News: Recently, a family of four drowned in the Bharathapuzha River.
About Bharathapuzha River
- Length of the river– 209 km
- It is the second-longest river in Kerala, after the Periyar River.
- It is considered as the Nile of kerela and is also known as Nila, Ponnani, Kuttippuram .
- Course and Origin– The river rises in the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu, flows westward through the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats, and finally empties into the Arabian Sea.
- Major Tributaries: Kannadipuzha, Kalpathipuzha, Gayathripuzha, and Thuthapuzha.
- Out of the total drainage area, two-thirds, which is 4400 sq.km., is in Kerala, and the remaining 1786 sq.km. is in Tamil Nadu.
- Reservoirs and Dams: The Malampuzha Dam, constructed across the river, is the largest reservoir in Kerala and is utilized for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.
- Cultural Significance– Kerala Kalamandalam, a renowned center for Indian performing arts like Kathakali, Koodiyattam, and Ottamthullal, is located at Cheruthuruty on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River in Thrissur district.
