Mahé River

Mahé River (also known as Mayyazhipuzha), is a river in South India. It flows through the state of Kerala and the coastal exclave of Mahé in Puducherry.

Geography

The river originates in the hills of Wayanad in the Western Ghats, and traverses a total length of 54 km (33.5 mi) before culminating in the Arabian Sea at Mahé. The river passes through the villages of Naripetta, Vanimel, Iyyancode, Iringanoor, Tripangathur, Peringalam, Edachery, Kacheri, Eramala, PARAKKADAVU Kariyad, Olavilam, Kunnumakkara, Azhiyoor and Mahé, thus covering an area of 394 km².^[2] The northern boundary of Mahé Town is defined by the river.

Economy

The influence on the economy of the region traversed by the river is very little. The river has been used for inland navigation and transportation of articles from interior villages to Mahe and back, in olden days. The government of Puducherry has planned to build a fishing harbour at the estuary of the river. However owing to technical reasons the harbour, which is under construction, is on the beach adjacent to the estuary. To enhance tourist potential of Mahe a Riverside Walkway, originating from the Water Sports Complex at Manjakkal, Mahe, on the banks of the river stretching out to the breakwater of the [Fishing Harbour]is also being built by the government of Puducherry.^[3]

Trivia

M. Mukundan's magnum opus novel Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil (P. 1974 ; Malayalam for "On the banks of the Mahé River"), celebrates this river. Mayyazhi river known as the "English channel" in India during the period of British rule, because it separated British-ruled Tellicherry from French-ruled Mahé. It is the most polluted river in God's Own Country.

See also

• List of rivers in Kerala
• List of dams and reservoirs in Kerala
• List of rivers in India

References

Coordinates: 11°42′N 75°32′E / 11.700°N 75.533°E / 11.700; 75.533