river in southern India. It rises near the Ponnaiyar River, southwest of Chintamani, in Karnataka (Karnātaka) state, and flows 183 miles (295 km) southeastward through Tamil Nadu state to the Bay of Bengal (Bengal, Bay of), south of Chennai (Madras). Its major tributaries are the Ponnai and Cheyyar rivers.

The flow of the Palar is irregular, with considerable variations from year to year. Although it generally does not flood, heavy rains have caused the river to remain in flood for as long as six months. The river has been dammed for irrigation, especially along its course in Tamil Nadu. The largest communities along its banks are Vellore, Arcot, and Chengalpattu.