Kerala has a lot of water resources, such as breathtaking waterfalls, gorgeous beaches, rivers, and dams. These are the factors that contribute to Kerala attracting tourists from all over the world. We shall look at one of such water resources – rivers in Kerala – in this article. These Kerala rivers benefit Kerala residents in a variety of ways, including boating, tourism, and dam construction. However, in this section, we will go through several of Kerala’s rivers in further depth. Kerala is endowed with numerous river streams that flow from the Sahyadri Hills (Western Ghats), turning the area fertile and turning it from dark to green. In this article, we have mentioned the Names of Rivers in Kerala.
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Names of Rivers in Kerala
There are 44 rivers in all that adorn this area before merging to plunge into the vast Arabian Sea or from the famous backwaters. These rivers not only irrigate the land, but also serve as a vital medium of trade and business, tourism, and the religious soul of the state. Kerala has 44 major rivers, 41 of which flow west and three of which flow east. The Sahyadri hills are the source of all of these rivers. The longest river in Kerala is the Periyar, followed by the Bharathapuzha and the Pampa. Here is a full list of all 44 rivers in Kerala, including their names, districts through which they run, main tributaries, and length. Let us have a look at some of the important rivers in Kerala and then get a complete list of the number of rivers in Kerala.
Here are some names of rivers in Kerala in Malayalam as well.
West Flowing Rivers in Kerala
The following is a list of the westward-flowing rivers and tributaries of Kerala state in southern India, in order of length. These rivers all flow westward from the Western Ghats range into the Kerala Backwaters or the Arabian Sea. The length in kilometres is shown in parentheses. Here are the west-flowing rivers in Kerala names.
1. Periyar River | പെരിയാർ നദി
Periyar (meaning “great river”) is a river in India that runs through the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is one of the region’s few perennial rivers, supplying drinking water to numerous large cities. The river flows mostly in Kerala and supplies a large amount of the state’s electricity through the Idukki Dam. Because of these factors, the river has been dubbed the “Lifeline of Kerala.” It is Kerala’s longest river and has the highest discharge potential. Its significant tributaries are the Muthirapuzha River, the Mullayar River, the Cheruthoni River, the Perinjankutti River, and the Edamala River. Muthayar, Perunthuraiar, Chinnar, Cheruthony, and Kattappanayar are minor tributaries.
2. Bharathappuzha River | ഭരത്തപ്പുഴ നദി
Bharathappuzha (“River of Bharata”), commonly known as the River Nila, is a river in Kerala, India. It is the second-longest river in Kerala, behind the Periyar River, with a length of 209 kilometres. The name “Nila” refers to civilization rather than a river. Nila has shaped the culture and way of life in Kerala’s south Malabar region. In ancient writings and texts, the term “Peraar” refers to the same river. Its important tributaries are the Thuthapuzha River, the Gayathripuzha River, the Kalpathipuzha River, and the Kannadipuzha River.
3. Pamba River | പമ്പ നദി
The Pamba River (also known as the Pampa) is the third-longest river in Kerala, after the Periyar and the Bharathappuzha, and the longest in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. The Sabarimala temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is situated on the banks of the Pamba River. Because of its proximity to Kerala’s most important pilgrimage site, Sabarimala, the Pamba is known as the Dakshina Ganga (Southern Ganges). The Pamba River nourishes the fields of Pathanamthitta District as well as the Kuttanad region of Alappuzha District. Azhuthayar, Kakkiyar, Kakkattar, Kallar, Perunthenaruvi, Madatharuvi, Thanungattilthodu, Kozhithodu, Varattar, and Kuttemperoor are its major tributaries.
<<<MAIN RIVERS IN TAMIL NADU>>>
4. Chalakudi River | ചാലക്കുടി നദി
The Chalakudy River, also known as the Chalakudy Puzha, is the fourth-longest river in Kerala, India. The river runs through Kerala’s Palakkad, Thrissur, and Ernakulam districts. The river’s entire drainage area is 1704 km2. 1404 km2 of this is in Kerala, with the remaining 300 km2 in Tamil Nadu. The river is 145.5 kilometres long. Though the Chalakudy river is a tributary of the Periyar river in a strict geological sense, the government and other organisations consider it as a separate river for all practical reasons. The Parambikulam River is one of its primary tributaries.
5. Chaliyar River | ചാലിയാർ നദി
With a length of 169 kilometres, Chaliyar is Kerala’s fourth longest river. As it approaches the sea, the Chaliyar is also known as the Beypore River. Some of the towns/ villages located along the banks of Chaliyar are Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode, Kizhuparamba, Cheruvadi, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Feroke, and Beypore.
