Coastlines in India

India has a total coastline length of 7516 km, made up of 2094 km of island territories and 5422 km of mainland coastline. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and two union territories—Daman and Diu and Puducherry—all have coastlines that extend into India. Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are India's two island territories.

Features of Major Coastlines in India

Here are the features of states which serves as a coastline in India −

Gujarat

The Kathiawar region of Gujarat boasts a 1,600 km long coastline, making it the longest in the whole nation. The Arabian Sea encircles this coastline, which is dotted with 41 ports: 1 major and 40 intermediate or minor. Gujarat has many beaches, including those at Diu, Dwarka, Porbandar, and others.

Maharashtra

The Konkan Coast is the name given to the 720 kilometres of Maharashtra's coastline. It is bordered on the east by the Western Ghats Mountain range, on the west by the Arabian Sea, on the north by the Daman Ganga River, and on the south by the Gangavalli River. The region's primary agricultural products are rice, millets, lentils, coconut, etc. For residents of Pune and Mumbai, the Konkan coastline, which is lined with numerous beaches, makes for the perfect retreat. 53 ports total—two major, 51 minor or intermediate.

Goa

Goa, the smallest Indian state, with a 131-kilometer-long coastline. The world's most stunning beaches can be found there. The Arabian Sea forms its western coast, and it is bordered by the Indian states of Maharashtra in the north and Karnataka in the east and south. Goa's soil is reddish in hue and rich in ferric-aluminum oxides. Most of the land in the interior and along the riverbanks is alluvial and loamy. The soil is suitable for agriculture because it is full of minerals and humus. There are 5 minor ports and 1 major port.

Karnataka

The 300 km long Kanara is the name of Karnataka's coastline region. The Konkan in the north, the Western Ghats in the east, the Kerala Plains in the south, and the Arabian Sea in the west define the region's boundaries. There are many tourist attractions there, including Maravanthe and St. Mary's Island Beach. Three districts make up this region: Uttara Kannada, Udupi, and Dakshina. It has two minor/intermediate ports and ten major ports.

Kerala

Kerala, often known as the Malabar Coast, has the fifth-longest coastline in India at 590 kilometres. It begins on the south-western coast of Maharashtra, travels through Goa's coastal region, along the entirety of Karnataka's and Kerala's western coasts, and finally arrives in Kanyakumari. The Western Ghats are to its east and the Arabian Sea is to its west. The Malabar coast is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, brackish water lakes, beaches, tea and coffee plantations, etc. 13 Major Ports are present.

Tamil Nadu

The coromandel coast, which spans 1,076 km and is located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the second-longest coastline in the country. The Eastern Ghats in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Kaveri delta in the south, and the Utkal Plains in the north, form its borders. The principal crops grown in this area are rice, legumes, sugarcane, cotton, and peanuts. The Coromandel coast is home to coconut plantations. Additionally, it features the largest natural urban beach in India, Marina Beach, as well as the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and two important seaports, Tuticorin and Chennai.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh, which is located in Coastal Andhra, has the third-longest coastline in all of India. Between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, the coastline, which includes the Coromandel Coast, is 972 km long. Due to the delta formed by the Godavari Krishna River and the Penna, this coastline features fertile agricultural area. The region's primary crops are rice, followed by plantations of pulses and coconuts. 12 Major Ports are present.

Odisha

Odisha's 485 km of shoreline is known as coastal Odisha or the Utkal Plains. Lower Ganges Plain in the north, Bay of Bengal in the east, Tamilnad Plains in the south, and Eastern Ghats in the west define the region's boundaries. Chilka Lake, the largest lake in the nation, the former kingdom of Kalinga, beaches (such as Chandigarh, Gopalpur, etc.), and Bhitarkanika, the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in the country, are all located in this area. Only one major port is present.

West Bengal

The 158 km long shoreline of West Bengal's coastal plain is found in the districts of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas. The world's largest mangrove forest can be found in West Bengal's Sundarbans delta. It is known for the royal Bengal swamp tiger and is home to a diverse range of flora. In West Bengal, agriculture is the main economic sector. The main crops grown in West Bengal are rice, potatoes, jute, sugarcane, and wheat. Only one major port is present.

Daman and Diu

The island of Diu has a 17 km-long shoreline, but is cut off from it on the north by a small strait. On the western coast of India, Daman and Diu, a former union territory, contained two geographically distinct districts. A little town called Daman is located 100 miles north of Mumbai on the southern coast of the Indian state of Gujarat. Diu includes a tiny territory on the mainland as well as an island off the Kathiawar Peninsula in southern Gujarat, 40 km southeast of Veraval. Ghoghla, one of the two little mainland outposts, serves as the gateway to Diu if you're travelling through the Saurashtra town of Una. Gujarat and the Arabian Sea encircle Daman and Diu's border. Its size is 38.8 square kilometres.

Puducherry

India's union territory of Puducherry is made up of four tiny, physically disconnected districts. The Union Territory of Puducherry has the smallest coastline. A 45-kilometer shoreline can be found in Puducherry. From Chennai Airport, you can travel to Puducherry, the territory's capital and former French Indian administrative centre, which is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Tamil Nadu borders it on three sides while the Bay of Bengal borders it on the east.

List of Major Coastlines in India

Here is the table of coastlines of India, their approximate lengths, and locations −

Coastline	Location	Approximate Length (in kilometers)
Gujarat Coast	Gujarat	1,600 km
Konkan Coast	Maharashtra	720 km
Goa Coast	Goa	105 km
Malabar Coast	Karnataka, Kerala	580 km
Coromandel Coast	Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh	800 km
Odisha Coast	Odisha	480 km
West Bengal Coast	West Bengal	157 km
Daman and Diu Coast	Daman and Diu	21 km
Puducherry Coast	Puducherry	45 km

Conclusion

India's 7,516 km of coastline is made up of several states and union territories. Every coastline, from the 45-kilometer Puducherry Coast to the 1,600-kilometer Gujarat Coast, has its own distinctive characteristics and charms. These coastlines provide chances for agricultural as well as a variety of scenery, stunning beaches, and ports. India's coastlines provide a wealth of maritime experiences, whether you choose to explore the Konkan Coast in Maharashtra, unwind on the beautiful beaches of Goa, or take in the splendour of the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state in India has the longest coastline?

Gujarat has the longest coastline in India, spanning approximately 1,600 kilometers.

What is the length of the Konkan Coast in Maharashtra?

The Konkan Coast in Maharashtra is approximately 720 kilometers long.

Which Indian state has the smallest coastline?

The union territory of Daman and Diu has the smallest coastline, measuring around 21 kilometers.

Where is the Malabar Coast located?

The Malabar Coast extends through Karnataka and Kerala along the southwestern coast of India.

What are some popular attractions along the Coromandel Coast?

The Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is known for its beautiful beaches, including Marina Beach in Chennai and the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

What is the approximate length of the Odisha Coast?

The coastline of Odisha stretches for approximately 480 kilometers.

Which union territory has a coastline of 45 kilometers?

Puducherry, a union territory, has a coastline measuring around 45 kilometers.

How long is the West Bengal Coast?

The West Bengal Coast extends for approximately 157 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal.