Chittar River and its five tributaries and numerous other contributing streams originate in the Courtallam hills of Tenkasi district in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Together with its tributaries and streams, the Chittar River serves as an important source of irrigation for the region and is a major tributary of the Tambaraparani River along with the Manimuthar River.

Tributaries

The Chittar has several tributaries which include the Aintharuviar (joining near Gajamajorpuram), the Gundar which joins near Tenkasi, the Hanumanathi joining in Thayar Thoppu near Veerakeralampudur and the Aluthakanniar which merges in the village of Kadapagothi.

Irrigation

The Chittar runs for about 80 km before it meets with its first tributary which has an anicut and irrigates about 293 ha of land. One of its next tributaries has a reservoir provided by an anicut, feeding about 142 ha. The next tributary has seven anicuts and a reservoir and irrigates about 465 ha of land altogether. This pattern continues as each tributary and other contributing rivers has anicuts and reservoirs that provide irrigation for the adjacent land. The Chittar River itself has 17 anicuts irrigating about 8903 ha of land. It eventually joins with Thamirabarani river.