Nila River
The Bharathappuzha, 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
The headwaters of main tributary of Bharathappuzha originates in the Aana malai 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 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 merge Nila becomes thicker in flow.
The Bharathappuzha, 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.
Bharathapuzha 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. There are a number of famous Hindu temples like Thiruvilwamala Sreerama Temple, Thirunavaya Navamukanda Temple, Chamravattam Ayyappa Temple and Panniyur Sree Varahamurthy temple are on the bank of Nila
Nila River (Bharathapuzha)-a summer view
Bharatapuzha(River Nila) is the biggest river in Kerala, 209 of its 250 km course flowing through the state. The river originates from the Thirumurthy Hills of Anamalais in Tamil Nadu state at an elevation of 1964 m above mean sea level. It flows through Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad,Thrissur and Malappuram districts in Kerala. The river drains into the Arabian Sea at Ponnani in Malappuram. It has an extensive catchment area of 6186 Sq. Km. River Bharathapuzha is bestowed with a rich web of tributaries and sub-tributaries. The river basin receives an average annual rainfall of 2,300 mm and the annual average stream flow is estimated to be 5,082.9 million cubic metres. About 40 Km of the main stream is navigable.
