GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA: DATA, GEOLOGY, LAND AND SEA FEATURES

GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA

main cities of India

India is the seventh largest country in the world and the second-largest in Asia after China in terms of area. Bordered by Pakistan to the northwest, China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north, Myanmar to east, the Bay of Bengal to the southeast, the Arabian Sea to the southwest and the Indian Ocean to the south, and surrounding Bangladesh on three sides, India is roughly the size of one third of the United States. The longest distances are 3,214 kilometers (1,997 miles) from north to south and 2,933 kilometers (1,822 miles) from east to west. If you were to place India over Europe it would stretch from Denmark to Algeria and Spain to Russia.

Population-wise India is the largest democratic country in the world. The country has about 16 percent of the world’s total population and 2.4 percent of the global land area. The Himalayas dominate northern India. Below the Indo-Ganges plain, which extends from the Bay of Bengal on the east to the Afghan frontier and Arabian Sea on the west, the land is fertile and one of the most densely populated regions of the world. The three great rivers, the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra, have their origins in the Himalayas. The Punjab is regarded as the breadbasket of India. About one quarter of India's land forested. [Source: Jayaji Krishna Nath, M.D., and Vishwarath R. Nayar, Encyclopedia of Sexuality]

India is a country of great diversity with a wide range of landform types, including major mountain ranges, deserts, rich agricultural plains, and hilly jungle regions. Indeed, the term Indian subcontinent aptly describes the enormous extent of the earth's surface that India occupies, and any attempt to generalize about its physiography is inaccurate. Diversity is also evident in the geographical distribution of India's ethnic and linguistic groups. In ancient times, the major river valleys of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of South Asia were among the great cradles of civilization in Asia, as were the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in West Asia and the Huang He (Yellow River) in East Asia. As a result of thousands of years of cultural and political expansion and amalgamation, contemporary India has come to include many different natural and cultural regions. [Source: Library of Congress]

In the 1990s, local political parties changed the names of several well-known Indian locations. The most notable of these are the cities of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Chennai (formerly Madras) and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), as well as the state of Bengal (formerly West Bengal). [Source: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography, Gale Group, Inc., 2003].

Administrative divisions: 28 states and 8 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir*, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh*, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal; note: the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi, even though it is considered a union territory. [Source: CIA World Factbook]

Geography Data for India

composite satellite image of the Indian subcontinent

Area: total: 3,287,263 square kilometers (1,269,219 square miles); land: 2,973,193 square kilometers (1,147,956 square miles); water: 314,070 square kilometers (121,263 square miles). Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E. Elevation: highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,586 meters (28,169 feet) on India’s border with Nepal; lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 meters; mean elevation: 160 meters (525 feet). [Source: CIA World Factbook]

The exact size of India is subject to debate because some borders are disputed. The Indian government lists the total area as 3,287,260 square kilometers (1,269,218 square miles) and the total land area as 3,060,500 square kilometers (1,181,666 square miles); the United Nations lists the total area as 3,287,263 square kilometers (1,269,219 square miles) and total land area as 2,973,190 square kilometers (114,7955 square miles). The Indian government 3,287,590 square kilometers (1,269,345 square miles) including India-administered Kashmir, which is also claimed by Pakistan. [Source: Library of Congress]

Land boundaries: total: 13,888 kilometers (8,630miles); border countries (6): Bangladesh 4,142 kilometers (2,575 miles); Bhutan 659 kilometers (410 miles); Myanmar 1,468 kilometers (912 miles); China 2,659 kilometers (1,652 miles); Nepal 1,770 kilometers (1010 miles); Pakistan 3,190 kilometers (1,982 miles). Coastline: 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles).

Land Use: agricultural land: 60.1 percent (2023 estimate); arable land: 51.8 percent (2023 estimate); permanent crops: 4.9 percent (2023 estimate); permanent pasture: 3.4 percent (2023 estimate); forest: 24.4 percent (2023 estimate); other: 15.5 percent (2023 estimate). Arable land is land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest. Permanent crops is land cultivated for crops like fruit trees oranges that are not replanted after each harvest. Irrigated land: 754,562 square kilometers (291,338 square miles) (2022).

