Chaliyar | |
ചാലിയാർ | |
River | |
River Protection Agitation at Chaliyar
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Country | India |
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States | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
District | Malappuram, Kozhikode |
Tributaries | |
- left | Iruvazhinjipuzha, Cherupuzha, Engappuzha |
- right | Cherupuzha Nilambur |
City | Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode, Kizhuparamba, cheekode, Vazhakkad, Cheruvadi, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Aakode, Feroke, Beypore. |
Source | Elambaleri Hills |
- location | Western Ghats, Wayanad, India |
Mouth | Lakshadweep Sea |
- location | Beypore, Kerala, India |
- elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
- coordinates | 11°10′N 75°48′E / 11.16°N 75.80°ECoordinates: 11°10′N 75°48′E / 11.16°N 75.80°E |
Length | 169 km (105 mi) |
Basin | 2,933 km2 (1,132 sq mi) |
Labelled map of Chaliyar
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Chaliyar is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River or Beypore River as it nears the sea. Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode, Kizhuparamba, Cheruvadi, Edavannappara, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Feroke and Beypore are some of the towns/villages situated along the banks of Chaliyar.
The river has two names - Chaliyar and Beypore puzha, of which the former is more popular. The river meets the Lakshadweep Sea at an 'azhi' (estuary), the southern part of which is known as Chaliyam and northern part as Beypore. Thus the river gets the names Chaliyar and Beypore River. Unlike many other rivers in Kerala, Chaliyar does not dry up during the drought season in March and April.
The Chaliyar originates in the Western Ghats range at Elambalari Hills in the Wayanad Plateau of Kerala and flows through Malappuram District for most of its length and then for around 17 km it forms the boundary between Malappuram District and Kozhikode District before entering the city of Kozhikode for its final 10 km journey and finally empties into the Lakshadweep Sea. Six major streams Chaliyarpuzha, Punnapuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Karimpuzha, Iruvahnipuzha and Cherupuzha constitute the Chaliyar River drainage system. Other important tributaries are Kurumanpuzha, Pandipuzha, Maradipuzha, Kuthirapuzha and Karakkodupuzha. Most of these rivers have their origin in the Nilgiri hills in the east and Wayanad hills in the north, where they form a number of rapids and waterfalls. Near the origin of river are the Meenmutty Falls at coordinates 11°31′40″N 76°14′12″E / 11.527755°N 76.236534°E by Vaduvanchal, Wayanad