Kunthipuzha River

The Kunthipuzha River is a waterway located in the state of Kerala, India. It flows through the Silent Valley National Park, and is a tributary of the river Thuthapuzha, which is in turn one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala. This river is mainly used by the people of Mannarkkad taluk of Palakkad district. This river is known for the story of bathing of Kunthi devi, the mother of pandavas and so it is named as Kunthippuzha. Another theory is that Kunthippuzha is the shortened form of "Kunthirikkappuzha" (Malayalam: കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പുഴ). "Kunthirikkam" is the Malayalam word for Boswellia serrata which is a kind of frankincense tree seen in this region.

Course

The Kunthipuzha River originates from the Anginda peak in the Silent Valley National Park part of the Western Ghats in Kerala. Initially it flows through the tropical evergreen forests and mountainous terrain of the Silent Valley National Park. Then it enters into the Palakkad plains where it passes several towns namely, Kottopadam, Mannarkad, Kumaramputhur, Karimpuzha, Sreekrishnapuram, Vellinezhi, Thachanattukara, Aliparambu, Marayamangalam, Elamkulam, Pulamanthole, Paradiyur, Moorkkanad, Kaipuram, Vilathur and Kodumudy. The Kunthipuzha River then merges with the Bharathapuzha River at Irimbiliyam.