• Origin: The river originates in the Nandi Hills (Nandidurg) in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka at an elevation of about 800-1400 meters.
• Course and Length: It flows southeastward for a total length of approximately 348 km (216 miles).
  • Karnataka: 93 km
  • Andhra Pradesh: 33 km
  • Tamil Nadu: 222 km

• Mouth: The river drains into the Bay of Bengal near Vayalur, south of Chennai.
• Tributaries: The chief tributary is the Cheyyar River, while others include the Ponnai, Malattar, and Agaram.
• Characteristics: The Palar is a rain-fed river, with flow highly dependent on monsoon rains. It can run dry for long periods, but heavy rains can also cause significant flooding. It flows as an underground river for a long distance before emerging near Bethamangala town in Karnataka. 

• Water Supply: The Palar river basin is a primary source of drinking water for numerous towns and villages, including parts of Chennai through reservoirs like the Poondi and Chembarambakkam lakes, and historically the Kolar Gold Fields via the Bethamangala tank.
• Irrigation: The river is crucial for agriculture in the districts it flows through, with numerous dams and anicuts (like the British-era Palar Anaicut) built to store and divert water for irrigation, benefiting thousands of farmers.
• Environmental Issues: The river faces significant challenges from sand quarrying, the discharge of untreated industrial effluents (especially from the tanning industry), and the depletion of groundwater, leading to its description as an "ecocide" by the Supreme Court in a related judgment.
• Water Disputes: The sharing of the Palar's water has been a subject of disputes between the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, often involving legal challenges regarding dam construction. 

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