Longest Coastline in India – Coastal States of India, Length of Coastline of India
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
The Coastline of India is very long and runs approximately 7516 km long, with nine coastal states, four union territories, and two groups of islands. The Coastline of India borders the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east. Among all the states, the Longest Coastline in India is Gujarat, while in the UTs, the largest coastline is of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Coastal states of India constitute multiple ecosystems stretching from shores and mangroves to coral reefs. These Coastal areas can play a significant part in expanding harbours and inland waterways for sustainable growth. Read more about the Coastal States of India below.
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Coastline of India
The Coastal states of India play a crucial part in a country’s economy through productive habitats, resources, and vibrant biodiversity. The coastal zone also has numerous ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, dunes, lagoons, salt marshes, estuaries, etc.
India’s coastal areas are gaining greater prominence due to rising urbanization, human population, and accelerated developmental actions. There are approximately 13 significant docks in India. Here are some highlights of the Coastline in India:
| Indian Coastline Length | 7516.6 km |
| Coastal States of India | There are 9 states on the Indian Coastline |
| Longest Coastline State in India | Gujarat with 1214.7 kms of coastline |
| Total Coastal Areas of India | 3,287,263 km² |
| Third Longest Coastline in India | Andhra Pradesh |
Coastal States of India
The nine coastal areas in India are as follows –
- Gujarat
- West Bengal
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Goa
- Andhra Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Odisha
- Karnataka
The Coastal Region of India also include four Union Territories of India:
- Daman & Diu
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Puducherry
- Lakshadweep Islands
Length of Coastline of India: State Wise
Gujarat is the Longest Coastline State in India, whereas Daman & Diu has the shortest coastline. The total length of the coastline of India (in kilometres) is roughly 7,516. To know the length of each coastline, refer to the table below.
| Coastline of India State Wise | |
| State/UT | Indian Coastline Length (in Km) |
| Gujarat Coastline Length | 1214.7 |
| Odisha Coastline Length | 476.4 |
| Tamil Nadu Coastline Length | 906.9 |
| Andhra Pradesh Coastline Length | 973.7 |
| Goa Coastline Length | 101 |
| Maharashtra Coastline Length | 652.6 |
| Kerala Coastline Length | 569.7 |
| Karnataka Coastline Length | 280 |
| West Bengal Coastline Length | 157.5 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands Coastline Length | 1962 |
| Lakshadweep Coastline Length | 132 |
| Puducherry Coastline Length | 47.6 |
| Daman & Diu Coastline Length | 42.5 |
| Total Indian Coastline Length | 7,516.60 |
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Coastal Areas in India
Below is brief information about the 9 coastal states of India, their location, the number of ports they possess, and the type of plantations they support.
Largest Coastline in India – Gujarat
Gujarat holds the first position as the longest coastline in India, having a total length of 1,600 km, observed in the Kathiawar region.
- It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea and has 41 ports, including 1 Major and 40 Intermediate ports.
- Some of the beaches of Gujarat are Porbandar, Diu, Dwarka, etc.
Tamil Nadu:
Tamil Nadu is India’s second largest coastal state, being 1,076 km long, and is referred to as the coromandel coast.
- Utkal Plains bounds it on the north side, the Bay of Bengal on the east, the Kaveri delta on the south, and the Eastern Ghats on the West.
- The main crops of this coastal area are sugarcane, cotton, rice, pulses, and peanuts.
- Coconut agribusiness is done along this coast.
- It also has important seaports, including Marina Beach, Tuticorin and Chennai, fishing dockyards, and the Gulf of Mannar National Park.
Andhra Pradesh:
Andhra Pradesh ranks third in the list of coastlines in India situated in the Coastal Andhra region.
- This coastline of India stretches over a distance of 973 km.
- It is found along the Coromandel Coast between the Bay of Bengal and the Eastern Ghats.
- This coastline has prosperous agricultural land due to the Krishna river, Godavari delta, and Penna river.
- Rice is the area’s primary yield; other plantations are pulses and coconut.
- It has 12 Major Ports.
Maharashtra:
Konkan Coast is a popular name for the Maharashtra coast and has a coastline length of 720 km.
- The Western Ghats mountain defines Maharashtra’s coastal area in the eastern part, the Arabian Sea in the western region, the Daman Ganga River in the north, and the Gangavalli River in the south.
- The main crops of the zone are pulses, rice, millet, coconut, etc.
- The Konkan coastline is spotted with numerous beaches and is a perfect escape for the Pune and Mumbai locals.
- It has 53 ports, wherein 2 are Major and 51 Minor or Intermediate.
Kerala:
The coastal area in India that ranks fifth is Kerala, with a length of 590 km, commonly called the Coast of Malabar.
- It initiates from the southwestern coast of Maharashtra and arrives in Kanyakumari along the coastal region of Goa, via the entire western coast of Karnataka.
- It encloses the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the West.
- Malabar coast is renowned for stunning scenarios, tea and coffee farms, beaches, salty water lakes, etc.
- The state has 13 Major Ports.
Odisha:
The sixth coastline of India, which is Odisha state’s coast, stretches over 485 km, also called the Utkal Plains.
