithru Tharpanam ritual on the Karkidaka Vavu day. Some of the famous persons cremated here include literary personalities like O V Vijayan and VKN.
Sorted in order from the mouth heading upstream.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. With a length of 209 km, it is the second-longest river in Kerala, after the Periyar River
Periyar River
Periyar is the longest river in the state of Kerala, India, with a length of 244 km. The Periyar is known as the lifeline of Kerala; it is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns...
. The word "Nila" indicates the culture more than just a river. Nila has groomed the culture and life of south Malabar part of Kerala. We see the name "Peraar" indicating the same river in ancient scripts and documents.
Course
The headwaters of main tributary of Bharathappuzha originates in the Anaimalai HillsAnaimalai Hills
The Anaimalai Hills is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Ana' meaning elephant and 'Mala' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, , located in the...
in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, and flows westward through Palakkad Gap
Palakkad Gap
Palakkad Gap is a 30-40 kilometers wide low mountain pass in the Western Ghats, near Palakkad town in the South Indian State of Kerala. It has an elevation of . The hills rise to 1100m to the North of the gap, and 2000m to the South. The average height of the gap is 144m.The gap is the lowest...
, across Palakkad
Palakkad district
Palakkad District is one of the 14 districts of the Indian state of Kerala. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District, on the southwest by the Thrissur District and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The...
, Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
and Malappuram districts of Kerala, with many tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
joining it, including the Tirur River
Tirur River
Tirur River begins in the Tirur taluk village of Athvanad in the Malappuram district of the state of Kerala in south India and flows south-west to Thiruvnavaya and then north-west to Elamkulam where it turns south-west, joining the Bharathapuzha River which flows into the Arabian Sea near the...
. For the first 40 km or so, the Bharathappuzha follows an almost northerly course till Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
. At Parli both Kannadippuzha and Kalpathippuza merge and flow as Bharathappuzha and follows a westerly course until it empties into the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
at Ponnani
Ponnani
Ponnani/Ponani is an ancient port, a coastal town and a municipality in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 9.32 km2. Ponnani taluk is the smallest Taluk in Malappuram district. This tiny, picturesque town is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west...
. Thootha River merges with Nila at Pallippuram. As Thootha river is rich in water, after its merger, Nila
Nila
Nila can refer to:* Nila River or Bharathapuzha, is a river in the Indian state of Kerala.* Nila Håkedal* Meera Chopra - a.k.a Nila, a South Indian actress* Pulau Nila, a small Indonesian volcanic island in the Banda Sea...
becomes thicker in flow.
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 6,186 km², Bharathapuzha basin is the largest among all the river basins in Kerala. A little more than two-thirds of this area (4400 km²) is within Kerala and the remaining area (1786 km²) is in Tamil Nadu. Though Bharathapuzha has a large basin, the water flow is relatively less compared to other long rivers in Kerala because a large portion of the basin is located in the comparatively drier regions (Tamil Nadu and Palakkad Gap). The construction of a number of dams after independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
has also reduced the river flow. In fact in the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
months, there is almost no flow in most parts of the river. The river is the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
of Kerala and has the name Nila
Nila
Nila can refer to:* Nila River or Bharathapuzha, is a river in the Indian state of Kerala.* Nila Håkedal* Meera Chopra - a.k.a Nila, a South Indian actress* Pulau Nila, a small Indonesian volcanic island in the Banda Sea...
also.
The Bharathappuzha is the lifeline of many cities and villages; (in Chittur, Bharathappuzha is known as "Sokanasini", this name was given by Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan), (Chittur-Thathamangalam,) (Kodumbu-Thiruvalathur) Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
, (Parli-Kottayi), (Mankara-Perigottukurissi ), (Lakkidi-ThiruvilwamalaKillikkurussimangalam
Killikkurussimangalam
Killikkurussimangalam is a village around eight km from nearby town Ottappalam in Palakkad district of Kerala, south India. The river Nila flows through the southern border of Lakkidi....
, Ottappalam, Shoranur
Shoranur
Shoranur is a town and a municipality in Palakkad district, Kerala,located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River spread over an area of 32.28 km2.it is a major transport hub , having the largest railway station in the state .Kerala Kalamandalam which is the premier centre for the learning...
, Cheruthuruthy Pattambi
Pattambi
Pattambi is one of the major town in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala, South India. The place got its name from Batta Nambi. Once under Nedunganad Samanthas of Chera Kings. Later on Zamoothiri Raja annexed this place to his country and kept under the control of Eralpad Raja, the second...