6. Achankovil Aar River | അച്ചൻകോവിൽ ആർ നദി
The Achankovil Aar is a river in Kerala created by the tributaries of the Rishimala, Pasukidamettu, and Ramakkalteri rivers near the southern point of the peninsula. This river nourishes Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district. It merges with the Pamba River near Veeyapuram in Kerala’s Alappuzha district in South India. Achankovil is also the name of the forest region that serves as the catchment area for this river and the name of a small town located inside the Achenkovil forest area. The settlement of Achankovil is not widely accessible; nevertheless, it may be accessed by woodland trails.
7. Valapattanam River | വലപട്ടണം നദി
The Valapattanam River is the biggest in the Kannur district of Kerala, India’s southernmost state. The town of Valapattam is located on its bank. On the riverbank is also the well-known Muthappan temple. Kannur District Tourism Council has started a Nadi Darshan’ (river gazing) programme in collaboration with a private resort in Kattampalli as a tourism marketing project as well as an endeavour to educate people about the Valapattanam River.
8. Manimala River | മണിമല നദി
The Muthavara Hills (2500 feet above sea level) atop the Western Ghats in Kerala’s Idukki district are the source of the Manimala River. The river flows through the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta before joining the Pamba River at Muttar near Tiruvalla in Alappuzha. On the banks of the Manimala River are the villages of Yendayaar, Koottikkal, Mundakayam, Erumeli, Manimala, Vaipur, Mallappally, Thuruthicad, Vennikkulam, Kaviyoor, Kallooppara, Niranam, Muttar, Thalavadi, Kozhimukku, and Champakkulam. It is believed to be 92 kilometres long. It flows into the Vembanad Lake.
<<<RIVERS IN KARNATAKA>>>
9. Kuttiadi River | കുട്ടിയാടി നദി
The Kuttiadi River runs through Badagara, Quilandy, and Kozhikode Taluks after emerging from the Narikota Ranges on the western slopes of the Wynad Hills, which are part of the Western Ghats. The Murat River is another name for this river. This river is 74 kilometres long. It empties into the Arabin Sea near Kottakal, 7 kilometres away, and drains an area of 583 km2 with its tributaries. The river’s principal tributaries are the Onipuzha, Thottilpalampuzha, Kadiyangadpuzha, Vannathilpuzha, and Madappallipuzha. The historical Kottakkal Forest is located at the river’s mouth.
10. Neyyar River | നയ്യാർ നദി
The Neyyar River is a river in the Western Ghats in southwestern India. It originates in the Agastya Mala (also known as Agastyarkoodam) hills of Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district. The river flows through the taluk of Neyyattinkara and into the Arabian Sea at Poovar. It is 56 kilometres long in total. The Kallar (river), Mullayar River, and Karavaliyar River are tributaries. It has numerous minor canals running along with it, and the Neyyar Irrigation Project, or “Neyyar Dam,” is located in it. Near the river, there is a safari park.
East Flowing Rivers in Kerala
Three rivers originate in Kerala and travel eastward, with the Kabini flowing into Karnataka and the other two entering Tamil Nadu.
1. Kabini River | കബിനി നദി
The Kabini, also known as the Kabani and Kapila rivers, is a river in southern India. It runs eastward from the junction of the Panamaram and Mananthavady rivers in Kerala state to join the Kaveri River near Tirumakudalu Narasipura in Karnataka it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It produces the massive Kabini Reservoir near the town of Sargur. The Kabini reservoir’s backwaters are teeming with animals, especially in the summer when the water level recedes to produce lush grassy meadows.
2. Bhavani River | ഭവാനി നദി
The Bhavani is a 217-kilometre-long perennial river primarily supplied by the southwest monsoon and supplemented by the northeast monsoon. The major river runs across the whole district of Tamil Nadu’s North-Western Erode. Approximately 90% of the river’s water is utilised for agricultural irrigation. Its banks are home to 6 million people. Many textile, leather, sugar, paper, butcher, and distilling businesses may be found along the river and its tributaries.
3. Pambar River | പമ്പാർ നദി
The Pambar River originates in the Anaimudi Hills in Kerala’s Idukki District. It runs via Turner’s Valley in Eravikulam National Park, entering the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary via the Taliar Valley between Kanthalloor and Marayoor Villages, and then eastwards into the sanctuary. It is connected by seasonal rivulets and a few permanent streams that originate in the higher reaches from sholas. At Koottar, the Pambar River joins the Chinnar River. The Chinnar follows the interstate line along the sanctuary’s northwest side, becoming the Amaravati River in Tamil Nadu, where it flows through the Amaravathi Reservoir and Dam before joining the Kaveri River at Karur.
