Major Ports in India
Major Sea Ports of India: In addition to the more than 180 minor ports that handle a significant amount of traffic, India has 13 major seaports. The Mumbai Port Trust is one of India’s biggest natural ports (formerly known as Bombay Port Trust). There are 13 seaports: Kochi Port in Kerala, Ennore in Tamil Nadu, Haldia Port in West Bengal, Kolkata Port in West Bengal, Kandla Port in Gujarat, Mangalore Port in Karnataka, Marmagoa Port in Goa, Mumbai Port in Maharashtra, Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra, Paradip Port in Odisha, Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu, and Vishakhapatnam Port in Andhra.
The nine coastal states of India—Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu—are home to all of the country’s ports. India’s extensive coastline is one of the largest pieces of land that protrudes into a body of water. The nation’s thirteen largest ports handle a substantial amount of container and cargo traffic.
The ports of Mumbai, Kandla, Mangalore, JNPT, Mormugao, and Cochin are located on the west coast. The ports in Chennai, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata, and Ennore are located on the east coast. The government owns a 68% share in Ennore, the final corporation, which is registered as a public business. Port Blair can be found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India’s largest natural port is Mumbai.
Major Ports in India List
| Name of Ports | State | Major Export |
| Kochi Port | Kerala | Tea, Coffee, Spices, etc |
| Ennore Port | Tamil Nadu | Iron ore, petroleum, coal, and chemicals |
| Haldia Port | West Bengal | Jute, steel, iron ore, etc |
| Kolkata Port | West Bengal | Iron ore, tea, coal, steel, etc |
| Kandla Port | Gujarat | Textile, manganese, machinery, leather, chemical products, etc |
| Mangalore Port | Karnataka | Iron ore |
| Marmagoa | Goa | Iron ore |
| Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Textile, manganese, machinery, leather, chemical products, etc |
| Jawaharlal Nehru port | Maharashtra | Textile, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, carpets, etc |
| Paradip Port | Odisha | Iron ore, iron, and aluminium |
| Tuticorin Port | Tamil Nadu | Salt, fertilizer, petroleum, coal, etc |
| Vishakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | Coal, alumina, oil, and coals |
| Chennai port | Tamil Nadu | Rice, textile, leather, goods, etc |
Important Ports in India Zone-wise
| Zone | State | Port | Features |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | It is an artificial port and the Second busiest port. |
| Western Coast | Kerala | Kochi | Sited in the Vembanad lake and use for exports of spices and salts. |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Ennore | It is India’s First corporatized port. |
| Eastern Coast | West Bengal | Kolkata | India’s only major Riverine port Situated on the Hugli river, it is also known as Diamond Harbour |
| Western Coast | Gujarat | Kandla | It is known as Tidal Port and is acknowledged as Trade Free Zone. It is the largest port by volume of cargo handled. |
| Western Coast | Karnataka | Mangalore | It deals with the iron ore exports |
| Western Coast | Goa | Mormugao | It is situated on the estuary of the river Zuari |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Mumbai Port Trust | It is the largest Natural Port and harbour In India. It is the busiest port in India. |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) also known as Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai | It is the largest Artificial Port It is the largest Container Port in India. |
| Eastern Coast | Odisha | Paradip | It is a natural harbour. Deals with the export of iron and aluminium. |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Tuticorin | It is a significant port in southern India that handles petrochemical and fertiliser products. |
| Eastern Coast | Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam | Iron ore is sent to Japan through this port, which is India’s deepest. There are facilities for building and maintaining ships. |
| Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | The port was connected to the Indian subcontinent by ship and air. This port is located between the Saudi Arabian and US Singaporean shipping lanes. |
Major Ports in India Map
13 Major Ports in India
At present, there are 13 major ports in India:
1.Kochi Port
It is situated on Willington Island’s southwestern coast in Kerala, India. The port is India’s second-largest natural seaport. It is also referred to as a natural gateway for South-west India’s industrial and agricultural markets. One of the main shipbuilding centres is there. Coffee, tea, and spices are all shipped from Kochi Port.
2. Ennore Port
On the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu, India is where Ennore port is situated. It is known as the first corporatized port in India. It comes in at number 12 on the list of major seaports and is located about 24 kilometres from Chennai Port. Iron ore, gasoline, coal, and chemicals are all exported through Ennore port.
