Bhavani River
Encyclopedia
The Bhavani is the second largest river in Tamil Nadu
, South India
and a major tributary of the Kaveri River
, the longest river in Tamil Nadu.
The main river courses through entire of the North-Western Erode district
of Tamil Nadu. About 90 per cent of the river's water is used for agriculture irrigation
. 6 million people live along its banks. Textile, leather, sugar, paper, slaughterhouse and distilling industries are located along the river and its tributaries at many points.
Industrial, municipal and agricultural pollution of the river results in poor water quality and negative impacts on the health of people, plants and animals dependent on the river water.
It gets reinforced by The Kunda river coming from the north. The Kunda drains an extensive part of the Nilgiris and forms the boundary between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for 5 km. It joins the Bhavani on its left bank in western Tamil Nadu at a place called Athikadavu. The Siruvani river a perennial stream of Coimbatore District
and the Kodungarapallam river, flowing from the south and southeast respectively join the Bhavani at Koodappatti on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
Thereafter Bhavani flows east along the base of Nilgiris and enters the plains near Arulmigu Bathra-Kaliamman Temple near Mettupalayam and is joined by the Coonoor River coming from Coonoor
to the northwest. 30 km downstream, at Kothamangalam the Moyar River, a major tributary originating in Mudumalai National Park
, flows in from the northwest, where it drains the valley between the northern slopes of the Nilgiris and the southern slopes of the Bilgiri Hills. After the Moyar it is blocked by the Lower Bhavani Dam
, creating the Bhavanisagar reservoir near Sathyamangalam
in Erode District
.
The river continues east for over 160 km. through Erode District, traversing Kodiveri Dam, near Gobichettipalayam
and Bhavani taluks, before merging with the Cauvery.
The Bhavani flows due east past the town of Sathyamangalam
. Near Gobichettipalayam
, the Kodiveri dam feeds the Arakkankottai and Thadappalli canals constructed for agricultural purposes.
Just a small distance before it joins cauvery a small barrage across the river was built by Kalingarayan in 1283 AD. to feed the 56-mile-long Kalingarayan irrigation canal. The Noyyal River
joins at Aavudaiaaparai.
The Bhavani joins the Kaveri at the Northern part of Erode
City near Bhavani
. The Sri Sangameswarar Temple at the confluence of the two rivers is an important pilgrimage spot.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
and a major tributary of the Kaveri River
Kaveri River
The Kaveri , also spelled Cauvery in English, is a large Indian river. The origin of the river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the...
, the longest river in Tamil Nadu.
Description
The Bhavani is a 217 km. long perennial river fed mostly by the southwest monsoon and supplemented by the northeast monsoon. Its watershed drains an area of 6,200 km² spread over Tamil Nadu (87%), Kerala (9%) and Karnataka (4%).The main river courses through entire of the North-Western Erode district
Erode District
Erode District is a western district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with Erode as its headquarters. Until the year 1996, Erode district was called as Periyar District....
of Tamil Nadu. About 90 per cent of the river's water is used for agriculture irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. 6 million people live along its banks. Textile, leather, sugar, paper, slaughterhouse and distilling industries are located along the river and its tributaries at many points.
Industrial, municipal and agricultural pollution of the river results in poor water quality and negative impacts on the health of people, plants and animals dependent on the river water.
Tributaries
12 major rivulets join Bhavani draining the southern Nilgiri slopes. The west and East Varagar tributaries coming from the Nilgiris are the largest and each have dams in Tamil Nadu. At Mukkali, Bhavani takes an abrupt 120° turn towards the northeast and flows for another 25 km through Attappady plateau and for 7 km. along the inter-State borderIt gets reinforced by The Kunda river coming from the north. The Kunda drains an extensive part of the Nilgiris and forms the boundary between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for 5 km. It joins the Bhavani on its left bank in western Tamil Nadu at a place called Athikadavu. The Siruvani river a perennial stream of Coimbatore District
Coimbatore District
Coimbatore District is one of the more affluent and industrially advanced districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is known as the Manchester of South India. It one of the most industrialized towns of Tamil Nadu. It has the highest GDP among the districts of Tamil Nadu, even ahead...
and the Kodungarapallam river, flowing from the south and southeast respectively join the Bhavani at Koodappatti on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
Thereafter Bhavani flows east along the base of Nilgiris and enters the plains near Arulmigu Bathra-Kaliamman Temple near Mettupalayam and is joined by the Coonoor River coming from Coonoor
Coonoor
Coonoor is a town and a municipality in the Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for its production of Nilgiri tea....
to the northwest. 30 km downstream, at Kothamangalam the Moyar River, a major tributary originating in Mudumalai National Park
Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil:முதுமலை வனவிலங்கு காப்பகம், now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills , in Nilgiri District, about north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with...
, flows in from the northwest, where it drains the valley between the northern slopes of the Nilgiris and the southern slopes of the Bilgiri Hills. After the Moyar it is blocked by the Lower Bhavani Dam
Bhavanisagar Dam
The Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir, also called Lower Bhavani Dam, is located on the Bhavani River between Mettupalayam and Sathyamangalam in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, South India...
, creating the Bhavanisagar reservoir near Sathyamangalam
Sathyamangalam
Sathyamangalam or Sathy is a small city and taluk in Erode district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on both banks of the Bhavani River, a tributary of the Kaveri in the foothills of the Western Ghats...
in Erode District
Erode District
Erode District is a western district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, with Erode as its headquarters. Until the year 1996, Erode district was called as Periyar District....
.
The river continues east for over 160 km. through Erode District, traversing Kodiveri Dam, near Gobichettipalayam
Gobichettipalayam
Gobi or Gobichettipalayam is a Municipality in Erode District of Tamil Nadu state, India. A major part of present Gobichettipalayam was previously known as Veerapandi Gramam, and documents and records still use that name. Gobichettipalayam is an important city in the North- Western part of Erode...
and Bhavani taluks, before merging with the Cauvery.
The Bhavani flows due east past the town of Sathyamangalam
Sathyamangalam
Sathyamangalam or Sathy is a small city and taluk in Erode district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on both banks of the Bhavani River, a tributary of the Kaveri in the foothills of the Western Ghats...
. Near Gobichettipalayam
Gobichettipalayam
Gobi or Gobichettipalayam is a Municipality in Erode District of Tamil Nadu state, India. A major part of present Gobichettipalayam was previously known as Veerapandi Gramam, and documents and records still use that name. Gobichettipalayam is an important city in the North- Western part of Erode...
, the Kodiveri dam feeds the Arakkankottai and Thadappalli canals constructed for agricultural purposes.
Just a small distance before it joins cauvery a small barrage across the river was built by Kalingarayan in 1283 AD. to feed the 56-mile-long Kalingarayan irrigation canal. The Noyyal River
Noyyal River
The Noyyal River rises from the Vellingiri hills in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, southeastern India and drains into the Kaveri River. The river's basin is long and wide and covers a total area of . Cultivated land in the basin amounts to while the population density is 120 people per km² ...
joins at Aavudaiaaparai.
The Bhavani joins the Kaveri at the Northern part of Erode
Erode
Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...
City near Bhavani
Bhavani, Tamil Nadu
Bhavani is a special grade Municipal area in Erode Urban Agglomeration, Tamil Nadu, India. It is being the Twin City of Erode, lies immediately next to the Erode City Municipal Corporation, like Palayamkottai - Tirunelveli and Srirangam - Tiruchirapalli.It is a peninsular island area situated at...
. The Sri Sangameswarar Temple at the confluence of the two rivers is an important pilgrimage spot.