, Thrithala
Thrithala
Thrithala is a village in Ottappalam taluk in Palakkad District of Kerala state, South India. The village is located along the banks of Bharathapuzha and is famed for its Shiva temple.-Legends:...
, Thiruvegappura
Thiruvegappura
Thiruvegappura is a Valluvanad village on the bank of river Thutha, a tributary to the Bharathapuzha River, serving as the gateway to Palakkad District, for inboard traffic from the northern Malabar districts of Kerala....
, Kudallur
Kudallur
For the town in Tamil Nadu,see Gudalur.Kudallur is in the Palakkad district of Kerala. It is in Ottappalam taluk, bordering Malappuram district, also on the banks of Bharathapuzha. This village was originally in Ponnani taluk of Palakkad, before the formation of Malappuram district. The place is...
, Pallipuram and Kumbidi. The village of Parudur
Parudur
-Demographics: India census, Parudur had a population of 24345 with 11572 males and 12773 females....
, including the town of Pallipuram, stand near the confluence of this river and the River Thootha or, simply, Thuthapuzha
Thuthapuzha
Thuthapuzha River is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. Kunthipuzha that flows through the Silent Valley is one of its tributaries...
.
Irrigation projects
Malampuzha
Malampuzha is a mini hydoro-electric project built across Malampuzha river in Palakkad district of Kerala, South India. It is also the biggest irrigation project in Kerala with a large network of canal systems...
dam is the largest among the reservoirs built across Bharathapuzha and its tributaries. Other dams in the Bharathapuzha basin are: Walayar dam, Mangalam dam, Pothundi dam, Meenkara dam, Chulliyar dam, Thirumoorthy,Aliyar,Upper Aliyar, Chitturpuzha regulator and Kanhirappuzha dam. Most of these reservoirs serve the purpose of irrigation only. A total area of 773 km² is irrigated by these irrigation projects. One irrigation dam at Chittur in Attappadi Hills is under construction. The construction of these two dams will increase the area irrigated by another 542 km².
Another major project is the Regulator cum bridge at Thrithala built on the Velliyankallu bridge inaugurated by Kerala Chiefminister VS Achyudanandan. The bridge connects the two villages Pallippuram
Pallippuram
Pallippuram may refer to the following places in the state of Kerala, in India:*Pallippuram, Palakkad*Pallippuram, Ernakulam*Pallippuram, Alappuzha*Pallippuram, Thiruvananthapuram...
and Thrithala
Thrithala
Thrithala is a village in Ottappalam taluk in Palakkad District of Kerala state, South India. The village is located along the banks of Bharathapuzha and is famed for its Shiva temple.-Legends:...
. The main objective of the regulator is drinking watersupply. The water supply projects towards Thrissur district has already started. The shutter height of the regulator is 5 m and it can contain a huge quantity of water. Also the new bridge reduces the distance from Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
to Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
by 11 km. This project is the largest in Bharathappuzha in last many decades.
Cultural Significance
Bharathappuzha is the lifeline of Kerala's cultural map.Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam , lately renamed as Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture, is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of India, with the special emphasis on Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in...
, which is a major center for learning Indian performing arts like Kathakali
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
, Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old...
and Ottamthullal
Ottamthullal
Ottamthullal or Ottanthullal is a type of performing art from Kerala, India. The art form was created during the 18th century by legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar...
, is situated at Cheruthuruty on the banks of this river—in Thrissur district. The birth place of famous Malayalam satire poet and founder of the Ottamthullal art form, Kunchan Nambiar is located at Killikkurissimangalam near Lakkidi, again on the banks of the Nila. Many leading Malayalam writers who were born along its banks include M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
, M. Govindan
M. Govindan
M.Govindan was a famous writer and cultural activist of Kerala. India.He was born in Ponnani in Malappuram district on September 18, 1919. He joined the freedom struggle while studying in high school class and could not complete his studies. He went to Madras and settled there. In 1944 he joined...
, VKN, O.V. Vijayan, (M.Sukumaran). Late poet P. Kunhiraman Nair
P. Kunhiraman Nair
P. Kunhiraman Nair , also known as Mahakavi P, was a renowned Malayalam poet whose works romanticised the natural beauty of his home state of Kerala in southern India and juxtaposed it with the hard realities of his life and times.Born in Bellikoth near Kanhangad of North Malabar, P., as he is...
, a native of north Malabar, drew literary inspiration from the scenic beauty of the landscape along the Bharatapuzha.
There are a number of famous Hindu temples like Thiruvilwamala
Thiruvilwamala
Thiruvilwamala, also spelt Thiruvilluamala, is a hilly village in the northern terrain of Thrissur district of Kerala state in southern India.The village, which is more of a temple town, is located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river, with nearest towns being Shoranur and Ottappalam. The place...
Sree Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
Temple, Thirunavaya
Thirunavaya Temple
Tirunavaya Temple is a historically significant ancient Hindu temple on the banks of the River Bharata dedicated to Nava Mukundan Vishnu with the other deities like Ganesha, and Lakshmi. It is located near the ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre of Tirunavaya, a village 8 km south of Tirur in the...
Navamukunda
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
Temple, Chamravattam Ayyappa Temple and Panniyur Sree Varahamurthy temple are on the bank of Nila.
Legend says that those cremated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha achieve salvation. It is also one of the important places in the state where the sons pay homage to their late fathers by conducting a Pithru Tharpanam ritual on the Karkidaka Vavu day. Some of the famous persons cremated here include literary personalities like O V Vijayan and VKN.
Tributaries
- ThuthapuzhaThuthapuzhaThuthapuzha River is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. Kunthipuzha that flows through the Silent Valley is one of its tributaries...
- Kunthippuzha
- KanjirappuzhaKanjirappuzhaKanjirappuzha River is one of the tributaries of the river Thuthapuzha. Thuthapuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-See also:*Bharathapuzha - Main river...
- AmbankadavuAmbankadavuAmbankadavu River is one of the tributaries of the river Thuthapuzha which, in turn, is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, South India.-Other tributaries of the river Thuthapuzha:*Kunthipuzha...
- Thuppanadupuzha
- GayathripuzhaGayathripuzhaGayathripuzha River is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. It originates from Anaimalai hills, passes through Kollengode, Nanmara, Alathur, Wadakanchery and Pazhayannur before joining the Bharathapuzha at Mayannur.-Other...
- Mangalam riverMangalam riverMangalam River is one of the tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha. Gayathripuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, India....
- AyalurpuzhaAyalurpuzhaAyalurpuzha River is one of the tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha. Gayathripuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-Other tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha:...
- VandazhippuzhaVandazhippuzhaVandazhippuzha River is one of the tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha. Gayathripuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-See also:*Bharathapuzha - Main river...
- MeenkarappuzhaMeenkarappuzhaMeenkarappuzha River is one of the tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha. Gayathripuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India....
- ChulliyarChulliyarChulliyar River is one of the tributaries of the river Gayathripuzha. Gayathripuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. . This is the southern part of the Palakkad Gap...
- Mangalam river
- KalpathipuzhaKalpathipuzhaKalpathipuzha River is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.The Kalpathipuzha originates in the upper slopes of the Western Ghats deep inside Palakkad district from the place called Chenthamarakulam in the hills, north of Walayar...
- KorayarKorayarKorayar River is one of the tributaries of the river Kalpathipuzha. Kalpathipuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-See also:*Bharathapuzha - Main river...
- VarattarVarattarVarattar River is one of the tributaries of the river Kalpathipuzha. Kalpathipuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-See also:*Bharathapuzha River - Main river...
- WalayarWalayarWalayar is a small developing town, located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It is situated in the border between the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu on NH 47 where the sales tax, motor vehicles check post, and excise check posts are located...
- MalampuzhaMalampuzha RiverMalampuzha River is one of the tributaries of the river Kalpathipuzha. Malampuzha Dam is built across the river at Malampuzha about 8 km from the Palakkad town in the Indian state of Kerala. The reservoir formed by the Malampuzha Dam is 23.13 square kilometres in area and is the second largest...
- Korayar
- KannadipuzhaKannadipuzhaKannadipuzha River is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.The Kannadipuzha originates in the fothills of the Anamalai hills in the eastern fringes of Palakkad district of Kerala. It flows through the southern borders of Palakkad...
- Palar
- AliyarAliyarAliyar is one of the tributaries of the river Kannadipuzha. Kannadipuzha is one of the main tributaries of the river Bharathapuzha, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.- See also :*Bharathapuzha - Main river...
- UpparUpparUppar is one of the tributaries of the river Kannadipuzha. Kannadipuzha is one of the main tributaries of the river Bharathapuzha, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India.-See also:*Bharathapuzha - Main river...