Rivers in Kerala: A Comprehensive Overview

Kerala, nestled between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats, boasts a network of 44 major rivers, with all but three originating in the Western Ghats. Among these, 41 rivers meander westward, while 3 flow eastward. The rivers, characterized by their small size in terms of length, breadth, and water discharge, exhibit faster flows due to the hilly terrain and the short distance between the Western Ghats and the sea.

During the monsoon season, these rivers come alive, with water gushing through their courses. However, the scenario changes during the dry summer, as many rivers shrink into rivulets or completely dry up. The environmental impact on these rivers is exacerbated by their small size and lack of delta, making them susceptible to issues such as sand mining and pollution.

Geographical Diversity:

Kerala’s geographical landscape can be divided into three distinct regions. The eastern highlands feature lofty mountains, deep valleys, and gorges immediately west of the rain shadow of the Western Ghats. This region serves as the origin for 41 west-flowing rivers and 3 east-flowing rivers. The rivers in this area, each with a minimum length of 15 km, slope gradually towards the Arabian Sea, eventually emptying into backwaters or directly into the Arabian Sea.

The Western Ghats, forming a formidable barrier, experience an interruption near Palakkad, known as the Palakkad Gap. This gap allows the Bharathappuzha River to flow through. The 3 east-flowing rivers originating in the Western Ghats flow towards Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.

Kerala’s Coastal Belt:

Kerala’s western coastal belt, in contrast to the eastern region, is relatively flat. This area is a labyrinth of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries, and rivers collectively known as the Kerala Backwaters. Notably, Kuttanad, also called The Rice Bowl of Kerala, lies in this region and is unique for being one of the few places globally where cultivation occurs below sea level.

The iconic Vembanad Lake, stretching between Alappuzha and Kochi, dominates the backwaters, covering an expansive area of about 200 km². Kerala’s waterways contribute significantly to India’s overall water resources, accounting for approximately eight percent of the country’s waterways.

West flowing rivers in Kerala

This list enumerates the westward-flowing rivers of Kerala state in southern India, ordered by length, along with their tributaries. Originating from the Western Ghats range, these rivers traverse westward, eventually reaching either the Kerala Backwaters or the Arabian Sea. The length of each river is indicated in kilometers within parentheses. Notably, Kasaragod district boasts the highest count of west-flowing rivers in Kerala.

1. Periyar River (244)
   1. Edamala River
   2. Cheruthoni River
   3. Mullayar River
   4. Muthirapuzha River
   5. Perinjankutti River
   6. Ambazhachal River
   7. Kaniyampuzha River
   8. Muttar River
   9. Panniyar
2. Bharatapuzha River (209)
   1. Thuthapuzha River
   2. Kanjirappuzha
   3. Gayathripuzha River
   4. Kalpathipuzha River
   5. Kannadipuzha River
3. Pamba River (176)
   1. Azhuthayar
   2. Kakkiyar
   3. Kakkattar
   4. Kallar
   5. Perunthenaruvi
   6. Madatharuvi
   7. Thanungattilthodu
   8. Kozhithodu
   9. Varattar
   10. Utharappalli River
   11. Kuttemperoor
4. Chaliyar River (169)
   1. Cherupuzha (Mavoor)
   2. Iruvanjippuzha
   3. Thottumukkam River
   4. Kuthirappuzha
   5. Kuruvanpuzha
   6. Karimpuzha
   7. Pandippuzha
   8. Neerppuzha
5. Chalakudy River (145)
   1. Parambikulam River
6. Kadalundy River (130)
7. Achankoil River (128)
   1. Utharappalli River
8. Kallada River (121)
9. Muvattupuzha River (121)
   1. Thodupuzha River
   2. Kothayar River
   3. Kaliyar River
   4. Kariyar River
   5. Thevalakkadu River
   6. Uzhavoor River
10. Valapattanam River (110)
    1. Bavali River
    2. Pulloopi River
    3. Payyavoor River
    4. Mundayapuzha River
    5. Veni River
    6. Aralam River
11. Chandragiri River (105)
    1. Kudumbur River
12. Manimala River (90)
13. Vamanapuram River (88)
14. Kuppam River (88)
    1. Kuttikol River
15. Meenachil River (78)
    1. Meenachal River
    2. Kodoor River
    3. Karapuzha River
    4. Pulinackal River
    5. Moorkankavu River
16. Kuttiyadi River (74)
17. Karamana River (68)
18. Shiriya River (68)
19. Kariangode River (64)
    1. Chaithravahini River
20. Ithikkara River (56)
21. Neyyar River (56)
22. Mahe River (54)
    1. Mundathode River
23. Keecheri River (51)
24. Perumba River (51)
    1. Vayalapra River
25. Uppala River (50)
26. Karuvannur River (48)
    1. Kurumali River
    2. Manali River
27. Anjarakandy River (48)
28. Tirur River (48)
29. Neeleshwaram River (46)
30. Pallikkal River (42)
31. Kallayi River (40)
32. Korapuzha River (40)
33. Mogral River (34)
34. Kavvayi River (31)
    1. Kankol
    2. Vannathichal
    3. Kuppithodu
    4. Kuniyan
35. Thanikkudam River (29)
36. Thalassery River (28)
    1. Ummanchira River
37. Mamam river (27)
38. Chithari River (25)
39. Ramapuram River (19)
40. Ayiroor River (17)
41. Manjeswaram River (16)

East flowing rivers in Kerala

Three rivers originate in Kerala and flow eastwards, with Kabini extending into Karnataka, and the remaining two reaching Tamil Nadu. All three rivers eventually merge with the Kaveri river.

1. Kabini (57 km)
2. Bhavani (38 km)
3. Pambar (25 km)