- The Lower Ganges Plain borders the region in the north, the Tamilnad Plains in the south, the West by the Eastern Ghats, and the Bay of Bengal in the east.
- This region has Chilka lake, the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, beaches, and Bhitarkanika.
- Odisha has only one Port.
Karnataka:
Kanara is another name for the coastal area of Karnataka, which is 300 km in length.
- Konkan borders the area in the north, Kerala Plains in the South, the West holds the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats in the east.
- It has many tourist destinations such as St. Mary’s Island Beach, Maravanthe, and more.
- Karnataka has three districts: Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Dakshina.
- This coastal area of India has 10 Ports and 2 Intermediate Ports.
West Bengal:
The West Bengal coastal area is found in Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas district, which has a length of 158 km.
- The Sundarban delta here is the biggest mangrove forest in the world.
- Sundarbans is a dwelling for various fauna, particularly the royal Bengal tiger.
- The top economic sector in this coastal state of India is Agriculture.
- Potato, jute, rice, sugarcane, and wheat are the major plantation crops of West Bengal.
- It has only one Port.
Goa:
The smallest Indian state, Goa, has the shortest coastline distance of 101 km. It is home to many captivating beaches worldwide.
- Goa is enveloped by the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, with the Arabian Sea composing its western coast.
- The soil in this coastal region of India comprises oxides of ferric aluminium and is reddish, alluvial, and earthy.
- The soil composition makes it rich in minerals and humus, so it is facilitative to agriculture.
- Goa holds one Major and 5 Minor Ports.
Significance of Coastal States of India
The coastal states in India hold immense significance due to the following reasons.
- Fishing sector: Fishing is an essential livelihood of the individuals in our country. Furthermore, seafood is a good and healthy part of their diet, and India’s cumulative commercial ocean net accounts for roughly 30% of all landings.
- Tourism: India holds a long coastline along the continent and countless islands. It has attained admirable success in Andaman and Goa regarding beach tourism, and Beach tourism is a significant commercial activity.
- Transport: Indian water bodies are essential for transport and logistics, which is necessary for developing different sectors of the economy.
- Tidal energy: The power created by the frequent elevation and fall of ocean tides due to the sun, moon, or earth’s gravitational force can be harnessed to generate electricity. Tidal energy could become an essential power source in the coming days because it is a renewable energy resource.
- Minerals from the ocean: Coal, natural gas, and oil can be brought under the seabed. Several minerals are also available in seawater, and salt is the most prevalent. India has abundant resources of minerals, such as rutile, ilmenite, zircon, sillimanite, monazite, and garnet.
Eastern Coastal States of India
The Indian coastline is very large and measures about 7,516.6 km and is distributed among nine states and four UTs. The Eastern Coastal States of India include the following:
- West Bengal – West Bengal is located in the eastern part of India and is known for its rich cultural heritage, history, and literature. Also, the state is bordered by Bangladesh to the east.
- Odisha – Odisha is located in the eastern part of India and is known for its temples, architecture, and the famous Puri Jagannath Temple and the Konark Sun temple.
- Andhra Pradesh – Andhra Pradesh is a coastal state located in southeast India. The state is known for its cultural heritage and natural beauty.
- Tamil Nadu – Tamil Nadu is a coastal state located in southeast India. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and is a major cultural, economic, and educational centre.
- Puducherry – Puducherry is a Union Territory located in the southeast of India and is known for its French colonial architecture, beaches, and cultural heritage. The city is also a popular tourist destination.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands – The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands located in the Bay of Bengal and are a UT of India. The islands are known for their beautiful landscapes and lush forests.
Western Coastal States of India
The Western Coastal Plains are a strip of 50 km between the west coast of the Western Ghat hills. Also, the plains are located between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. The Western Coastal states of India are as follows:
- Gujarat – Gujarat is located in the western part of India and is known for its textile industries, commercial centres and more. Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat and is known for its rich history, culture, and architecture.
- Maharashtra – Maharashtra is known for its scenic beaches, such as Juhu Beach, Alibaug Beach, and Ganapatipule Beach. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and is a major cultural, economic, and entertainment centre of India.
- Goa – Goa is the smallest western coastal state of India and is known for its scenic beaches, such as Calangute Beach, Anjuna Beach, and Baga Beach. The city of Panaji is the capital of Goa and is known for its colonial architecture and rich history.
Physiography of Indian Coastline
The features of the Indian western and eastern coastline are distinct. Large regions of the coastal plains in our country are surrounded by fertile grounds on which additional crops are grown.
- The total length of the shore remains dotted with oversized and short docks, which assist in bringing out trade.
- The sedimentary pebbles of these grasslands comprise extensive depositions of mineral oil.
| Geomorphology of Coastal Region of India | |
| Sandy Beach | 43% |
| Muddy Flats | 36% |
| Rocky Coast | 11% |
| Marshy Coast | 10% |
| Coastline affected by erosion | 1624.435 km mainland
132 (islands) (CPDAC) |
| Coastal States and UTs Population | 560 million |
| Population of Island Territories | 0.44 million |
The white sands of the Kerala shore have a considerable quantity of monazite employed for nuclear power.
- In a nutshell, India should expedite its endeavours to use marine resources in the country and its coastal states.
- What is needed is the active involvement of states and cooperative federalism.
