Which Indian city is located on the banks of the river Narmada?

Introduction / Context:
Many Indian cities are identified in geography questions by the rivers on whose banks they are situated. The Narmada is a major west flowing river of central India that rises in Madhya Pradesh and flows through several states before entering the Arabian Sea. This question asks you to recognise which city among the options is actually located on the banks of the Narmada, rather than on other rivers or lakes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The river specified is the Narmada, which flows westward into the Arabian Sea.

- Options include Bharuch, Bhopal, Nagpur, Kota and Raipur.

- It is assumed that you know the broad course of the Narmada and some major cities near its banks.

- You do not need to know every small town, only which option correctly matches the river.

Concept / Approach:
The Narmada flows through central India and enters the Arabian Sea near Bharuch in the state of Gujarat. Bharuch is located near the Narmada estuary and has historically been an important port and trading city. Bhopal is located near lakes and is associated with the Upper Lake and Lower Lake rather than the Narmada. Nagpur is inland in Maharashtra and is not on the Narmada. Kota lies on the Chambal River, and Raipur is associated with the Mahanadi basin. Therefore, Bharuch is the only option that lies directly on the banks of the Narmada River.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the path of the Narmada. It rises near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and flows west through Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Step 2: Remember that the Narmada finally enters the Arabian Sea near Bharuch, making Bharuch a coastal and riverine city. Step 3: Identify Bharuch from the options as a city in Gujarat, known historically as a port at the mouth of the Narmada. Step 4: Check Bhopal, which is the capital of Madhya Pradesh, but lies near artificial lakes and not directly on the Narmada River. Step 5: Note that Nagpur is more central in Maharashtra and is not on the Narmada bank. Step 6: Recall that Kota lies on the Chambal River in Rajasthan and that Raipur is connected to the Mahanadi basin in Chhattisgarh, not to the Narmada. Step 7: Conclude that Bharuch is the only city correctly matched with the Narmada.

Verification / Alternative Check:
You can verify this by recalling a basic mapping exercise: list major west flowing rivers such as Narmada and Tapi and then attach a key city to each. For Narmada, common pairs include Jabalpur and Bharuch. Atlases often show Bharuch at the river mouth near the Gulf of Khambhat, highlighting its connection to Narmada. By contrast, Bhopal is shown inland with marked lakes, and Kota is marked along the Chambal. This pattern confirms that Bharuch is the correct city on the Narmada bank in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bhopal is near large lakes and is not situated directly on the Narmada River. Nagpur is located in Maharashtra away from the Narmada and is associated with other river systems. Kota lies on the Chambal River in Rajasthan and not on the Narmada. Raipur, in Chhattisgarh, is part of the Mahanadi basin and does not stand on the banks of the Narmada.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse central Indian cities and may wrongly assume that any major city in Madhya Pradesh or nearby must be on the Narmada, which is not correct. Another pitfall is mixing up which river flows through Kota or Bhopal. To avoid this, create a small table in your notes that pairs important Indian cities with their rivers, such as Patna and Ganga, Allahabad and the confluence, Bharuch and Narmada. Revising this table regularly will make such river city questions much easier.

Final Answer:
Bharuch is the city located on the banks of the river Narmada.