Water Resources: Major aquifers Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin. Major lakes Chilika Lake (a salt water lake) — 1,170 square kilometers (452 square miles).Wular Lake, in India-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, is India's largest freshwater lake (202 square kilometers, 78 square miles). It contains large quantities of floating vegetation, and it is also an important source of fish and of irrigation water. Major watersheds Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 square kilometers (251, 482 square miles)), Ganges (1,016,124 square kilometers (392,328 square miles)), Indus (1,081,718 square kilometers (417,654 square miles)), Irrawaddy (413,710 square kilometers (159,734 square miles)).

Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometers); contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44.4 kilometers); exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers); continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) or to the edge of the continental margin.

Population distribution: A very high population density exists throughout most of the country, with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest and the mountain fringe in the north; the core of the population is in the north along the banks of the Ganges, with other river valleys and southern coastal areas also having large population concentrations.

Physical Landscape of India

physical map of India

The Himalayas define the northern border of India. The northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachel Pradesh, the northern part of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim all embrace part of the Himalayas. Within these mountains are fertile such as the Vale of Kashmir and the Kulu Valley. South of the Himalayas (from west to east to west) are the fertile plains and valleys that extend all the way from Afghanistan to Assam and includes the Punjab, watered by water from the Indus and its tributaries, and, the wide fertile Ganges Plain (one of the most densely populated regions in the world), which extends through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

Most of northwestern India, including Rajasthan, is desert; brush covered hills dominate the central plateau in the middle of the country. In the far west is a vast arid area, which includes the Great Indian, or Thar Desert, and the Kutch, both of which border Pakistan. Assam and the states in the far east contain of thick jungles and rugged mountains. India's mountainous northeastern region is nearly separated from the rest of the country by Bangladesh and Nepal.

The Vindhya Mountains form a partial barrier between northern and southern India, whose northern part is dominated by the Deccan Plateau. The Western and Eastern Ghats, long ranges of hills, parallel the coasts and border most of the southern portion of the peninsula and ends in the Nilgiri Hills. These mountains have tended to isolate southern India from the north. Southern India is more tropical than the north and it is a mix of agricultural land, hills and forest.

South Asia and India

India is located in Southern Asia and borders the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. It dominates and occupies much of the South Asian subcontinent and is near important Indian Ocean trade routes. The Indian mainland stretches eastward from Pakistan in the west to Bangladesh and Burma in the east. On the north, India borders China, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Indian Ocean to the south, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the Bay of Bengal to the east form the country’s coastline. Noncontiguous to the mainland are the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located 1,300 kilometers from the mainland in the Bay of Bengal.

South Asia covers 4,430,780 square kilometers (1710734 square miles), not including Afghanistan or Tibet. South Asia embraces India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, The Maldives and Sri Lanka. South Asia's physical geography is dominated by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a process that created the Himalayan mountain system and continues to shape the region. [Source: Library of Congress; CIA World Factbook]

The landscape of South Asia, like that of India, is commonly divided into three major physical regions: the northern mountains, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the peninsular plateau of southern India. The northern mountain zone includes the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram ranges. The Himalayas stretch for about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) across northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan and contain the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet). The Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges of Afghanistan and Pakistan include some of the world's most rugged terrain and high mountains, including K2, the second-highest peak on Earth at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). These mountain systems act as a climatic barrier, blocking cold air from Central Asia and influencing regional weather patterns. [Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, Study.com]

South of the mountains lies the Indo-Gangetic Plain, one of the world's largest and most fertile lowland regions. Formed by sediments deposited by the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers, the plain extends across Pakistan, northern India, Nepal's Terai region, and Bangladesh. The Indus River system supports agriculture in Pakistan, while the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers flow into Bangladesh, where they form the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, the largest river delta in the world. The fertile soils and abundant water resources have made this region one of the most densely populated areas on Earth.

