List of Rivers in Kerala and their Tributaries

List of Rivers and Tributaries in Kerala

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.

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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.

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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