Potamology is the scientific study of rivers. A river is a natural flowing water source, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. Rivers are probably the most dynamic of all waterscapes on this living planet. We can compare rivers with arteries in human body that is, running like arteries, they connect diverse ecosystems in a range of altitudes; and connect lives and livelihoods in an unending cycle of energy transfer and flow. Kerala has 44 rivers, of which 41 flow westwards and the rest towards east. The basin area of major rivers is located within the Western Ghats. This article is the List of Rivers and Tributaries in Kerala.
List of Rivers and Tributaries in Kerala
There are 44 major rivers in Kerala of which 41 are west flowing and 3 east flowing. All these rivers originate from the Sahyadri hills. Periyar is the longest river in Kerala followed by Bharathapuzha and Pampa. Here is the complete list of all the 44 rivers of Kerala showing the name, districts in which river flows, major tributaries and the length of each river.
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| Sl. No. | Name of the River | Districts in which river flows | Length (km) | Main tributaries |
| 1. | Manjeswaram | Kasaragod | 15 | Pavuru |
| 2. | Uppala | Kasaragod | 50 | Uppala |
| 3. | Shiriya | Kasaragod | 67 | Kallanje Thodu, Kanyana Thodu, Eramathihole Kumbala |
| 4. | Mogral | Kasaragod | 34 | Nettipadi, Muliyar |
| 5. | Chandragiri | Kasaragod | 105 | Payaswini, Chandragiri |
| 6. | Chittari | Kasaragod | 25 | Kalnad, bekal, chittari |
| 7. | Nileswaram | Kasaragod, Kannur | 46 | Aryngal, baigotehole |
| 8. | Kariangode | Kasaragod, Kannur | 64 | Mundore, padimalahole, ariakkadavuhole |
| 9. | Kavvayi | Kasaragod, Kannur | 31 | – |
| 10. | Peruvamba | Kasaragod, Kannur | 51 | Macharu Thodu, Mathamangalam, Challachal |
| 11. | Ramapuram | Kasaragod, Kannur | 19 | – |
| 12. | Kuppam | Kannur | 82 | Cheriya Thodu, Kuttikilpuzha |
| 13. | Valapattanam | Kannur | 110 | Valiyapuzha, Venipuzha |
| 14. | Anjarakandy | Kannur | 40 | Kappu Thodu, Idumba Thodu |
| 15. | Thalasseri | Kannur | 28 | Dharmadom puzha |
| 16. | Mahe | Kannur, Kozhikode | 54 | – |
| 17. | Kuttiyadi | Kozhikode | 74 | Onipuzha, Thottilapalam, Kannathil |
| 18. | Korapuzha | Kozhikode | 40 | Agalapuzha, Pannurpuzha |
| 19. | Kallayi | Kozhikode | 40 | – |
| 20. | Chaliyar | Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad | 169 | Cherupuzha, Karimpuzha, Kanchirapuzha |
| 21. | Kadalundi | Malappuram, Palakkad | 130 | Olipuzha, Veliar |
| 22. | Tirur | Malappuram | 48 | Vallilapuzha |
| 23. | Bharathapuzha | Palakkad, Malappuram, Thirssur | 209 | Gayathri Puzha, Chittor Puzha, Kalpathi Puzha, Thootha Puzha |
| 24. | Keecheri | Thrissur | 51 | Choondal Thodu |
| 25. | Puzhakkal | Thrissur | 29 | Para Thodu Nadu, Thodu |
| 26. | Karuvannur | Thrissur | 40 | Manali, Kurumali,Chimmani |
| 27. | Chalakkudy | Thrissur, Ernakulam | 130 | Sholayar, Parambikulam, Karappara, Kuriarkutty |
| 28. | Periyar | Idukki | 244 | Muthirapuzha, Ernakulam Idamalayar, Mangalapuzha, Perinjankutty |
| 29. | Muvattupuzha | Ernakulam, Kottayam | 121 | Kallar Thodupuzha, Kothamangalam |
| 30. | Meenachil | Kottayam | 78 | Kadapuzha, Kalathukadavu, Kurishumalai |
| 31. | Manimala | Kottayam, Pathanamthitta | 90 | Kokayar Elakkal Thodu |
| 32. | Pamba | Pathanamthitta, Idukki | 76 | Kakkiyar Kallar, Alappuzha, Arudai Pamba |
| 33. | Achenkovil | Pathanamthitta, Idukki | 128 | Kallar, Alappuzha |
| 34. | Pallichal | Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum | 42 | – |
| 35. | Kallada | Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Trivandrum | 121 | Kulathupuzha, Chendruni |
| 36. | Ittikkara | Kollam, Trivandrum | 56 | Vattam Thodu, Vattaparambu |
| 37. | Ayroor | Kollam, Trivandrum | 17 | – |
| 38. | Vamanapuram | Kollam, Trivandrum | 88 | – |
| 39. | Mamom | Kollam, Trivandrum | 27 | – |
| 40. | Karamana | Trivandrum | 68 | Kaviar, Thodiyar |
| 41. | Neyyar | Trivandrum | 56 | Kallar, Karavaliyar |
| 42. | Kabani | Wayanad | – | Panamaram, Mananthavady, Bavali, Nooluzha |
| 43. | Bhavani | Palakkad | – | Siruvani, Varagar |
| 44. | Pambar | Idukki | – | Thrithamala, Eravikulam, Myladi, Chenkaloor |
Every river originating from the Western Ghats of Kerala is unique, with certain underlying characteristics. The rivers born in these hills are the mainstay of this population, and a source of freshwater, food and revenue. The rivers also support the livelihoods of thirty six indigenous communities.
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Top 3 Biggest Rivers in Kerala
Top 3 biggest rivers in Kerala are; Periyar, Bharathapuzha and Pamba
Periyar
Periyar River is the biggest river in Kerala with a length of 244 kms. Originating from the Sivagiri Hills, this flows through the Periyar National Park and finally into the Periyar Lake. The famous Idukki Dam is built on this river and the electricity is generated from here. And this river has many tributaries:- Perinjankutti, Cheruthoni, Mullayar, Muthiraouzha and Edamala River.
Bharathapuzha River
Bharathapuzha River is the second longest river in Kerala with a length of 209kms. It is also known as Nila. It is very important to river to the people of Kerala, and many consider it is equivalent of the Holy River Ganga. Pamba originates from the Anaimalai Hills and flows through Palakkad Pass, Thrissur, Malappuram districts and finally joins the sea at Ponnani. There are 11 reservoirs along the course of this river, among which the Malampuzha dam is the biggest.
Pamba River
Pamba is the third largest river in Kerala. It originates in Pulachimalai in the Western Ghats, flows between Pathanamthitta district and Allapuzha district and finnaly ends up in the Vembanad Lake. The River Pamba is also known as Dakshina Bhageerathu and River Baris.
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