The eastern coast of the Indian peninsula is known as the Coromandel Coast. The name ‘Coromandel’ is derived from Cholamandal, the region of the ancient
Chola Dynasty. It extends about 650 km and lies through the states of
Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh,
Orissa and parts of
West Bengal, and the union territory of
Pondicherry. The coast is famous for its monsoons and turbulent waters.
The river basins such as Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery and Mahanadi, which originate in the Western Ghats and drain into the Bay of Bengal, enrich the Coromandel Coast. The northern tip of the coast is home to the Sunderbans – famed for the Bengal tiger.
The major ports and harbours that lie on the coast are Nagapattinam, Pondicherry, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam and Chennai. Other places of shipping yards are at Pulicat, Sadras, Cuddalore,
Tranquebar, and
Nagore.
