The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and canals lying parallel to the Arabian Sea of the Malabar coast of Kerala state in south-western India. It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to bayous. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. There are 34 backwaters in Kerala. Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to the sea. The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.
Ashtamudi Lake, in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body. It is second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight hills or peaks' in the local Malayalam language. The name is indicative of the lake's topography with its multiple branches. The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboat and backwater resorts. Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. Ashtamudi Estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries in Kerala, with a maximum depth of 6.4 meters at the confluence zone.
Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.
Thenmala is a tourist destination in the eastern side of Kollam district in Kerala, India that is home to the first eco-tourism centre in India. The word 'Thenmala' means "Honey hill" in Malayalam language. It is known for its high quality honey export. The town is 66 km away from Kollam city, 69 km from the state capital Trivandrum and is just 14 km away from Tamil Nadu state border. The interstate National Highway-744, connecting Kollam with Madurai in Tamil Nadu, and State Highway-2 of Kerala are passing through Thenmala.
The Kallada River is the longest river in Kollam District, Kerala, India. The river originates in Kulathupuzha, in the Western Ghats, and flows west, reaching the Arabian Sea after traveling a distance of 120 km (75 mi).
Kulathupuzha is a town in the eastern part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the important pilgrim spots linked with the legend of Sabarimala. It is the birthplace of the Malayalam music composer Raveendran. Kulathupuzha is the source of the Kallada river, Thenmala Dam (KIP) is located on this river. As declared by the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Kulathupuzha panchayat is the first in India to have achieved Constitution-literacy.
Aryankavu is a village located in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. It lies close to the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu near Thenmala. It is also one of the famous pilgrimage sites associated with the legend of Sabarimala. The village is located beside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.
Palode is a town in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Palode town is 35 km (22 mi) from Thiruvananthapuram city and 17 km (11 mi) from Nedumangad municipality.There is a Helipad in palode. Palode is surrounded by Western Ghats. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute is situated near Palode. Mankayam Ecotourism near Brimore is 11 km (6.8 mi) away. Brimore has tea estate and plantations make Palode a gateway for tourism destination.Thenmala is 38 km (24 mi) from Palode and Ponmudi hills is 35 km. Palode is a town in Thiruvananthapuram-Thenmala -Shenkottai State Highway 2 (Kerala). Tenkasi is 75 km (47 mi) from Palode. Palode is a town located in Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala.
The Harangi Dam is located near Hudgur village, Kushalnagar taluk in Kodagu district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The masonry dam is built across the river Harangi, a tributary of the Kaveri. The dam is located about 9 km (5.6 mi) from the heart of Kushalnagar town.
Chimmini Dam is situated in Echippara in Chalakudy taluk of Thrissur District of Kerala state of India. It is constructed across Kurumali river, a tributary of the Karuvannur river. Chimmini is the largest dam of Thrissur district. The Chimminy Wild Life Sanctuary is located close to the dam. Construction of the 495-metre masonry and 686-metre earthen dam started in 1975 and it was completed in 1996. Total cost of the project was Rs 59.71 crore although the cost of construction of the dam was initially estimated at Rs 36.15 crore.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Western Ghats, India, located in Kollam district of Kerala and comes under the control of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. It was established on 25 August 1984 and comprises 172.403 square kilometres (66.565 sq mi). The name is a corruption of the Chengurinji, a tree endemic to the region. Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest cover a major area of the sanctuary. The sanctuary has an artificial lake of nearly 18.69Sq.km size and also surrounded by the reservoir of Thenmala Dam. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure house of plant diversity. About 1257 species of flowering plants belonging to more than 150 families are reported from this sanctuary of which 309 species are endemic to Western Ghats. Birds from 267 species including migratory, endemic and endangered species have been reported here. It has a presence of lion-tailed macaque, a highly endangered species.
The Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the Eluru District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been accorded National project status by the Central Government of India. Its reservoir back water spreads up to the Dummugudem Anicut and approx 115 km on Sabari River side. Thus back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States. It gives major boost to tourism sector in Godavari Districts as the reservoir covers the famous Papikonda National Park, Polavaram hydro electric project (HEP) and National Waterway 4 are under construction on left side of the river. It is located 40 km to the upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram City and 25 km from Rajahmundry Airport.
Vilakkupara is a village in Punalur Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala State, India. Vilakkupara lies 58 km (36 mi) to the east of Kollam, the District headquarters, and 12 km (7 mi) to the southeast of Punalur on Kollam-Thirumangalam National Highway (N.H-744). It is 72 km (45 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram, the State Capital. It belongs to the Yeroor Gram panchayat, Punalur Assembly Constituency, and is a part of the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency.
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.
"Tatipudi Reservoir" is a dam located on River Gosthani in Andhra Pradesh. It is a water supply reservoir to the city of Visakhapatnam. Thatipudi Reservoir Project was constructed across Gosthani River during 1963–1968. The Project is aimed to irrigate a total ayacut of 15,378 acres (62 km2) in Vizianagaram District and to provide drinking water to Visakhapatnam City. The Project utilizes 3.325 tmcft of the available water and the reservoir storage capacity is about 3 tmcft. The Cost of the project is Rs. 1,820 crores. The Ayacut of 15,378 acres (62 km2) has been stabilised in Gantyada, S.Kota and Jami Mandals of Vizianagaram District.
The Kanjirapuzha Dam, a masonry earth dam built for providing irrigation to a Cultural Command Area (CCA) of 9,713 hectares, is located in the Palakkad district in the Indian state of Kerala. The reservoir, which has three islands within it, also has an established commercial fisheries development programme operated by the Fisheries Department.
Ambanad Hills or Ambanad is a hill station in Punalur Taluk in the eastern part of Kollam district in Kerala, India. This is one among the few tea and orange plantation areas in Kollam district. Ambanad Hills is in Aryankavu panchayath, about 12 km away from Kazhuthurutty.
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana, India. Currently the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranahita and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers which combine to form the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent, with an estimated annual discharge of more than 6,427,900 acre-feet or 280 TMC. It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as wildlife sanctuaries.
Waterways have always been an important mode of transport in Kerala. The total length of navigable route in Kerala was 1,900 kilometres and the navigable rivers constitute about 54 per cent of the waterways. The 41 West-flowing rivers together with the backwaters are an integrated part of the inland navigation system in Kerala. In Kerala water transportation through these channels are mainly small distant passenger services, informal country boats, freight transportation to PSU's such as Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore, Kochi etc.
Meenkara Dam is an embankment or earthen dam built on the banks of the river Gayatripuzha, a tributary of the river Bharathapuzha, at Muthalamada in the Muthalamada Grama Panchayat near Kollengode in the Palakkad district of Kerala with masonry spillway sections. It is part of the Gayatri Irrigation Project. The project was started in 1956 and partially commissioned in 1960. The project was fully completed in 1964. The irrigation scheme has been prepared for agriculture and drinking water in Palakkad district. Farms in Chittoor, Nemmara, Alathur in Palakkad district and Vadakkancherry in Thrissur district will benefit from this irrigation scheme.
