Meenachil River - Tributaries

Tributaries

The Meenachil has four main tributaries:

1. The first tributary, the Teekoy River originates at Vazhikkadavu near Wagamon and flows through Vellikulam, Marmala, Mavadi and Teekoy. It drains the largest quantity of water though a substantial part of the water is now being diverted to Idukki reservoir through a 4 km long tunnel constructed by the Electricity Board at Vazhikkadavu. Seeing this tributary flowing down the deep gorge near Vellikulam from the Wagamon Road is a visual treat. Numerous streams and brooks join this river in its 25 km length to Erattupetta where there is a major confluence of Meenachil river.

2. Another tributary is formed by the stream originating at Illikkal kallu near Thalanadu and flowing through Mankombu and Vakakkadu and the stream originating in the Melukavu hills and flowing through Edamaruku. These two streams join together at Randattumunni at Edamaruku and flows south-eastwards and joins with Teekoy River at Ettonnil Kadavu near Kalathukadavu and flows southward to enter the northern side of Erattupetta (meaning a confluence of two streams). At Erattupetta it joins south of Aruvithura the third tributary, Poonjar, which enters the southern side of Erattupetta. Aruvithura forane Church is a famous church that is situated on the left bank of Meenachil river at Erattupetta. 3. The third tributary, the Poonjar, originates from the southern valley of the Kurishumala hills and flows through Adivaram, Peringalam and Poonjar. It is joined by various streams flowing through Vengathanam, Chennadu, Maniamkulam, Kunnonni and Cholathadam.

4. The fourth tributary, the Chittar, flows through Chettuthodu, Kalaketty, Variyanikkadu, Chemmalamattam, Thidanadu and joins the Meenachil at Kondoor, 4 k.m downstream, west of Erattupetta.

In addition to these main tributaries, there are about 10 major streams and 20 minor streams joining the Meenachil at various places. Some of the important ones are:

• The Aakkal thodu, which flows through Anjoottimangalam, Kalekkandam, Narianganam and Plassanal and joins the Meenachil at Panackappalam.

• The Ponnozhukum thodu, which flows through Elikkulam, Mallikassery, Vilakkumadam, Edamattom regions and joins the Meenachil near the Shree Krishna Swamy temple, Bharananganam.

• The Lalam thodu, which flows through Karoor, Mundupalam and the northern regions of Palai and joins the Meenachil at Palai, near to the old private bus station.

• The Meenachil thodu, which flows through Chengalam, Urulikunnam, Njandupara, Paika, Poovarany, Meenachil regions and joins the Meenachil at Arunapuram, near St. Thomas College, Palai.

• The Chakini thodu, which flows through Maridom, Cherpunkal regions and joins the Meenachil near the Cherpunkal Bridge.

• The Pannagam thodu, about 30 kilometer long which start from 14th mile of KK road region and flows through Madapattu, Mattakkara, Arumanoor, Ayarkkunnam regions and joins the Meenachil near Punnathara, Kidangoor.

• The Kattachira thodu, which flows through Kuravilangadu, Kadappoor regions and joins the Meenachil near Kattachira.