Periyar

The Periyar 244 km in length is the longest river of Kerala and drains an area of 5,398 sq km. It rises at the forest land Sivagiri peak 80 km South of Devikulam at an elevation of 2,438m above MSL and traverses the steep mountainous terrain before it is joined by the Multiyear, 16 km downstream. The river then turns West and continues to flow in the direction for about 16 km in a sandy bed. After a winding course of about 13 km, the river reaches Vandiperiyar and passes through a second narrow gorge below which it is joined by the Perumthura. Further down, it is joined by six tributaries after which the important tributary Edamala joins the Periyar. Passing Malayattur and there after taking a meandering course, the river reaches Alwaye where it divides itself into two branches. The upper branch joins the Chalakudi river at Punthenvelikara and then expands into a broad sheet of water at Munambham. The other branch taking a Southernly course is broken up into a number of small channels which fall into the Vembanad lake as Varapuzha. There are two Hydrological Observation Stations maintained by CWC on this river ie at Neeleswaram & Vandiperiyar.