| Bhavani River | |
|---|---|
 Bhavani River | |
 Headwaters of the Bhavani River | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| States | |
| Districts | |
| Cities | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Western Ghats |
| Mouth | |
• location | Kaveri |
| Length | 234 km (145 mi) |
Bhavani is anIndian river which flows through the states ofKerala andTamil Nadu. It originates in theNilgiris in theWestern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, and flows westwards into Kerala for some distance, before turning east, and flowing back towards Tamil Nadu. It stretches for 234 km (145 mi), and joins theKaveri atKooduthurai. The river basin covers an area of 1,410 km2 (540 sq mi) across three districts in Tamil Nadu. The major tributaries include theMoyar, andSiruvani Rivers. There are multiple dams across the river, including theUpper Bhavani,Bhavanisagar dam, andKodiveri dam.
The Bhavani is a 234 km (145 mi) long perennial river fed bymonsoons.[1][2] The river originates at an altitude of 2,634 m (8,642 ft) in the Billimala range of theNilgiris in theWestern Ghats inTamil Nadu.[3] It flows westwards towards theSilent Valley National Park inKerala, before later turning eastwards and flowing through theAttappadi valley inPalakkad district.[2] Later, it re-enters Tamil Nadu, and flows through the districts ofNilgiris,Coimbatore, andErode.[1][2][4] The river basin covers an area of 1,410 km2 (540 sq mi).[5] Variousrivulets and tributaries join the Bhavani river during its course. Major tributaries include theMoyar, andSiruvani Rivers.[4][6][7] Bhavani is one of the major tributaries of theKaveri, which it joins at theKooduthurai nearBhavani.[3][8]
Industrial, municipal andagricultural pollution of the river results in poor water quality and negative impacts on the health of people, plants and animals dependent on the river water.[9]
In Tamil Nadu, theUpper Bhavani dam is constructed close to the source of the Bhavani River in Nilgiris,[10] and theBhavanisagar Dam in the lower reaches of the river in the plains. After multiple proposals since the early 19th century, the upper and lower Bhavani projects were implemented in the mid 20th century.[11] There are multiple minorcheck dams and irrigation canals constructed across the river in Kerala, largely constructed in the 21st century.[11]
The Bhavanisagar Dam is located on the Bhavani River inErode district.[12] The dam is one of the largestearthen dams in the world.[13] The dam is situated some 16 km (9.9 mi) west ofSathyamangalam.[14] TheLower Bhavani Project was the first major irrigation project initiated in independent India in 1948. The dam was completed in 1955 at a cost of₹210 million (equivalent to₹23 billion or US$270 million in 2023) and was opened in 1956.[13]
The dam is 8 km (5.0 mi) long and 40 m (130 ft) high, with a full reservoir level of 120 ft (37 m) and a capacity of 32.8×10^9 cu ft (930×10^6 m3). The dam has twohydelpower stations, one on the east bank canal and the other on the river. Each has a capacity of 16 MW (21,000 hp) for a total capacity of 32 MW (43,000 hp).[13]
TheKodiveri Dam is located on the Bhavani River nearGobichettipalayam in Erode district. A channel was excavated atKodiveri in 1125 CE by Kongalvan, a chieftain under the rule ofChola kingKulottunga I.[15][16] The dam was constructed in the 17th century byMaharaja of Mysore.[17][18] The dam feeds the Arakkankottai and Thadappalli canals constructed for irrigation.[16]
Kalingarayan Anicut is located nearBhavani in Erode district. The 90.5 km (56.2 mi) longKalingarayan Canal, originating from the anicut, irrigates about 15,743 acres (6,371 ha) ofagricultural land.[19] The project, including construction of the dam and canal, started in 1271 and was completed in 1283. It was constructed byKongu chieftainKalingarayan.[20]
| State |  | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Districts | |||||||||||||||
| Major towns | |||||||||||||||
| Languages | |||||||||||||||
| Geographical features |
| ||||||||||||||
| Geographical Indications |
| ||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
