Chaliyar

Chaliyar
ചാലിയാർ
Chaliyar; ചാലിയാർ
	A view of Chaliyar at Nilambur, Malappuram, India
	Labelled map of Chaliyar
Location
Country	India
State	Kerala, Tamil Nadu
District	Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode
City	Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavanoor, Perakamanna, Areekode,; Kizhuparamba, Elamaram, cheekode, Vazhakkad, Vazhayur, Cheruvadi,; Mavoor, Peruvayal, Aakode, Feroke,; Chaliyam.
Physical characteristics
Source	Elambaleri Hills
• location	Western Ghats, Wayanad, India
Lakshadweep Sea
• location	Chaliyam, Kerala, India
• coordinates	11°10′N 75°48′E / 11.16°N 75.80°E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	169 km (105 mi)
Basin size	2,933 km2 (1,132 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	mouth
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Iruvazhinjipuzha, Cherupuzha, Engappuzha
• right	Cherupuzha Nilambur

Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in

Wayanad-Malappuram district border. It flows mainly through the erstwhile region of Eranad (present-day Malappuram district), and finally empties into the Arabian Sea at Beypore port, opposite to Chaliyam

harbour.

Name

The river has three names - Chaliyar, Nilambur River, and

Lakshadweep Sea^[1] at an 'azhi' (estuary), the southern part of which is known as Chaliyam and northern part as Beypore

. Unlike many other rivers in Kerala, Chaliyar does not dry up during the dry season in December and March.

Chaliyar is also the name of a place and a

Grama panchayat in Nilambur Taluk, which is located near the Nilambur Municipality, where Conolly's plot, the oldest manmade teak plantation in the world is located.^[4]

Course

The Chaliyar originates in the

Lakshadweep Sea at Beypore

. Six major streams Chaliyarpuzha, Punnapuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Karimpuzha, Iruvahnipuzha and

Wayanad

Economy

During late 19th century and early 20th century, the Chaliyar was extensively used as a waterway for carrying

timber mills dotting the banks of the river. Kallai was during this period one of the most important centers in the world for timber business. The place was famous for wood of superlative strength and durability like teak, rosewood

, etc. Towards the second half of the 20th century, the activity came down drastically as tree felling was banned or strictly controlled with a view to stop deforestation. Many mills still operate in Kallai, though with far less output. Many have closed down.

Ecology

Chaliyar River was in the news a few years ago because of the ecological damage caused by a

pulp factory at Mavoor

, that released effluents into the river and affected the marine life. This factory has since closed down.

K. A. Rahman led the agitation for cleanup of the river, and inspired the formation of an anti-pollution committee, Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithi, in 1999.^{[citation needed]}

Tributaries

Cherupuzha (Mavoor)
- Engappuzha
- Iruthullippuzha
- Kadungampuzha
Iruvanjippuzha
- Pulingappuzha
- Chalippuzha. The Thusharagiri Falls
  are situated on this river.

Thottumukkampuzha
Kuthirappuzha
- Kottappuzha
Kuruvanpuzha
Kanjirappuzha
Karimpuzha
- Cherupuzha (Karulai)
- Pandiyar
  - Kalakkanpuzha
    - Karakkodan puzha
Pandippuzha
Neerppuzha
Vadapurampuzha

In addition to these rivers some creeks also join Chaliyar from Neelithode, Poonkudi, Vadasseri, Edavanna, Kunduthodu and Mampad.

Tourism

Elamaram is a village in the Indian state of Kerala. It is situated near Edavannappara in Malappuram District of Kerala. This village is very scenic as it is on the bank of Chaliyar. There is a ferry service here that can take you to the northern side of the Chaliyar river. The ticket is Rs.5.00 and the motor boat service is available every half an hour between 6.40 a.m. and 8.40 p.m. including Sundays.

Ghost Town

Across the river Chaliyar lies the abandoned Grasim Industries factory which once employed 2,000 employees. Environmental agitations in 1998 caused the closure of the factory and the entire village went bankrupt because of the sudden development and eleven people even committed suicide because of not being able to face unexpected poverty.^{[citation needed]}

Pilgrimage

The Konnara Dargah is three kilometres away from

Muslim saint where hundreds of pilgrims visit regularly.^{[citation needed}

]

Nearby villages

Irumooliparamba, Ponnempadam, Channayil Palliyali (Santhigram), Akode, Virippadam, Korappadam, Mundumuzhi, Vazhakkad, Valillappuzha, Pancheeri, Elamaram, Mapram, Konnar, Vettathur, Cheruvadikavu, Neerad, Muthuvalloor, Moochikal, Mundakkulam, Muthuparamba, Vettukad, Omanoor, Ponnad, Iruppanthody Karatt Chola Kolambalam Edavannappara, Arappuzha, Cheruvannur.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Evolution of Chaliyar River Drainage Basin Insights from Tectonic Geomorphology" (PDF). Cochin University of Science and Technology. p. 220. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
^ "Mineral Deposits in Kerala".
^ "Physical divisions of Malappuram" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. pp. 21–22.
^ "Villages in Malappuram". lsgkerala.gov.in.
^ ^a ^b "Evolution of Chaliyar River Drainage Basin Insights from Tectonic Geomorphology" (PDF). Cochin University of Science and Technology. pp. 8–11. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

"Infobox facts". All Kerala River Protection Council. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
The River Chaliyar, by M. P. Chandran
About the Rivers of Kerala
K A Rahman^{[full citation needed}
]

External links

[shodhganga-1] "Evolution of Chaliyar River Drainage Basin Insights from Tectonic Geomorphology" (PDF). Cochin University of Science and Technology. p. 220. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

[2] "Mineral Deposits in Kerala".

[geographymalappuram-3] "Physical divisions of Malappuram" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. pp. 21–22.

[4] "Villages in Malappuram". lsgkerala.gov.in.

[shodhganga2-5] "Evolution of Chaliyar River Drainage Basin Insights from Tectonic Geomorphology" (PDF). Cochin University of Science and Technology. pp. 8–11. Retrieved 25 March 2014.

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