Backwaters & Rivers


Backwaters: The backwaters are a peculiar feature of the state. Canals link the lakes and backwaters to facilitate an uninterrupted inland water navigation system from Thiruvananthapuram to Vadakara, a distance of 450 kms. The Vembanad lake stretching from Alappuzha to Kochi is the biggest water basin and is over 200 sq.kms. in area. Water-logged Kuttanad alone forms more than 20 per cent of India's total length of waterways.

Rivers: There are 44 rivers in the state, of which 41 originate from the Western Ghats and flow towards west into the Arabian sea. Three tributaries of the river Cauvery originate in Kerala and flow east into the neighbouring States. These rivers and streams flowing down from the Western Ghats either empty themselves in to the backwaters in the coastal area or directly into the Arabian Sea.

As the Western Ghats are nowhere more than 120 kms from the sea, all these rivers are comparatively short.

The important rivers from north to south are; Valapattanam river (110 kms.), Chaliar (69 kms.), Kadalundipuzha (130 kms.), Bharathapuzha (209 kms.), Chalakudy river (130 kms.), Periyar (244 kms), Pamba (176 kms), Achancoil (128 kms.) and Kalladayar (121 kms.). Other than these, there are 35 more small rivers and rivulets flowing down from the Ghats. Most of these rivers are navigable up to the midland region for country crafts which provide a cheap and reliable transport system.

The presence of a large number of rivers has made Kerala rich in water resources which are being harnessed for power generation and irrigation.

Rivers/ Rivelets of Kerala
Name of river/rivelets
Length in Kms.
(A) West Flowing
1 Majeswar 16
2 Uppala 50
3 Shiriya 67
4 Mogral 34
5 Chandragiri 105
6 Chittari 25
7 Nileswar 46
8 Kariangode 64
9 Kavvaiyi 31
10 Peruvamba 51
11 Ramapuram 19
12 Kuppam 82
13 Valapattanam 110
14 Anjarakandy 48
15 Tellicherry 28
16 Mahe 54
17 Kuttiyadi 74
18 Korapuzha 46
19 Kallai 22
20 Chaliyar 169
21 Kadalundi 130
22 Tirur 48
23 Bharathapuzha 209
24 Keecheri 51
25 Puzhakkal 29
26 Karuvannur 48
27 Chalakudy 130
28 Periyar 244
29 Muvattupuzha 121
30 Meenachil 78
31 Manimala 90
32 Pamba 176
33 Achencoil 128
34 Pallickal 42
35 Kallada 121
36 Ithikara 56
37 Ayoor 17
38 Vamanapuram 88
39 Mamom 27
40 Karamana 68
41 Neyyar 56
(B) East Flowing(Tributaries of Kaveri)
42 Kabani  
43 Bhavani  
44 Pambar