The southern portion of South Asia is dominated by the Peninsular Plateau, including the Deccan Plateau of India. This ancient plateau consists largely of hard crystalline rocks and generally slopes eastward toward the Bay of Bengal. The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats border the plateau along India's coasts. The Western Ghats intercept moisture-laden monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, producing some of the highest rainfall totals in South Asia.

South Asia's climate is strongly influenced by the seasonal monsoon system. During the summer months, moist air from the Indian Ocean brings heavy rainfall across much of the region, supporting agriculture and replenishing rivers and reservoirs. Rainfall varies greatly, from extremely wet areas along the Western Ghats and in northeastern India to arid regions such as the Thar Desert, which extends across western India and southeastern Pakistan. The region also includes important island territories. Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean just south of India and is separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait. The Maldives, located southwest of India, consists of more than 1,000 low-lying coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. Together, these diverse landforms make South Asia one of the world's most geographically varied regions.

Geology of India

Around 100 million years ago, India was originally part of a land mass that included southern Africa and Antarctica, but then broke off to form the Indian tectonic plate. This plate eventually collided with the Asian tectonic plate. This collision formed the Himalayas and the Ganges plain, and much seismic activity continues to occur in the northern part of the country. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]

The Indian subcontinent floated across the Indian Ocean, starting out around where Madagascar is today, and rammed into southern Asia tens of millions of year later. The collision took place about 55 million years ago. The force of the impact created the Himalayas, which are still rising.

model of the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Asia to form the Himalayas. The area in green represents the hypothetical subducted and underthrust "Greater India"

Almost the entire Indian subcontinent sits on the Indian Plate, which is moving northeastward at a rate of about four centimeters (1.7 inches) a year relative to the Eurasian Plate which sits to north and east and embraces most of Asia and Europe. To the west is the Arabian Plate The collision of Indian plate and the Eurasian plate continues to push up the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau. A great amount of energy drives the collision and is released at the boundaries of the plates, which explains partly why India experience some devastating earthquakes.

Mountains of India

There are many mountain ranges in India but they are more modest compared to the Himalayas. A complex of hills and low mountain ranges occupies the northern part of the peninsula, varying in elevation from about 457 to 1,219 meters (1,500 to 4,000 feet). These ranges separate the Gangetic Plain to the north from the peninsula's plateaus. The main ranges in this region are the Aravallis, the Vindhyas and the Satpuras in the west; the Mahadeos, the Maikalas and the Bhanrer Hills in the centre; and the Kaimurs, the Hazaribags and the jungle-clad hills of Chota Nagpur in the east. The Vindhya Mountains form a partial barrier between northern and southern India, whose northern part is dominated by the Deccan Plateau. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]

The Western and Eastern Ghats, long ranges of hills, parallel the coasts and border most of the southern portion of the peninsula and ends in the Nilgiri Hills. These mountains have tended to isolate southern India from the north and divide the plateau interior from the coastal plains. The Western Ghats have an average elevation of 1,066 meters (3,500 feet). In the Anaimalis part of the Western Ghats Anai Peak reaches 8,839 feet (2,694 meters). The range runs fairly close to the ocean, facing it like a wall. Near the tip of the peninsula it converges with the Eastern Ghats. The Eastern Ghats are much lower and more scattered, with an average elevation of only about 610 meters (2,000 feet). [Source: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography, Gale Group, Inc., 2003]

The easternmost part of India, which is almost entirely surrounded by Bangladesh, is very mountainous. The main ranges here are the Barail Range and the Arakan Yoma Range, which run along the border with Myanmar. The highest peak in this range is Saramati, which rises to 3,866 metres (12,683 feet). These ranges are sometimes considered a southern extension of the Himalayas.

The Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Zanskar and Sikkim have many deep canyons, as do the hill regions of central India, such as Madhya Pradesh. The Brahmaputra River has cut a deep gorge through the mountains of north-east India, as has the Ganges at its source in the Himalayas.

