India has a coastline of about 7,517 km and is home to 13 Major Ports and over 200 minor ports. Port GK is frequently asked in competitive exams.
The Mumbai Port has the best natural harbour in India — its deep, sheltered bay can accommodate the largest ocean-going vessels without dredging. This natural advantage made Bombay the 'Gateway of India'.
| Category | Port | State |
|---|---|---|
| Largest container port (by cargo volume) | Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) / Nhava Sheva | Maharashtra (Navi Mumbai) |
| Largest natural harbour port | Mumbai Port (previously Bombay Port) | Maharashtra |
| Oldest major port in India | Chennai Port (previously Madras Port) | Tamil Nadu |
| Largest port in East Coast | Visakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh |
| Largest in terms of total cargo handled (overall) | Paradip Port | Odisha |
JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust): Located in Navi Mumbai, it handles over 60% of India's container traffic, making it the busiest container port. It is India's first dedicated container port.
**Visakhapatnam Port** (Vizag Port) in Andhra Pradesh is the largest port on India's eastern (Coromandel) coast.
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