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Here’s the thing: map-based geography is never about random locations. UPSC rewards sequence, spatial logic, and interlinkages. If you revise coasts by jumping around, you’re doing extra work for less return.
This blog walks you systematically along India’s East Coast, moving south to north, exactly how aspirants should revise maps for Prelims and Mains.
Contents
- 1 How to Approach East Coast Mapping for UPSC
- 2 Southern Entry: Tamil Nadu Coast
- 3 Gulf of Mannar: Ecological Hotspot
- 4 Ramanathapuram to Adam’s Bridge
- 5 Point Calimere and Palk Strait
- 6 Coromandel Coast Highlights
- 7 Andhra Pradesh Coast
- 8 Odisha Coast: Ecology Meets Economy
- 9 West Bengal Coast
- 10 Sundarbans and Beyond
- 11 Why This Matters for UPSC
- 12 Check out our GS Geography Course – Click Here
- 13 FAQs
How to Approach East Coast Mapping for UPSC
Before diving in, remember one rule:
Always follow a coastline sequence.
- Start from an extreme point
- Move gradually along the coast
- Link physical features with economic, ecological, and strategic relevance
For the East Coast, the logical starting point is Kanyakumari, where the West Coast revision ends.
Southern Entry: Tamil Nadu Coast
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
- Located in Tamil Nadu, near the southeastern coast
- India’s largest nuclear power plant
- Built with Russian collaboration
- Uses VVER technology, different from India’s PHWR reactors (Rawatbhata, Kakrapar, Kaiga, Trombay)
UPSC often tests technology differences, not just locations.
Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) Port
- Earlier a fishing port
- Now developed as a major port on the East Coast
- Helps balance port distribution between East and West Coasts
- Lies in the Gulf of Mannar region
Gulf of Mannar: Ecological Hotspot
- India’s only Marine Biosphere Reserve
- Classified as a Marine Protected Area (MPA)
- Part of India’s commitment to the 30×30 biodiversity target
Key Exam Relevance
- Famous for pearl fishing
- Habitat of Dugong (Sea Cow) — asked multiple times in UPSC Prelims
- Contains coral reefs and sandbar islands (e.g., islands near Adam’s Bridge)
Ramanathapuram to Adam’s Bridge
- Vaigai River drains into the sea near Ramanathapuram
- Adam’s Bridge (Rama Setu) connects India to Sri Lanka
- First island from the Indian side: Pamban Island
- Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi located here
- Linked to mainland by the historic Pamban Rail Bridge (now modernised)
Point Calimere and Palk Strait
- Point Calimere: a coastal projection in Tamil Nadu
- Between Point Calimere and Adam’s Bridge lies the Palk Strait
- Important for questions on straits vs gulfs vs bays
Coromandel Coast Highlights
The Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh coast is called the Coromandel Coast.
Characteristics
- Mostly emergent coast
- Some submergent features
- Broad sandy beaches
Puducherry and Karaikal
- Puducherry lies near Cuddalore
- Karaikal is another Puducherry enclave
- Kaliveli Lake nearby
- A lagoon, not a freshwater lake
Chennai Region
- Major port and petrochemical hub
- Important manufacturing centre
- Kalpakkam nearby:
- Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
- Nuclear and fast breeder research
Andhra Pradesh Coast
Nellore
- Near the beginning of the Krishna–Godavari delta region
- Famous for mica mining
Krishna–Godavari Delta
- Among the most fertile delta systems in India
- Rajahmundry marks the start of the Godavari delta
- Important places:
- Machilipatnam (historic port)
- Yanam (Puducherry territory inside Andhra Pradesh)
Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
- One of India’s deepest natural ports
- Steel plant, petrochemical industries, pharma hub
- Sometimes referred to as a proposed administrative capital of Andhra Pradesh
Srikakulam
- Near Odisha border
- Small but important fishing port
- Potential future port development
Odisha Coast: Ecology Meets Economy
Chilika Lake
- Largest lagoon in Asia
- Second-largest lagoon in the world
- Contains Nalabana Bird Sanctuary
- Has a Coast Guard base
- A Ramsar site with recurring UPSC relevance
Gahirmatha Coast
- World-famous for Olive Ridley turtle mass nesting
- Nesting phenomenon called Arribada
Bhitarkanika Mangroves
- One of the densest mangrove forests in India
- Near the Mahanadi delta
- Strong link between rivers, deltas, and mangroves
Dhamra Port
- Developed with Tata collaboration
- Major LPG terminal
- Strategic port on the Odisha coast
West Bengal Coast
Digha Beach
- Important coastal tourism location
Chandipur-on-Sea
- Famous for receding sea phenomenon
- Nearby Wheeler Island (Abdul Kalam Island)
- Missile testing site
Rivers of Northern Odisha–Bengal Coast
- Brahmani and Baitarani rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal
- Contribute to agricultural fertility
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
- Recently notified as a Biosphere Reserve
- Earlier a Tiger Reserve
- Famous for a unique reddish cotton variety
Sundarbans and Beyond
- Sagar Island: largest riverine island of the Ganga
- Facing issues of coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion
- Nearby Ghoramara Island
- Wildlife protection zones
- Frequently asked in environment and geography sections
Why This Matters for UPSC
What this really means is:
- UPSC tests map + concept + current relevance
- East Coast questions often mix:
- Ports
- Deltas
- Wetlands
- Biodiversity
- Strategic infrastructure
If you revise the coast in sequence, half the prelims work is already done.
Check out our GS Geography Course – Click Here
FAQs
- #EastCoastOfIndiaUPSC: What are the major geographical and strategic features of India’s East Coast?
- #GulfOfMannarUPSC: Why is the Gulf of Mannar important for biodiversity and UPSC examinations?
- #ChilikaLakeUPSC: How is Chilika Lake geographically and ecologically significant for India?
- #CoromandelCoastUPSC: What are the defining physical features of the Coromandel Coast of India?