<<<RIVERS IN MAHARASHTRA>>>
List of the total number of Rivers in Kerala and their tributaries
| Name of the River | District in which it flows | Main Tributaries |
| West Flowing Rivers in Kerala | ||
| Manjeswaram River | Kasaragod | Pavuru |
| Uppala River | Kasaragod | Uppala |
| Shiriya River | Kasaragod | Kallanje Thodu, Kanyana Thodu, Eramathihole Kumbala |
| Mogral River | Kasaragod | Nettipadi, Muliyar |
| Chandragiri River | Kasaragod | Payaswini, Chandragiri |
| Chittari River | Kasaragod | Kalnad, bekal, chittari |
| Nileswaram River | Kasaragod, Kannur | Aryngal, baigotehole |
| Kariangode River | Kasaragod, Kannur | Mundore, padimalahole, ariakkadavuhole |
| Kavvayi River | Kasaragod, Kannur | – |
| Peruvamba River | Kasaragod, Kannur | Macharu Thodu, Mathamangalam, Challachal |
| Ramapuram River | Kasaragod, Kannur | – |
| Kuppam River | Kannur | Cheriya Thodu, Kuttikilpuzha |
| Valapattanam River | Kannur | Valiyapuzha, Venipuzha |
| Anjarakandy River | Kannur | Kappu Thodu, Idumba Thodu |
| Thalasseri River | Kannur | Dharmadom puzha |
| Mahe River River | Kannur, Kozhikode | – |
| Kuttiyadi River | Kozhikode | Onipuzha, Thottilapalam, Kannathil |
| Korapuzha River | Kozhikode | Agalapuzha, Pannurpuzha |
| Kallayi River | Kozhikode | – |
| Chaliyar River | Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad | Cherupuzha, Karimpuzha, Kanchirapuzha |
| Kadalundi River | Malappuram, Palakkad | Olipuzha, Veliar |
| Tirur River | Malappuram | Vallilapuzha |
| Bharathapuzha River | Palakkad, Malappuram, Thirssur | Gayathri Puzha, Chittor Puzha, Kalpathi Puzha, Thootha Puzha |
| Keecheri River | Thrissur | Choondal Thodu |
| Puzhakkal River | Thrissur | Para Thodu Nadu, Thodu |
| Karuvannur River | Thrissur | Manali, Kurumali,Chimmani |
| Chalakkudy River | Thrissur, Ernakulam | Sholayar, Parambikulam, Karappara, Kuriarkutty |
| Periyar River | Idukki | Muthirapuzha, Ernakulam Idamalayar, Mangalapuzha, Perinjankutty |
| Muvattupuzha River | Ernakulam, Kottayam | Kallar Thodupuzha, Kothamangalam |
| Meenachil River | Kottayam | Kadapuzha, Kalathukadavu, Kurishumalai |
| Manimala River | Kottayam, Pathanamthitta | Kokayar Elakkal Thodu |
| Pamba River | Pathanamthitta, Idukki | Kakkiyar Kallar, Alappuzha, Arudai Pamba |
| Achenkovil River | Pathanamthitta, Idukki | Kallar, Alappuzha |
| Pallichal River | Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum | – |
| Kallada River | Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum | Kulathupuzha, Chendruni |
| Ittikkara River | Kollam, Trivandrum | Vattam Thodu, Vattaparambu |
| Ayroor River | Kollam, Trivandrum | – |
| Vamanapuram River | Kollam, Trivandrum | – |
| Mamom River | Kollam, Trivandrum | – |
| Karamana River | Trivandrum | Kaviar, Thodiyar |
| Neyyar River | Trivandrum | Kallar, Karavaliyar |
| East Flowing Rivers in Kerala | ||
| Kabani River | Wayanad | Panamaram, Mananthavady, Bavali, Nooluzha |
| Bhavani River | Palakkad | Siruvani, Varagar |
| Pambar River | Idukki | Thrithamala, Eravikulam, Myladi, Chenkaloor |
Conclusion
Every river that originates in Kerala’s Western Ghats is distinct, having distinct underlying features. The rivers that originate in these hills are the lifeblood of this community, providing fresh water, food, and money. The rivers also provide a living for thirty-six indigenous tribes.
We hope this list of Names of Rivers in Kerala helps you prepare well for your interview and you get your dream job if you are looking for one. If you want to improve your general knowledge, then this is a good thing to know. You can find all such information about Major Rivers and general knowledge on our website. If you have any queries or questions, do let us know in the comment section below. We answer all the questions and provide information only after thorough research from trusted sources. Send this to your friends and family and let them know about the Names of Rivers in Kerala.
