[1] The river begins as several small streams in the area around the Kumirakatti forest reserve about 9 km west of Karumalai village.

South of Kodumbalur, it receives the surplus flow of the Vembar retention basin and returns to its southeastern course.

[citation needed] Near the village of Kummankudi, it is joined on its right bank by its largest tributary, the Nerunjikudiyar River, which flows for about 30 km east and originates from a retention basin in Thirumayam taluk.

At the village of Kadayakudi, it is joined on its left bank by its second largest tributary, the Gundar River, which flows for about 7.5 km southeast through Pudukkottai and originates from the Kavinadu retention basin to the west of that city.

[2] The river, which runs for a total length of 137 kilometres (85 mi) flows through parts of Dindigul, Tiruchirappalli, and Pudukkottai districts.