Bharathapuzha

The Nila river, popularly known as Bharatapuzha and Periyar is the most important river systems in Kerala.It has a unique position in the annals and antiquities of Kerala.TheNila Valley was the cradle of civilisation in Kerala.For the people of its basin this was thevery basis of their cultural and historical heritage.There were a number of prehistoric settlements on its banks.Nila basis formed the first layer of tribal settlements.The second was the Aryan settlements.The Brahmins have four important settlements on its banks(Panniyur, Sukapuram, Thirunavaya and Ponnani).There was an interlinking of Nila andKaveri; and at one end was Pumpuhar and at the other Ponnani.The interlinking of Kaveriand Nila is substantiated by Agnihotri legend.The contribution of Nila to the Socio-religious and cultural life of Kerala cannot beunder estimated. On both banks of the river, there are famous temples like Tirunavaya,Sukapuram, Panniyur, Tripangode, Tiruvillamala, and Kalpathi.Nila nurtured Malayalam,Sanskrit and Tamil literature. Innumerable literary souls lived on the banks of Nila-Ezhuttachan who lived in Chittur and Tirur.Kunchan Nampiyar on Lakkidi, Puntanam,Melputhur, M.T.Vasudevan Nair on Kutallur,Akhithem in Kumaranallur, Urub, Cherukad,(P.C.Kuttikrishnan), Olappamanna Nambutheri, Balamani Amma, Kutty Krishna Marar,Kaikulangara Rama Warrier, P. Kunhiraman Nair-a glorious line of distinguished literary souls who stretch up to our time.The economic side of the river, settlement patterns resources of the village, village structure, trade and commerce, emergence of exchange systems, urbanization rural, semi urban and urban areas to be identified to fully assess theimpact of the Nila on our History.In fact, Nila has been the blood of our blood and salt ofour salt, the life and breadth of Kerala.