| Chaliyar ചാലിയാർ | |
|---|---|
 | |
 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,Perumanna, Aakode,Feroke, Chaliyam. |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Elambaleri Hills |
| • location | Western Ghats,Wayanad,India |
| Mouth | Lakshadweep Sea[1] |
• location | Chaliyam,Kerala,India |
• coordinates | 11°10′N75°48′E / 11.16°N 75.80°E /11.16; 75.80 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 169 km (105 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 2,933 km2 (1,132 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Iruvazhinjipuzha,Cherupuzha,Engappuzha |
| • right | CherupuzhaNilambur |
Chaliyar River (Malayalam:[tʃaːlijaːr]) is the fourth longest river inKerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known asChulika River,Nilambur River orBeypore River as it is near the sea.Pothukal,Chungathara,Nilambur,Mampad,Edavanna,Kavanoor,Perakamanna,Areekode,Kizhuparamba,Elamaram,Cheekkode,Vazhakkad,Vazhayur,Cheruvadi,Edavannappara,Mavoor,Peruvayal,Perumanna,Feroke andBeypore are some of the towns/villages situated along the banks of the Chaliyar. It mainly flows throughMalappuram district. Its tributaries flow through both the districts ofMalappuram andKozhikode. The bank of river Chaliyar in the Nilambur region is also known for its naturalGold fields.[2] Explorations done at the valley of the river Chaliyar in Nilambur have shown reserves of the order of 2.5 million cubic meters of placers with 0.1 gram per cubic meter of gold.[3] It originates at the Ilambaleri hills ofNilgiri Mountains inNilgiris district (Ooty district), which is also nearWayanad-Malappuram district border. It flows mainly through the erstwhile region ofEranad (present-dayMalappuram district), and finally empties into theArabian Sea atBeypore port, opposite toChaliyam harbour.
The river has three names - Chaliyar, Nilambur River, andBeypore puzha, of which the first one is more popular. The river meets theLakshadweep Sea[1] at an 'azhi' (estuary), the southern part of which is known asChaliyam and northern part asBeypore. 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 aGrama panchayat inNilamburTaluk, which is located near theNilambur Municipality, where Conolly's plot, the oldest manmade teak plantation in the world is located.[4]
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The Chaliyar originates in theWestern Ghats range at Ilambaleri hills in the ranges ofNilgiri Mountains ofWestern Ghats,[5] which is also nearWayanad-Malappuram district border. Chaliyar flows throughMalappuram District for most of its length and then for around 17 km it forms the boundary betweenMalappuram District andKozhikode District before entering the city ofKozhikode for its final 10 km journey and finally empties into theLakshadweep Sea atBeypore. Six major streams Chaliyarpuzha, Punnapuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Karimpuzha, Iruvahnipuzha andThottumukkampuzha constitute the Chaliyar River drainage system. Other important tributaries are Kurumanpuzha, Pandipuzha, Maradipuzha, Kuthirapuzha and Karakkodupuzha. Most of these rivers have their origin in theNilgiri hills in the east and Wayanad hills in the north, where they form a number of rapids andwaterfalls.[5] Near the origin of river are theMeenmutty Falls at coordinates11°31′40″N76°14′12″E / 11.527755°N 76.236534°E /11.527755; 76.236534 byVaduvanchal,Wayanad &Soochipara_Falls which situated in Chullikka River a part of Chaliyar River.
During late 19th century and early 20th century, the Chaliyar was extensively used as a waterway for carryingtimber from the forest areas in and aroundNilambur to the various mills inKallai ofCalicut city.Rafts made of logs were taken downstream during themonsoon season to Kallayi, where these were sawn to size in thetimber 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 liketeak,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.
Chaliyar River was in the news a few years ago because of the ecological damage caused by apulp factory atMavoor, 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]
In addition to these rivers some creeks also join Chaliyar from Neelithode, Poonkudi, Vadasseri,Edavanna, Kunduthodu andMampad.
The banks of the Chaliyar River offer a variety of tourist attractions, rich in natural beauty, historical significance, and cultural heritage.[citation needed]
Bridges on this river include:[citation needed]
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]
The Konnara Dargah is three kilometres away fromElamaram on the bank of the Chaliyar river. It is the holy resting place of aMuslim saint where hundreds of pilgrims visit regularly.[citation needed]
