Vaigai River

About Vaigai River

• The Vaigai River is the major river that flows in Tamil Nadu.
• It is also called Kritamaala.
• Origin: It rises in the Varushanad Hills of western Tamil Nadu.
• Course of river: It initially flows in a northeasterly direction through the Kambam and Varushanad valleys.
  • In its central reaches, the river flows eastward into the Vaigai Reservoir at Narasingapuram.
  • The river changes its course near Sholavandan and bends towards the southeast.
  • It passes through Madurai before finally emptying into the Palk Strait. 
• Fed by: It gets major feed from the Periyar Dam in Kerala. Water from the Periyar River is diverted to the Vaigai River through a tunnel across the Western Ghats.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries are the Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaaru, Varaganadi and Manjalaru. 
• Length: It is 258 km long
• Dam on the river: The Vaigai Dam is a hydroelectric and multipurpose dam built across the Vaigai River near Andipatti in Tamil Nadu.
  • The Vattaparai Falls are also located on this river.
• Historic significance: It was the river that flowed through the city of Madurai, the capital of the ancient and prosperous Pandya kingdom located in southern Tamil Nadu.
  • It served as a direct water route connecting Madurai to the ancient port of Alagankulam, facilitating trade and transport.
  • The river also finds a mention in the Sangam literature dated to 300 before the Common Era (BCE).
  • The story of Vaigai is told in the Thiruvilayadal Puranam
• Significance: The river fulfils the drinking water requirement of five districts of Tamil Nadu, namely Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Dindigul.