Chaliyar

Chaliyar
Physical characteristics
Mouth	Arabian Sea
Length	169 km (106 mi)

Chaliyar River is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar river is also known as Beypore River as it nears the sea. Nilambur, Edavanna, Areekode,Kizhuparamba, Cheruvadi, Mavoor, Peruvayal, Feroke, and Beypore are some of the towns/villages situated along the banks of Chaliyar River.

Name

The river has got two names - Chaliyar and Beyporepuzha, in which the former is more popular. The river meets Arabian Sea at an 'azhi' (estuary), the southern part of which is known as Chaliyam and northern part as Beypore. Thus the river get the names Chaliyar and Beyporepuzha.

Course

The Chaliyar originates in the Western Ghats range at Elambalari Hills located near Cherambadi town in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu and flows through Malappuram District for most of its length and then for around 17 km it forms the boundary between Malappuram District and Kozhikode District before entering the city of Kozhikode for its final 10 km journey and finally empties into the Arabian Sea. Some of the Chaliyar's tributaries originate from Wayanad District and joins the main river in Malappuram.

Economy

During late 19th century and early 20th century, the Chaliyar was extensively used as a waterway for carrying timber from the forest areas in and around Nilambur to the various mills in Kallayi of Calicut city. Rafts made of logs were taken downstream during the monsoon season to Kallayi, where these were sawn to size in the timber mills dotting the banks of the river. Kallayi 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 like teak, 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 Kallayi, though with far less output. Many have closed down.

Ecology

Chaliyar River was in the news a few years ago because of the ecological damage caused by a pulp factory that released effluents into the river and affected the marine life. This factory has since closed down.

Tributaries

• Cherupuzha (Mavoor)
  • Engappuzha
  • Iruthullippuzha
  • Kadungampuzha
• Iruvanjippuzha
  • Pulingappuzha
  • Chalippuzha
  • Muthappanpuzha
• Cherupuzha (Areekode)
• Kuthirappuzha
  • Kottappuzha
• Kuruvanpuzha
• Kanjirappuzha
• Karimpuzha
  • Cherupuzha (Karulai)
  • Punnappuzha or Pandiyar
    • Maruthappuzha or Kalakkanpuzha
      • Karakkodan puzha
• Pandippuzha
• Neerppuzha

In addition to these rivers some creeks also join Chaliyar from Neelithode, Poonkudi, Vadasseri, Edavanna, Kunduthodu and Mampad.

References

• "Infobox facts". All Kerala River Protection Council. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• The River Chaliyar, by M. P. Chandran
• About the Rivers of Kerala

External links

• News report about the River after the pulp factory was closed.
• Life returns to Chaliyar river
• Adyanpara waterfalls
• Meenmutty waterfalls near Vaduvanchal, Wayanad near the origin of river (Satellite image)