Paddlers rediscover unexplored Cauvery in all its splendour

When we talk about the Cauvery, we usually emphasise on the course in Mettur, Kallanai and Kollidam, or probably in Thiruvaiyaru. But there must be a lot more to the water-body beyond these. 

Attempting to explore the course off the threaded spots, stand-up paddler Kumaran Mahalingam, a geologist and conservation educator, accompanied by two other members Arunkumar and Mohammed Rafi, took off to the unvisited zones of the river. Over three days, he followed the river by paddling wherever possible.

Kumaran Mahalingam, founder, Paddle for Future Program, holds three Limca Book of Records for different feats in stand up paddling and a certified wilderness first responder from National Outdoor Leadership School, USA. He said, “The idea was to capture the Cauvery river in the state; find out what is the scope of eco-tourism in the form of paddle-boarding or kayaking, in order to engage the public. The other objective was to encourage citizen-based experiments for them to understand the river, especially for students.”

The expedition followed the river towards Bhavani to Erode, where there are ferry rides. It proceeded from Erode to Namakkal and Mayanur barrage, where Amaravati River and Cauvery meet and within 45 kilometres touched Mukkombu, where the flood plains nourish a dense cultivation of coconuts, bananas, etc. 

Crossing Srirangam in Tiruchy, the river enters Thiruvaiyaru after Thirukattupalli, splitting into two. It becomes narrow in Kumbakonam and via Mayiladuthurai reaches Poompuhar, where the team ended their expedition.

The discovery through the length of the Delta region, chasing the river, has been mind-blowing and enlightening, more than they had imagined, he said. “Especially in the backwaters of Mettur. There are five spots between Mettur and Bhavani and they are ideal for recreational and competitive sports,” he added.

The expedition also involved taking water samples of the Cauvery at different spots and intervals throughout the tour. The Presidency College, Mahalingam’s alma mater, was also on board in the project. The Department of Geology is helping him to ascertain the contents of the samples. “The results of the 10 samples will help us know more about the river,” he said, adding that the project is a model for creating awareness among citizens.