The Indian peninsula is one of the largest in the world. The range of ports and coastlines in India is relatively large which is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Not many people are familiar with all the important seaports in India but some people do know about them.
There are a total of 13 major seaports in India. Of those 13 seaports, one seaport is run by a corporation (Ennore Port) and the other 12 are operated by the government of India. To develop and improve the Indian economy, these sports play a crucial role. For handling the majority of India’s trade, these ports in India are important. These seaports in India also serve as a tourist attraction apart from being just a trade center. Check the below-mentioned list of seaports in India.
Kandla Port, Gujarat
Kandla Port is known as the richest and busiest port in India. This seaport is situated at a distance of 90 km from the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. This port was constructed in the 1950s during the partition of India-Pakistan at the loss of the Port of Karachi.
This is the largest port in India based on the handling of cargo. It is the first Export processing port in India. Petroleum, steel and iron machinery, chemicals, salt, textiles, and grains are the major imports at the port of Kandla. Currently, Kandla port is the center for exporting grains and importing oil and it is also the highest-earning seaport in India which is run by the government of India. After visiting the port, if you’re thinking of staying in hotels then Ahmedabad hotels are the best in all ways.
Location- Kandla Port, Kutch, Gujarat
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Places to visit nearby-
- Rann of Kutch
- Ahemdabad
- Surat
- Sabarmati Ashram
- Modhera Sun Temple
Jawahar Lal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
Jawahar Lal Nehru is also known as the Nhava Sheva port. This port is the largest container port in India situated in the east of Mumbai, Maharashtra. Two villages existed in that area from which the name Nhava Sheva derived. Jawahar Lal Nehru port is one of the major seaports in India which is controlled by the Indian Government, this port was constructed on May 26, 1989.
At the MALA awards 2014, this port was awarded the ‘Port of the Year. Jawahar Lala Nehru port is one of the top 30 ports in India and handles 56% of the total containers. Shri Anil Diggikar is the chairman of the Jawahar Lal Nehru port. Textiles, boneless meat, carpets, vegetable oils, machinery, and chemicals are the common good that is transported from this port.
Location- Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
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Places to visit nearby-
- Inorbit Mall
- DY Patil Stadium
- Pandavakada Falls
- Nerul Balaji Temple
- Kharghar Hills
Mumbai Port, Maharashtra
Mumbai is the largest port in India situated on the landmass of West Mumbai. This port handles around one-fifth of India’s foreign trade and is a natural harbor. Mumbai port is one of the busiest seaports in India that plays a significant role in enhancing the Indian economy. Front Bay is the name of Mumbai harbor means gateway of India. The liquid chemicals, cotton textiles, tobacco, leather, chemical goods, manganese machinery, and mineral oil are the major imports of this port. Hotels in Mumbai are the best when it comes to providing luxury, comfortability, and all the amenities.
Location- Mumbai, Maharashtra
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Places to visit nearby-
Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh
Vishakhapatnam Port is one of the international seaports in India situated in Andhra Pradesh. This port is situated in the East of Chennai and Kolkata port. On December 19, 1933, Lord Willingdon inaugurated this significant port in India.
Every year this port handles around 1.2 lakh tonnes of cargo. The outer deck, the inner harbor, and the fishing harbor are the three principal harbors of the Vishakhapatnam Port. Iron ore, coal, pellets, oil, and Alumina are some of the imports that this port deals with.
Location- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
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Places to visit nearby-
- Borra Caves
- Kailasagiri
- Rishikonda Beach
- Araku Valley
- INS Kurusura Submarine Museum
Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu
Madras Port, also known as the Chennai Port is the second largest port in India. This port was inaugurated in 1881 and is the third oldest port in India. Chennai Port is Tamil Nadu’s principal port and is located on the Coromandel Coast in the Bay of Bengalis the primary reason for its stability.
From 0.5 million in 1979-80 to 100 million in 2015-16, the cargo handling of the Chennai port increased and is important for the boom of Tamil Nadu. Chennai Port is encircled by both modern and historic lighthouses that give it a mesmerizing look. Chennai port will soon expand its cargo handling to 140 million shortly. The distance between Chennai Hotels and Chennai Port is very minimal.
Location- E Kal Mandapam Rd, Chennai Port Trust, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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Places to visit nearby-
- Marina Beach
- Fort St. George
- Ashtalaxmi Temple
- Santhome Church
- Madras War Memorial
Mormugao Port, Goa
Goa which is known as the party capital of India boasts one of the major seaports of India. Goa is one of the main tourist attractions in India and needs the port to flourish through its trade affairs. Shri I.Jayakumar is the chairman of the Marmagao Port. This port is located in the west of Goa and plays a major role in boosting the Goan economy with trade affairs. In 1963, it was awarded the status of a major port. Marmagao Port is the major hub of iron ore export in India exporting a total of 50.02 million tonnes of iron ore every year. When it comes to Goa, no one can beat the opulence of resorts in Goa.
