Punnappuzha (
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
:പുന്നപ്പുഴ) is a
tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...
of
Karimpuzha, which is the biggest tributary of the
Chaliyar river in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
, India.
Punnappuzha is also known as Pandiyar (പാണ്ടിയാര്) when it flows through Tamil Nadu.
One branch of this river originate from northern slopes of
Mukurthi National Park and another branch from
Gudalur, in
Nilagiri
Nilagiri is a town and a Notified Area Council in Balasore district in the Indian state of Odisha.
History
Nilgiri is a very small town but replete with rich history and heritage. Its history can be traced back to paleolithic age. Its mode ...
district of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
. These two branches join together 5 km south-west of Gudalur town. When it reaches
Edakkara, the river
Maruthappuzha
The Maruthappuzha is a tributary of the Punnappuzha in Kerala, India, which merges with the Karimpuzha and thus finally joins the Chaliyar. The Maruthappuzha originates as two separate streams from the Devala (eastern branch) and the Pandalur (n ...
joins with it. Punnappuzha ends its course by merging with
Karimpuzha one kilometer before the Karimpuzha bridge.
Nilambur,
Vazhikkadavu,
Chungathara and
Edakkara are the major towns on the bank of Punnappuzha. There are bridges built at Kattadi, Muppini and Muttikkadavu across Punnappuzha.
Rivers of Malappuram district
Rivers of the Western Ghats
{{India-river-stub