Ernakulam is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, and takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi. It is situated in the central part of the state, spans an area of about 2,924 square kilometres (1,129 sq mi), and is home to over 9% of Kerala's population. Its headquarters are located at Kakkanad. The district includes Kochi, also known as the commercial capital of Kerala, which is famous for its ancient churches, Hindu temples, synagogues and mosques.
The Bhavani is an interstate Indian river which flows through Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India. It originates from the Western Ghats and is one among the three rivers of Kerala which flows in eastward direction.
The Vaigai is a river in the Tamil Nadu state of southern India; it passes through the towns of Theni, Madurai and Ramanathapuram. It originates in Varusanadu Hills, the Periyar Plateau of the Western Ghats range, and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley, which lies between the Palani Hills to the north and the Varushanad Hills to the south. The Vattaparai Falls are located on this river. As it rounds the eastern corner of the Varushanad Hills, the river turns southeast, running through the region of Pandya Nadu. Madurai, the largest city in the Pandya Nadu region and its ancient capital, lies on the Vaigai. The river empties into the Palk Bay near Alagankulam, close to Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram District.
Periyar, IPA:[peɾijɐːr], is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala. It generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power via the Idukki Dam and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity. The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery. Due to these reasons, the river has been named the "Lifeline of Kerala". Kochi city, in the vicinity of the river mouth, draws its water supply from Aluva, an upstream site sufficiently free of seawater intrusion. Twenty five percent of Kerala's industries are along the banks of the Periyar. These are mostly crowded within a stretch of 5 kilometres (3 mi) in the Eloor-Edayar region (Udhyogamandal), about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Kochi harbor.
Kothamangalam is a municipality at the foot of the Western Ghats in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is located 31 km (19.3 mi) east of the district collectorate in Thrikkakara and about 177 km (110.0 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Kothamangalam has a population of 38,837 people, and a population density of 969/km2 (2,510/sq mi).
Chalakudy River or Chalakudy Puzha is the fifth longest river in Kerala, India. The river flows through Thrissur district, Palakkad district and Ernakulam district of Kerala. The total drainage area of the river is 1704 km2. Out of this, 1404 km2 lies in Kerala and the rest in Tamil Nadu. The length of the river is 145.5 km. Though Chalakudy River in strict geological sense is a tributary of the Periyar river, for all practical purposes it is treated as a separate river by Government and other agencies. The river has gained its name since it flows along the banks of the Chalakudy Town, the major settlement along the course of the river. It is perhaps the most unpolluted and pristine river in the state and even in India due to the limited amount of industries and wastage disposal around it. Chalakudy River and its basin area were one of the most affected rivers during the 2018 Kerala floods.
Mullayar River is a tributary of the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala. It originates at Kottamalai peak in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Mullayar flows west through the reserve and joins the Periyar at Mullakudy just at the beginning of the Periyar lake formed by the Mullaperiyar dam.
Cheruthoni is a town on the banks of Cheruthoni River, a major tributary of the Periyar River, the second longest river in Kerala state, in southwestern India. The area is known by Cheruthoni Dam, which is a part of Idukki reservoir, which provide hydroelectric power to the region.
The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, covering an area of barely 25 km2, and located about 12 km from Kothamangalam, was the first bird sanctuary in Kerala. Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologists, described this sanctuary as the richest bird habitat on peninsular India. Thattekkad literally means flat forest, and the region is a deciduous but generally moist low-land forest surrounding the Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala.
Bhoothathankettu is a dam and tourist spot in Ernakulam district in Kerala,. It is situated outside the village of Pindimana, about 10 km away from the town of Kothamangalam and 50 km away from the main city of Kochi. The original natural dam has been supplemented by a modern dam impounding the Bhoothathankettu Reservoir.
Vamanapuram River is an 88 km (55 mi) long river in southern Kerala that flows through the northern parts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It is also the longest river in Thiruvananthapuram district. The river is also known as "Kollampuzhayaru" and "Attingalaru".The two tributaries of this river are the Upper Chittar & Manjaprayaar streams which originates near Ponmudi hill station.