3. Haldia Port
It is situated in West Bengal, India, besides the Hugli River. It primarily serves to relieve some of Kolkata Port’s load by sharing the export work. Jute, steel, iron ore, etc. are all shipped through Haldia port.
4. Kolkata Port
It’s the only significant riverine port in India and is situated in West Bengal. From the eastern and western banks of the Hugli River, respectively, the Kolkata Port and the Haldia Port form the twin dock systems. Things like iron ore, tea, coal, steel, and a significant amount of jute are also shipped from Kolkata Port.
5. Kandla Port
It is situated in Gujarat, India’s Gulf of Kutch. It was built after the division and is known as a tide port. Mumbai Port is relieved of some of its burden by the Kandla Port. Considering that it is also recognised as a commerce-free zone, it is a well-known port.
6. Mangalore Port
It is situated in India’s Karnataka state. It is an all-weather harbour with deep water. Karnataka only has one significant port, Mangalore Port. Iron ore exports make up the bulk of its business.
7. Marmagoa Port
It can be found in the River Juari estuaries in Goa, India. Additionally, it has a natural harbour, and in 1963 it received the designation of a significant port. Iron ore is another major export from the Marmagoa port.
8. Mumbai Port
It is situated in India’s Maharashtra. It had previously been located by Shivaji’s navies. It is India’s busiest port and its largest natural port. Three docks—Dock, Prince’s Victoria Dock, and Indira Dock—make up the port. Textiles, manganese, equipment, leather, chemical items, etc. are all shipped through Mumbai Port.
9. Jawaharlal Nehru Port
It is situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India’s Eastern Shore. It is India’s largest container port and largest artificial port, respectively. Due to the presence of the aforementioned communities in the region, this port is also known as Nhava Sheva port. Textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, carpets, etc. are shipped from Jawaharlal Nehru port.
10. Paradip Port
In the Indian state of Odisha, it is situated where the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal meet. It is the country’s first significant port since Independence Day. Aluminium, iron, and iron ore are all shipped through Paradip port. Japan is the country with which the export market is the largest.
11. Tuticorin Port
It is situated in Tamil Nadu, India, near the Gulf of Mannar. The port was once known as V.O. Chidambaranar Port. It is a man-made port that is well-known for its pearl fishing. Due to the pearl fishery in the Bay of Bengal, Tuticorin is often referred to as “Pearl City.” Salt, fertiliser, oil, coal, and other commodities are exported from Tuticorin.
12. Vishakhapatnam Port
It is situated in Andhra Pradesh, India, halfway between the ports of Chennai and Kolkata. It is a natural harbour and the second-largest port in terms of cargo handled. Coal, alumina, oil, and coals are all shipped from Vishakhapatnam port.
13. Chennai Port
Tamil Nadu is where it is located. It is India’s second-biggest port after Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the largest port on the country’s east coast. Additionally, it is a man-made harbour. Exports from Chennai’s port include items like as rice, textiles, and leather.
Important Ports in India FAQs
Q. Which is the No 1 port in India?
Ans. Mumbai Port is India’s largest port by size and shipping traffic. Located in west Mumbai on the western coast of India, the Mumbai Port is situated in a natural harbour.
Q. Which is the 13 major port in India?
Ans. The 13th port in India is Vadhavan port in Maharashtra.
Q. Which is the 12th major port of India?
Ans. Ennore port is located on the Coromandel Coast, Tamil Nadu, India. It is recognized as India’s first corporatized port. It is about 24 km away from Chennai port and ranks 12th on the major seaports list. From Ennore port iron ore, petroleum, coal, and chemicals are exported.
Q. Which is India’s largest port?
Ans. In operation since 1873, Mumbai Port is India’s second oldest port (Kolkata being the oldest). It is also India’s largest port by size, spread over a 46.3-hectare area with a pier length touching 8,000 km.
Q. Which is the newest port in India?
Ans. Vadhavan port in Maharashtra is the newest major port in India. The Union Cabinet gave in-principle approval for the establishment of Vadhavan port as the 13th major port in India.
Other Indian Geography Topics
Other Fundamental Geography Topics
