Bharathappuzha

Bharathapuzha
Bharathappuzha at Triprangode near Thavanur, Malappuram, India
Labelled map of Bharathappuzha
Location
Country	India
State	Kerala
Physical characteristics
Source	Anamalai Hills
• location	Kerala, India
• coordinates	10°36′N 77°07′E / 10.600°N 77.117°E / 10.600; 77.117
• elevation	2,461 m (8,074 ft)
Mouth	Lakshadweep Sea[1]
• location	Ponnani, Kerala
• coordinates	10°47′12″N 75°54′39″E / 10.78667°N 75.91083°E / 10.78667; 75.91083
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	209[2] km (130 mi)
Basin size	6,186 km2 (2,388 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	mouth
• average	161 m3/s (5,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Thuthapuzha, Gayathripuzha, Kalpathipuzha, Kannadipuzha, Tirur River

The Bharathappuzha ("River of Bhārata"), also known as the Nila or Ponnani River,^[3] is a river in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With a length of 209 km,^[2] it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar.^[4] It flows through Palakkad Gap, which is also the largest opening in the Kerala portion of Western Ghats.^[5] The Nila has groomed the culture and life of South Malabar part of Kerala. It is also referred to as the "Peraar" in ancient scripts and documents. River Bharathapuzha is an interstate river and lifeline water source for a population residing in four administrative districts, namely Malappuram and Palakkad districts, and parts of Palakkad-Thrissur district border of Kerala and Coimbatore, and Tiruppur of Tamil Nadu. The fertile Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands lie on its bank.