The Ponmudi Dam is a concrete gravity dam built across the Panniyar river which is a tributary of Periyar river at Konnathady panchayath of Konnathadi village in Idukki district of Kerala, India. The dam was constructed in 1963 as a part of a hydroelectric project. Construction was led by E.U.Philipose, Superintending Engineer, Kerala State Electricity Board. It has a length of 288.80 metres (947.5 ft). The hydropower component of the dam has an installed capacity of 30 MW with firm power of 17 MW, generating 158 GWh annually. Taluks through which the river flow are Udumbanchola, Devikulam, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur.
Idamalayar Dam is a multipurpose concrete gravity dam located at Ennakkal between Ayyampuzha and Bhoothathankettu in Ernakulam district of Kerala on the Idamalayar, a tributary of the Periyar River in Kerala, South India. The dam however extends east as far as Malakkappara. Completed in 1985, with a length of 373 metres (1,224 ft) and a height of 102.8 metres (337 ft), the dam created a multipurpose reservoir covering 28.3 km2 (10.9 sq mi) in the scenic hills of the Anamalais.
The Bharathappuzha, also known as the Nila or Ponnani River, is a river in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar. It flows through Palakkad Gap, which is also the largest opening in the Kerala portion of 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.
The Lower Periyar Dam is a dam built on the Periyar River as part of the Lower Periyar Hydroelectric Project in Kanjikuzhi Panchayat, Idukki District, Kerala. The dam was built to generate electricity. The lower Periyar dam is at Pambla, five kilometres downstream from where Muthirapuzha merges with main river. This 32.36-metre-high dam made of concrete has a width of 284 meters. The powerhouse is at Karimanal, near Neriamangalam, where three generators are installed with a power production capacity of 60 MW each, or a cumulative 180 MW. The Dam was completed in the year 1998 Taluks through which release flow are Idukki, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur.
Azhutha Dam is a small diversion dam built on the Azhutha River which is a tributary of the Pamba River, at Azhutha in Peerumed Grama Panchayat of Idukki District, Kerala, India. It is a small concrete gravity dam that is only 72 metres (236 ft) long and 14 metres (46 ft) high. It acts mainly as a diversion dam to supply water to the Idukki Dam. The Azhutha Dam was constructed as an augmentation dam for the Idukki Hydro Electric Project. Construction of the project started in 1987 and was expected to be commissioned in 1991, but the project overrun and was only partially commissioned in June 1998. The year of completion was 2007. The release of the water from the dam is to Azhutha river and it flows through Ranni and Ayroor taluks.
Erattayar Dam is a small, diversion dam built on the Erattayar river in Erattayar grama panchayat near Kattappana town in Idukki district of Kerala, India. It acts mainly as a diversion dam to supply water to the Idukki dam. Diversion of water from Erattayar forebay to Idukki reservoir is through a tunnel called Anchuruli tunnel which is 3.77 km (2.34 mi) long. Construction of the dam was completed in the year 1989.
Kallarkutty Dam is a gravity dam built on the Muthirapuzha river, a tributary of the Periyar river, as part of the Neriamangalam Hydroelectric Project at Kallarkutty in Vellathooval panchayat of Idukki district in Kerala, India. The water discharged from the Chenkulam dam's powerhouse and the Muthirapuzha river is diverted to the Neriamangalam powerhouse near Panamkutty above the Pambla dam. The Hydroelectric Project was commissioned on 27 January 1961 to generate 45 MW of power using 3 turbines with a capacity of 15 MW. In 2006, the project was upgraded from 45 MW to 52.65 MW. Taluks through which release flow are Udumbanchola, Devikulam, Idukki, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur. The Project was led by Kerala State Electricity Board Engineer E.U. Philipose
Viripara Weir is a Diversion weir constructed across Upper Kallar river which is a tributary of Pooyankutty river in Mankulam village of Idukki district in Kerala, India. The water flows from the dam to Menachery river and flows through the taluk of Devikulam. The Viripara weir is constructed as an augmentation scheme to Neriamangalam Hydro Electric Project. Upper Kallar, a tributary of Pooyankutty river is diverted in to Kallarkutty reservoir by a low diversion weir at Viripara along with a short diversion tunnel.
