Bharathapuzha
Bharathapuzha is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. 2 dams stand on this watercourse and its tributaries and are written up below. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Dams Recorded
- 2
- Coordinates
- 10.78°, 76.23°
About Bharathapuzha
The Bharathappuzha ("River of Bhārata"), also known as the Nila River, Ponnani River (since it empties into Arabian Sea at Ponnani), or Kuttippuram River, is a river in the Indian state of Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar. It flows through the Palakkad Gap, which is also the largest opening in the Kerala portion of the Western Ghats. The Nila has groomed the culture and life of South Malabar part of Kerala. It is also referred to as the "Peraar" in ancient scripts and documents. River Bharathapuzha is an interstate river and lifeline water source for a population residing in four administrative districts, namely Malappuram and Palakkad districts, and parts of Palakkad-Thrissur district border of Kerala and Coimbatore, and Tiruppur of Tamil Nadu. The fertile Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands lie on its bank.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Bharathappuzha (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Bharathapuzha in Depth
Course
The headwaters of the main tributary of Bharathapuzha originates from various parts of the Western Ghats near the Anamailai hill ranges in Tamil Nadu as small rivulets, and flows westward through Palakkad Gap, (also known as Palghat gap) across Palakkad 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 near Coimbatore. At Parli, the Kannadipuzha and Kalpathipuzha River merge and flow as Bharathappuzha, following a westerly course until it empties into the Lakshadweep Sea at Ponnani. At Mayannur, Gayathripuzha merges with the river. The Thuthapuzha merges with the Nila at Pallippuram.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Bharathappuzha (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Bharathapuzha: Key Facts
| Length | 209 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 6,186 km² |
| Mouth | Arabian Sea |
| Tributaries | Thuthapuzha, Gayathripuzha River |
Facts from Wikidata Q854841 (CC0).
Dams on the Bharathapuzha
2 dams on the Bharathapuzha and the tributaries that feed it, ordered by structural height, with their reservoirs and generating capacity.
| Dam | River | Height | Capacity | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliyar Dam | Aliyar | 81 m | 60 MW | 1969 |
| Malampuzha Dam | Bharathapuzha tributary | 35.5 m | — | 1955 |
Aliyar Dam
Masonry Gravity dam · Tamil Nadu, India
Aliyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Aliyar, in the Bharathapuzha basin, in Tamil Nadu, India, standing 81 m (266 ft) high and completed in 1969. It carries an installed hydroelectric capacity of 60 MW. The structure impounds Aliyar Reservoir.
Aliyar (also spelt Azhiyar / Aaliyar) Reservoir is a 6.48 km2 (2.5 sq mi) reservoir located in Aliyar village near Pollachi town in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. The dam is located in the foothills of Valparai, in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats. It is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Coimbatore. The dam offers some ideal getaways including a park, garden, aquarium, play area and a mini Theme-Park maintained by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Corporation for visitors enjoyment. The scenery is beautiful, with mountains surrounding three quarters of the reservoir. Boating is also available.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Aliyar Reservoir (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Dam type
- Masonry Gravity
- Structural height
- 81 m (266 ft)
- Installed capacity
- 60 MW
- Impounded river
- Aliyar
- River basin
- Bharathapuzha
- Reservoir
- Aliyar Reservoir
- Location
- Tamil Nadu, India
- Year completed
- 1969
- Height rank
- #58 of 115 indexed
- Output rank
- #87 of 102 indexed
- Coordinates
- 10.4833°, 76.9667°
Notable: Key constituent of Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) nestled at Anaimalai Hills.
Among the 115 dams indexed in YearMaps, Aliyar Dam ranks #58 by structural height, behind Jinping-I Dam (305 m). By installed generating capacity it ranks #87, behind Three Gorges Dam (22,500 MW).
Nearest cities: Valparai (18 km), Coimbatore (58 km), Tiruppur (77 km).
More about Aliyar Dam
History
The Aliyar Dam was constructed during 1959-1969 across the Aliyar river, mainly for irrigation purposes. Aliyar Dam was inaugurated on 2 October 1962 (Gandhi Jayanti day) by then Prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, K Kamaraj, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state presided over the function. The project was commissioned in September 2002 to generate Hydro Electric Power.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Aliyar Reservoir (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Malampuzha Dam
Masonry / Earth dam · Kerala, India
Malampuzha Dam is a masonry / earth dam on the Bharathapuzha tributary in Kerala, India, standing 35.5 m (116 ft) high and completed in 1955. The structure impounds Malampuzha Reservoir.
Malampuzha Dam is the largest dam and reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad, in the state of Kerala in South India, built post-independence by the then Madras state. Situated in the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background, it is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres making it the longest dam in the state. The dam is 355 feet high and impounds the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha, Kerala's second-longest river. There is a network of two canal systems that serve the dam's reservoir of 42,090 hectares.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Malampuzha Dam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Dam type
- Masonry / Earth
- Structural height
- 35.5 m (116 ft)
- Impounded river
- Bharathapuzha tributary
- Reservoir
- Malampuzha Reservoir
- Location
- Kerala, India
- Year completed
- 1955
- Height rank
- #104 of 115 indexed
- Coordinates
- 10.8333°, 76.6833°
Notable: Largest reservoir in Kerala, celebrated for its gardens and famous Yakshi sculpture.
Among the 115 dams indexed in YearMaps, Malampuzha Dam ranks #104 by structural height, behind Jinping-I Dam (305 m).
Nearest cities: Coimbatore (34 km), Valparai (65 km), Tiruppur (76 km).
More about Malampuzha Dam
Construction
The dam project was begun in 1949 and completed in 1955. foundation stone for the project was laid on 27 March 1949, by the then Public Works Minister of Madras State, Sri M. Bhaktavatsalam as Palakkad was a part of the Madras Presidency during those times. The dam was constructed in record time, and on 9 October 1955, the then Chief Minister of Madras State, Thiru. K Kamaraj, inaugurated the dam. The total catchment area is 147.63 square kilometres, and the reservoir has a capacity of 226 million cubic meters of water. The canal systems serve to irrigate farmland while the reservoir provides drinking water to Palakkad and surrounding villages.
Location
15 km from Palakkad city, North Kerala. Attractions: Dam, amusement park, boating facilities, rock garden and ropeway.
Around the reservoir of the dam are gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Malampuzha Dam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Malampuzha Dam: Key Facts
| Crest length | 1,849 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q3530977 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Bharathapuzha: Quick Answers
- Where is Bharathapuzha?
- Bharathapuzha is located in India, at 10.7809° N, 76.2258° E.
- Are there dams on the Bharathapuzha?
- Yes. YearMaps records 2 dams on the Bharathapuzha and its tributaries: Aliyar Dam (on the Aliyar), Malampuzha Dam.
- What is the tallest dam on the Bharathapuzha?
- Aliyar Dam is the tallest dam recorded on the Bharathapuzha system, at 81 m (266 ft), completed in 1969.
- Which dam on the Bharathapuzha generates the most electricity?
- Aliyar Dam has the largest installed hydroelectric capacity on the Bharathapuzha system: 60 MW. Installed capacity is the maximum rated output, not the annual average.