THAMIRABARANI

Thamirabarani is a perennial river that originates from the Agastyarkoodam peak of Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats, above Papanasam in Ambasamudram. It flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India into the Gulf of Mannar. From the source to sea, the river is about 128 kilometers (80 mi) long and is the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu. This river flows towards north direction initially. However, it changes to east direction later.

Origin:

The Thamirabarani river originates from the peak of the Pothigai hills on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats at an elevation of 1,725 meters (5,659 ft) above sea-level. Thamirabarani covers the districts of Thoothukudi and Thirunelveli. The river basin comes under the administrative limits of the places like Tenkasi, Sankarankoil, Shenkottai, Ambasamudram, Alangulam, Nanguneri, Veerakeralamouthu, Palayamkottai of Tirunelveli district. Then it covers the areas like Ottapidaram, Kovilpatti, Srivaikundam of Thoothukudi district and finally the river drains into Gulf of Mannar near Punnaikayal in Tiruchendur of Tuticorin district.

HISTORY:

Its many name derivations of Tan Porunai or porunai include Tamraparni, Tamira Porunai, Tampraparani, Tamirabarni, Tamiravaruni and now called "Thamirabarani River". The term refers to "copper-colored leaf", from the words Thamiram in Tamil/Sanskrit as the traces of copper found in this river and parani meaning leaf/tree, translating to "river of red leaves". The river was mentioned as a holy river in the sanskrit holy books like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. During the period of King Pandiyan, this river was well known for its pearl, fishery, conch and other trades. In the earlier periods, the residents from this region led a movement from the Tamraparni river to the North Western Sri Lanka which caused the sharing of name in the closely connected places. Then the important historical document on this Thamirabarani river is the Tamraparni Mahatmyam. This river has many historical temples on its banks famously known as Kurukkuthurai Murugan kovil. On the Northen part of this river, there is a small village called Appan Kovil. The river mentioned in Mahabaratha as, "Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation"

List of major tributaries;

The river is joined by its headwater tributaries Peyar, Ullar, Pambar before it flows into the Karaiyar Dam reservoir. The river forms the Paanatheertham waterfalls, as it enters the Kariyar reservoir. Servalar joins the Thamirabarani before it enters into the, Papanasam lower reservoir. The river descends down the mountains near Papanasam, where it forms the Kalyanatheertham falls and Agasthiar falls. The river flows on the plains eastwards from Papanasam. The first tributary to join Thamirabarani in the plains is the Manimuthar Riverand joins Thamirabarani near Aladiyoor village. After which the river meets the tributary Gadananathi River at Tiruppudaimaruthur. The Pachaiyar joins the Thamirabarani near Tharuvai village in Palayamkottai. The river meets its major and affluent tributary Chithar (Chitranathi) which arises in the Kutralam hills and the Cittar River runs almost parallel to Thamirabarani till it joins the main river near Sivalaperi.

DAMS CONSTRUCTED ACROSS THE RIVER

The Dams were constructed during the ancient and medival kings. The list of the dams on the river are: 1. Kodaimelaalagain anicut 2. Nathiyunni anicut 3. Kannadian anicut 4. Ariyanayagipuram anicut 5. Palavur anicut 6. Suthamalli anicut and 7. Marudur anicut

CHANNELS OF THE RIVER

The Channels of the Thamirabarani river are: 1. South Kodaimelalagain channel 2. North Kodaimelalagain channel 3. Nathiyunni channel 4. Kannadian channel 5. Kodagan channel 6. Palayam channel 7. Tirunelveli channel and 8. Marudur Melakka

SPECIES FOUND IN THE RIVER

As water flows non-stop throughout the year, it is one of the most fish-rich rivers in the world. It is estimated that nearly 669 fish species found in the river. Snakehead – Channa diplogramma, Channa bleheri, Channa striata, Channa maculata, Channa punctata, Channa harcourtbutleri, Channa asiatica, Channa marulius, Northen Snakehead Catfish – African Catfish, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Mystus guli catfish, Pangas Catfish, P.hodgarti, Goonch Catfish, Pseudolaguvia Alligator Gar – Juvenile alligator Eels – Anguilidae, Synbranchiformes, Indian mottled eel, Macrognathus Crap – Silver Carp, Grass Carp, Common Carp Loaches – Acanthocobitis, Horseface loach, Pangio loach, Schistura Loach Others – Puntius, Devario, Etroplus, Mystus, Aplocheilus, Dawkinsia, Garra, Glossogobius, Macrognathus, Batasio, Barilius, Badidae, Clupisoma, Nemacheilus, Oreichthys, Oryzias, Osteobrama, Raiamas, Salmophasia, Tor (Masheer), Xenentodon