Bharathappuzha

Coordinates: 10°46′N 75°54′E / 10.767°N 75.9°E / 10.767; 75.9

Bharathappuzha (Bharathappuzha)
River
Country	India
States	Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Source	Anamalai Hills
- location	Tamil Nadu, India
- elevation	2,461 m (8,074 ft)
- coordinates	10°36′N 77°07′E / 10.6°N 77.117°E / 10.6; 77.117
Mouth	Arabian Sea
- location	Ponnani, Kerala, India
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	10°46′N 75°54′E / 10.767°N 75.9°E / 10.767; 75.9
Length	209 km (130 mi)
Basin	6,186 km2 (2,388 sq mi)
Discharge	mouth
- average	161 m3/s (5,686 cu ft/s)
Labelled map of Bharathappuzha

The Bharathappuzha (Malayalam: ഭാരതപ്പുഴ; Indian River), also known as 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.

Course

The headwaters of main tributary of Bharathappuzha originates in the Anaimalai Hills 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.

View of the River.

The Old Railroad Bridge over Thutha River near its union with Bharathappuzha, built by the British in 1867 which goes into disuse with the construction of new bridges.

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.

Irrigation projects

A view of the railroad bridge over Bharathappuzha, near shoranur.

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.

A view of the Velliyamkallu Regulator cum Bridge under construction

Cultural Significance

Bharathappuzha is the lifeline of Kerala's cultural map.

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.

Tributaries

Bharathapuzha river as seen from the railway bridge at shoranur.

Sorted in order from the mouth heading upstream.

• Thuthapuzha
  • Kunthippuzha
  • Kanjirappuzha
  • Ambankadavu
  • Thuppanadupuzha
• Gayathripuzha
  • Mangalam river
  • Ayalurpuzha
  • Vandazhippuzha
  • Meenkarappuzha
  • Chulliyar
• Kalpathipuzha
  • Korayar
  • Varattar
  • Walayar
  • Malampuzha
• Kannadipuzha
  • Palar
  • Aliyar
  • Uppar

See also

• List of rivers in Kerala
• List of reservoirs in Kerala

Notes

External links

• Kudallur Village
• Nila Foundation Organization
• A Frontline article about the problems faced by Bharathapuzha.
• An Indiatogether article on Sand Mining in Bharathapuzha
• Bharata, To Kill a River

References

• Abraham, Vinu (2004), "The way to the Maker", The Week, http://www.the-week.com/24jul11/statescan_article4.htm, retrieved February 10, 2006 ^{[dead link]}.
• Newindpress (2005), "Thousands offer Pithru Tharpanam", The New Indian Express, http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050805045520&Topic=0&Title=Kerala&Page=R, retrieved February 10, 2006 .
• "Infobox facts". All Kerala River Protection Council. http://puzhakal0.tripod.com/river.html. Retrieved January 30, 2006.