Plateaus of Peninsular (Southern) India

Deccan Plateau

Peninsular (Southern) India consists of a series of interconnected plateaus, hills, and river valleys.Elevations generally range from about 300 to 900 meters (1,000 to 3,000 feet) above sea level, with higher areas occurring along the Western Ghats. The plateau slopes gradually eastward, influencing the flow of major rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and Mahanadi, which drain into the Bay of Bengal. The Narmada and Tapti rivers flow westward through rift valleys into the Arabian Sea. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]

Peninsular India is sometimes considered is one of the world's oldest and most stable landforms, formed from ancient crystalline rocks that date back hundreds of millions of years. Covering roughly 1.6 million square kilometers (620,000 square miles), it makes up nearly half of India's land area. Peninsular India is generally separated from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north by the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and is bordered by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats along the coasts.

The Deccan Plateau is the largest component of the Peninsular Plateau and covers much of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of neighboring states. It extends over approximately 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles). Much of the Deccan is underlain by the Deccan Traps, one of the world's largest volcanic formations, created by massive lava flows about 66 million years ago. Average elevations range from about 760 meters (2,500 feet) in the west to about 300 meters (1,000 feet) in the east.

North of the Deccan lies the Malwa Plateau, which covers parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges. This volcanic plateau has fertile black soils that support extensive agriculture, including wheat, soybeans, and cotton. Elevations generally range from 300 to 600 meters (1,000 to 2,000 feet).

The Chota Nagpur Plateau occupies much of Jharkhand and extends into neighboring states. Covering about 65,000 square kilometers (25,000 square miles), it is India's most important mineral-producing region. Large deposits of coal, iron ore, bauxite, mica, copper, and uranium have made the area a major center of mining and heavy industry. The plateau's rugged terrain consists of hills, forests, and river valleys, with elevations typically ranging from 700 to 1,000 meters (2,300 to 3,300 feet).

Peninsular India contains some of India's most important natural resources, including the majority of the country's coal, iron ore, manganese, and bauxite reserves. Its varied topography, extensive river systems, fertile volcanic soils, and mineral wealth have made it one of the most economically significant geographic regions of India.

Deccan Traps

The Deccan Traps of west-central India are one of the largest volcanic provinces on Earth and among the world's most extensive flood basalt formations. The volcanic rocks cover approximately 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles), an area roughly comparable to the combined size of Washington and Oregon in the United States. Geologists estimate that the original lava field may have covered as much as 1.5 million square kilometers (580,000 square miles) before erosion and tectonic processes reduced its extent. [Source: volcano.oregonstate.edu]

The Deccan Traps consist of numerous layers of basaltic lava flows that in some places exceed 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) in thickness. The total volume of erupted lava is estimated at about 512,000 cubic kilometers (123,000 cubic miles). For comparison, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the United States produced about 1 cubic kilometer (0.24 cubic miles) of volcanic material. The Deccan Traps are similar in origin to the Columbia River Basalt Group of the northwestern United States, although they are considerably larger.

Most of the Deccan volcanism occurred between about 66 and 60 million years ago, near the end of the Cretaceous Period. Some scientists believe that the enormous volume of gases released by these eruptions, including carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, contributed to major global climate changes. The eruptions may have played a role in the mass extinction event that eliminated the non-avian dinosaurs approximately 66 million years ago, possibly in combination with the asteroid impact at Chicxulub in present-day Mexico.

The Deccan Traps have been an important area of geological research because they provide insight into how massive flood basalt eruptions occur. Earlier theories suggested that enormous quantities of lava spread rapidly across vast areas. More recent studies indicate that some lava flows may have been emplaced over periods ranging from months to years, with repeated eruptions gradually building the thick volcanic sequences seen today.

The basalt formations have also influenced the landscape and human history of the region. Weathering of the volcanic rock has produced fertile black soils that support agriculture across much of the Deccan Plateau. In addition, many historical sites, including the Ajanta and Ellora cave complexes, were carved directly into the basalt cliffs and remain among India's most important archaeological and cultural landmarks.

