New Mangalore Port, also called Nav Mangalore port, is located on the bank of which west coast Indian river?

Introduction / Context:
New Mangalore Port, sometimes written as Nav Mangalore port, is an important major port on the western coast of India. Ports are usually located near river mouths or natural harbours, and exam questions often ask you to match ports with the rivers or coastal features on which they are situated. This question checks your detailed knowledge of coastal geography and transport infrastructure in Karnataka.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question concerns New Mangalore Port on the west coast of India. • We need to identify the river on whose bank this port is located. • All options are names of rivers found mainly in southern India.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the relationship between ports and nearby rivers. New Mangalore Port is located near the city of Mangaluru in Karnataka. It is situated to the north of the confluence of the Gurupura, also known as the Phalguni river, with the Arabian Sea. While Sharavati, Kaveri, Kumaradhara and Periyar are important rivers, they are not the exact river bank associated with this port. Remembering the specific Gurupura river link is essential.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that New Mangalore Port lies near Mangaluru in Karnataka on the Arabian Sea coast. Step 2: Associate Mangaluru with the nearby rivers Netravati and Gurupura, which form an estuarine system. Step 3: Note that New Mangalore Port is specifically located to the north of the Gurupura river mouth. Step 4: Examine the options. Kaveri and Periyar flow further south and empty into different coastal locations, not at Mangaluru. Step 5: Kumaradhara and Sharavati are also rivers in the region, but standard geography questions explicitly link Nav Mangalore or New Mangalore Port with Gurupura, so choose Gurupura.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you check standard exam guides or port location tables, New Mangalore Port is repeatedly described as being located at Panambur near the Gurupura river. Some references mention that it lies just north of the confluence of the Gurupura river with the Arabian Sea. Since no other option fits this description, Gurupura is the only correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sharavati: Known for the Jog Falls, but not the main river associated with New Mangalore Port. Kaveri: A major river flowing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, draining into the Bay of Bengal, not near New Mangalore Port. Kumaradhara: A river in Karnataka but not the one mentioned in standard references for the port location. Periyar: The largest river in Kerala, associated with other projects and ports, not with New Mangalore Port.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse rivers that are generally in the same region, especially when they know that a port is somewhere on the Karnataka coast but cannot recall the specific river name. Another pitfall is to select a more famous river like Kaveri or Periyar simply because it is better known. To avoid this, memorise port and river pairs such as Kandla with the Gulf of Kachchh, Kochi with the backwaters of Kerala and New Mangalore with the Gurupura river.

Final Answer:
New Mangalore Port is located on the bank of the Gurupura river.