Kilkila River

Kilkila River is a river in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is a lifeline for the city of Panna, which is famous for its pearl mines.

Variants

• • Kilkila river
• Kilkila
• Kudhani Nadi - In the olden days, Kilkila was known as Kudhani Nadi. It was believed to be a cursed river. Through a fascinating tale of redemption by the Pranami Sect, Kudhan Nadi came to be considered as holy as Ganga.

Significance of the river

The river is also a significant part of the city's cultural and religious history. The river is a source of water for the city, including Rani Bagh, Mohan Niwas, Agra Mohalla, and Dham Mohalla. It also provides irrigation water to farmers in the lower parts of the city.

Course

It feeds the Ken river in Panna district in Madhya Pradesh. Ken joins the Yamuna, which joins the Ganga. Hence Kilkila is part of Ganga basin. This small river has a long story.

45 kms long Kilkila starts in Chhapar forest range of Take hills in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh. It flows through Panna city and buffer zone of Panna Tiger Reserve. About 2 km, upstream of Bariyarpur barrage, Kilkila joins Ken from right bank. Rather unusually, in lower part the river is known as Mohar Nadi.

In informal Hindi Kilkila translates as sweetly noisy, a bit like murmuring or babbling. It is also Hindi name for Kingfisher bird. The river makes two beautiful falls downstream Panna town. One is Kalkal at Amrai ghat and second is Kahua Seha fall. Two small streams join Kilikila in upper catchment.

Pollution

The river is currently in danger due to pollution. The river has become contaminated and turned into a swamp due to the dumping of sewage from the Panna city into it.