Indian Rivers

Indo-Gangetic plain

India’s longest rivers are the Brahmaputra and Indus although neither is entirely within India. Other major rivers are the Ganges (Ganga,), Godavari, Kaveri (Cauvery), , Krishna, Mahanandi, Narmada and Yamuna (1,370). Major watersheds Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 square kilometers (251, 482 square miles)), Ganges (1,016,124 square kilometers (392,328 square miles)), Indus (1,081,718 square kilometers (417,654 square miles)), Irrawaddy (413,710 square kilometers (159,734 square miles)). [Source: CIA World Factbook. Library of Congress *]

Major rivers (by length): Brahmaputra (shared with China (where the source is) and Bangladesh (where the mouth is)) —3,969 kilometers (2,466 miles); Indus (shared with China (where the source is) and Pakistan (where the mouth is)) —3,610 kilometers (2,243 miles); Ganges river source (shared with Bangladesh (where the mouth is)) — 2,704 kilometers (1,680 miles); Godavari — 1,465 kilometers (910 miles); Sutlej (shared with China (where the source is) and Pakistan (where the mouth is)) — 1,372 kilometers (852 miles); Yamuna — 1,370 kilometers (851 miles); Narmada — 1,289 kilometers (801 miles); Chenab river source (shared with Pakistan (where the mouth is)) — 1,086 kilometers (675 miles) ; Ghaghara river mouth (shared with China (where the source is) and Nepal) — 1,080 kilometers (671 miles). [Source: CIA World Factbook]

The country's rivers are classified as Himalayan, peninsular, coastal, and inland-drainage basin rivers. Himalayan rivers are snow fed and maintain a high to medium rate of flow throughout the year. The heavy annual average rainfall levels in the Himalayan catchment areas further add to their rates of flow. During the monsoon months of June to September, the catchment areas are prone to flooding. The volume of the rain-fed peninsular rivers also increases. Coastal streams, especially in the west, are short and episodic. Rivers of the inland system, centered in western Rajasthan state, are few and frequently disappear in years of scant rainfall. The majority of the South Asia's major rivers flow through broad, shallow valleys and drain into the Bay of Bengal.

Land Cover and Vegetation of India

land cover map by the European Space Agency

India has a wide variety of natural vegetation and land cover, ranging from tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps to alpine meadows and desert scrub. Forests, grasslands, wetlands, croplands, and arid landscapes are distributed across the country's diverse climatic and geographic regions. Agricultural land occupies the largest share of India's land area, while forests remain concentrated in the Himalayan region, central India, the Western Ghats, and the northeastern states. [Source: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography, Gale Group, Inc., 2003]

Grasslands cover a relatively small portion of India but support significant biodiversity and livestock grazing. The Terai region along the Himalayan foothills contains extensive tall grasslands, savannas, and wetlands. Alpine meadows occur at high elevations in the Himalayas, while tropical grasslands are found in parts of central and western India. Bamboo-dominated grasslands and forests are widespread in northeastern India and along sections of the Himalayan foothills. India's grasslands support species such as blackbuck, Indian wolf, great Indian bustard, and numerous migratory birds.

Wetlands are another important component of India's land cover. These include river floodplains, marshes, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal lagoons. Major wetland areas occur along the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, the east coast, and inland river systems. The country also contains extensive agricultural landscapes, with croplands covering more than half of the total land area. Major crops include rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, and oilseeds.

Forests of India

According to recent government assessments, forests cover about 21–24 percent of India's land area, while total tree and forest cover together accounts for nearly one-quarter of the country. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area in absolute terms, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra. In terms of percentage of land covered by forests, several northeastern states, including Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, have some of the highest levels of forest cover in the country.

A wide variety of forests can be found in India, including alpine scrub in the Himalayan regions, temperate evergreen forests in Jammu and Kashmir and other hill areas, tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats, the northeastern states and the islands, and mangrove forests in the Sundarbans on the Bay of Bengal and in Gujarat.

India's forests are classified into several major types. Alpine vegetation and scrub occur in the higher elevations of the Himalayas above the tree line. Temperate coniferous and broadleaf forests are found in the western and central Himalayan regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests grow in areas of heavy rainfall, particularly in the Western Ghats, the northeastern states, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, dominated by species such as teak and sal, form the largest forest type and are widespread across central and eastern India. Thorn forests and scrub vegetation occur in the drier regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of the Deccan Plateau.