Location- Alto Desterro, Mormagao, Goa
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Places to visit nearby-
- Beaches in Goa
- Fort Aguada
- The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
- Chapora Fort
- Bom Jesus Basilica
Port Blair Port, Andaman & Nicobar
Port Blair port is one of the newest seaports in India and it is situated on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Due to its contribution to boosting the parts of India to 13th place, the government declared this port a major one. Port Blair is connected to the mainland of India through ship and flight. This port is not the one with the maximum experience but it does contribute to the Indian economy.
Location- Port Blair
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Places to visit nearby-
- Anthropological Museum
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
- Forest Museum
- Cellular Jail
Haldia Port, Kolkata
Haldia Port is the biggest port in the state of West Bengal. The Haldia Port is situated on the bank of the river Hugli which is at a distance of 128 km from the Bay of Bengal. The exports coming from Australia and South-East Asian countries are being handled at this port. This port is also known as the “Gateway of Eastern India”. Haldia port is one of the major international seaports in India.
Haldia port is the only port in the country that has two dock systems called Haldia dock and Kolkata dock. It is the oldest port in India that was made by the East India Company and is one of the largest dry docks in India. In the trade of Jute, the Kolkata port is the most crucial center. Tea, jute products, coal, steel, iron, leather, copper, etc. are exported here while the imports are mainly paper, machinery, crude oil, and chemical products. Hotels in Kolkata can be used if you’re thinking of spending another day in this joyous city.
Location- Kolkata, West Bengal
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Places to visit nearby-
- Howrah Bridge
- Victoria Memorial
- Fort William
- Mother Teresa House
- Kalighat Kali Temple
Paradip Port, Orissa
Paradip Port is situated on the coast of Orissa and is one of the deepwater seaports in India. To handle heavy and bulk containers the depth of the port plays an important role. Paradip Port mainly deals with iron-ore and coal that is exported to Japan in large quantities. The number of imports is half of the number of exports at this port.
Paradip port’s imports were only 6,991 thousand tonnes in 2003 while its exports reached a total of 16,910 thousand tonnes. To make transport easy and convenient. This port has a railway system. To make the Paradip port more better and efficient, recently tankers of 85,000 DWT were constructed.
Location- Paradeep, Odisha
Places to visit nearby-
- Jagannath Temple, Puri
- Konark Sun Temple
- Fort of Barabati
- Gahirmatha Sanctuary & beach
Tuticorin Port, Tamil Nadu
Tuticorin Port is one of the 13 major seaports in India and the newest one in Tamil Nadu state. This is an artificial harbor situated 8 km south of the old Tuticorin port. The port is connected by roads and railways and mainly trades with Sri Lanka. Tuticorin Port is the second-largest port in Tamil Nadu and is also known as the pearl city due to its pearl fishery in the Bay of Bengal. This port deals with the trade of salt, sugar, coal, edible oil, and food grains. An outer harbor will be built at this port in near future.
Location- World Trade Ave, Harbour Estate, Tuticorin Beach Road Salt Pans, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
Places to visit nearby-
- Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary
- Our Lady of Snows Basilica
- Ettaiyapuram Palace
- The Beach
- Kalugumalai
Cochin Port, Kochi
The Cochin Port is a major port on the Arabian Sea and one of the largest seaports in India. Kochi port is also the fastest-growing port situated in Kerala. Willingdon and Vallarpadam are the two islands and the Kochi port lies between them. Kochi port imports mainly chemical fertilizers and mineral oil while it exports majorly spices, coffee, and tea. Kochi Port is the center for shipbuilding. The exports of this port were 10,839 thousand tones while its imports were only 2,110 thousand times in 2003.
Location- Willingdon Island, Kochi, Kerala
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Places to visit nearby-
- Mattancherry Palace
- Fort Kochi
- Bolgatty Palace
- Santa Cruz Basilica
- Bishop’s House
Ennore Port, Chennai
Ennore Port is situated on the Coromandel coast at a distance of 24 km from the Chennai port/ Ennore port is the 12th major port in India. To ease transport, the port is linked to both road and railway. Ennore Port is one of the important seaports in India which deals mainly with the transportation of Coal. The initial cause to build this port is because the Tamil Nadu electricity board needed fuel for its operations. Ennore Port is not run by the government, it is a private port.
Location- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Places to visit nearby-
Panambur Port, Mangalore, Karnataka
Panambur Port is situated in the seaside city of Mangalore. Panambur Port is one of the major seaports in India situated on the northern banks of the Gurupura river. The word Panambur is derived from two words in the Tulu language, ‘Panam’ meaning Money and ‘Ur’ meaning a village. From a commercial point of view, this port is very important. The former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated Panambur Port on the 4th of May 1974. This port is primarily a trading point between Kerala and Karnataka. Hotels in Mangalore are very good at providing comfort and luxury.
Location- Mangalore, Karnataka
Places to visit nearby-
- Kadri Manjunath Temple
- Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral
- Thousand Pillar Temple – Saavira Kambada Basadi
- Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple
These are some of the most important and common ports in India when it comes to the list of seaports in India. Make sure to not miss out on these important seaports when you plan to take a trip to India and these ports will surely leave you awestruck. For such amazing destinations, attractions, travel guides, and tour packages check out HotelDekho.com and get discounted offers.
