The northern part of the west coast of India, stretching along Maharashtra and Goa, is popularly known by which coastal name?

Introduction / Context:
India long coastline is divided into several sections that have traditional regional names. Knowing these coastal names is important in physical geography and is frequently tested in exams. This question focuses on the northern segment of the west coast and asks you to identify what that part of the coast is commonly called.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question mentions the northern part of the west coast of India. • This stretch mainly includes the coasts of Maharashtra and Goa. • The options list Konkan, Coromandel, Malabar and other coastal names.

Concept / Approach:
The Indian coastline along the Arabian Sea is generally divided into three well known parts: the Konkan coast in the north, the Karnataka coast in the middle and the Malabar coast in the south. On the eastern side along the Bay of Bengal, the major coastal name is the Coromandel coast. The northern part of the west coast, covering Maharashtra and Goa, is specifically called the Konkan coast. Remembering this standard division allows you to pick the correct term easily.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the west coast of India from north to south, along the Arabian Sea. Step 2: Recall that the coast of Maharashtra and Goa, from roughly Mumbai down to Goa, is known as the Konkan coast. Step 3: Remember that further south, along Kerala and parts of Karnataka, the term Malabar coast is used. Step 4: Coromandel coast refers to a coastal stretch on the eastern side along the Bay of Bengal, not on the west coast. Step 5: Since the question clearly refers to the northern part of the west coast, select Konkan coast as the correct name.

Verification / Alternative check:
School atlases and geography textbooks often label the coastal regions with these names on the map. Checking such a map, you will see the word Konkan written along the coastal strip of Maharashtra and Goa on the Arabian Sea. Malabar appears southwards along Kerala, and Coromandel appears along the southeastern coast facing the Bay of Bengal. This confirmation makes it clear that Konkan is the correct answer for the northern part of the west coast.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Coromandel coast: Lies on the southeastern coast of India along the Bay of Bengal, not on the west coast. Malabar coast: Refers mainly to the coastal region of Kerala and adjacent parts of Karnataka, which is more to the south, not the northern section. Kannada coast: Sometimes used informally to refer to the Karnataka coastline, which is the middle section of the west coast, not the northern part. Godavari coast: Not a standard geographical term for the west coast; the Godavari river flows to the east and forms a delta on the Bay of Bengal side.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often mix up Malabar and Konkan because both refer to parts of the western coastline and are mentioned together in textbooks. Another common error is to misplace Coromandel on the west coast simply because it is a coastal name. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to memorise the basic pattern: Konkan in the north west, Karnataka and Malabar further south on the west, and Coromandel on the southeastern coast along the Bay of Bengal.

Final Answer:
The northern part of the west coast of India is known as the Konkan coast.