Indian forests face pressure from livestock grazing, the collection of firewood and charcoal, logging, shifting cultivation and deforestation for settlement. It is estimated that firewood and charcoal comprise 90 per cent of India's wood usage. The Indian government has promoted reforestation efforts using species such as eucalyptus, teak and rubberwood. Attempts have been made to control and reduce logging. Although India has 441 wildlife sanctuaries and 80 national parks, these protected areas are often poorly secured and are routinely encroached upon. Local environmental movements work to protect the remaining forests. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]

Mangrove forests are found along India's coastline, particularly in the Sundarbans delta of West Bengal, which contains the world's largest mangrove forest. Additional mangrove ecosystems occur in the deltas of the Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, and Cauvery rivers, as well as along the coasts of Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These forests help protect shorelines from erosion, provide habitat for wildlife, and serve as important breeding grounds for fish and crustaceans.

Seas and Coastal Areas of India

The Indian peninsular extends southward into the Indian Ocean It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east. Its location places it along major maritime routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. The Laccadive Sea lies between southwestern India and the Maldives. The Eight Degree Channel separates India's Lakshadweep Islands from the Maldives. In northwestern India, the Gulf of Kachchh and the Gulf of Khambhat form large inlets of the Arabian Sea. To the southeast, A narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar separates India from Sri Lanka. [Source: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography, Gale Group, Inc., 2003]

India has a total coastline of approximately 7,516 kilometers (4,670 miles). Of this total, about 5,422 kilometers (3,369 miles) belong to the mainland, 132 kilometers (82 miles) to the Lakshadweep Islands, and 1,962 kilometers (1,219 miles) to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Major ocean ports along the peninsula include Mumbai, Cochin, Kandla, and Marmagao on the Arabian Sea and Vishakapatnam and Chennai on the Bay of Bengal.

Along the northwestern coast, the Kathiawar Peninsula projects into the Arabian Sea near the border with Pakistan. The Gulf of Kachchh lies to the north of the peninsula, while the Gulf of Khambhat extends to the south and east. The Gulf of Kachchh contains extensive coral reefs, mangrove forests, and protected marine habitats. Southward from this region, the coast is generally straight, with sandy beaches and relatively few major inlets.

The western coastal plain extends south to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), the southernmost tip of mainland India. Much of this shoreline is known as the Malabar Coast. The coast is bordered by the Western Ghats and receives heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon.

India's eastern coast faces the Bay of Bengal. It begins near the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta in the northeast and extends southward along a broad coastal plain. The southern section of this coastline is known as the Coromandel Coast. Major rivers, including the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, have formed extensive deltas along this coast.

Near the southern tip of India, the Gulf of Mannar lies between southeastern India and Sri Lanka. This gulf contains numerous small islands, coral reefs, and rich marine ecosystems. At Kanyakumari, the eastern and western coasts meet at the southern end of the Indian peninsula.

Islands of India

India's offshore islands account for only a small fraction of the country's total land area and are grouped into two main island systems: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea. Together, these islands form important parts of India's territory despite their relatively small size and populations. [Source: Library of Congress, Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography, Gale Group, Inc., 2003]

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located southeast of mainland India in the Bay of Bengal. The northernmost islands lie about 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The island chain extends for about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from north to south. The Andaman Islands consist of more than 200 islands and islets and are characterized by hilly terrain, narrow valleys, and dense forests. Although located in the tropics, the climate is moderated by surrounding seas. Rainfall varies across the islands but is generally abundant.

South of the Andaman Islands are the Nicobar Islands, which comprise 19 major islands. Some islands are low-lying and covered with coral formations, while others have hilly interiors. The Nicobar Islands have a near-equatorial climate with high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rainfall throughout much of the year.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Hockings, 1992, National Geographic, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India,, CIA World Factbook, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated June 2026