The eastern sea coast of Tamil Nadu is known as the:

The south-eastern coast of India, running mainly along Tamil Nadu from around the Krishna delta (or Pulicat Lake, in some definitions) south to Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai), is called the Coromandel Coast.

Origin of the name:

The name is believed to come from "Cholamandalam", meaning the land (mandalam) of the Cholas, the great Tamil dynasty that ruled this region. European traders adapted it to "Coromandel".

Features of the Coromandel Coast:

• It is part of the Eastern Coastal Plain, which is broader and flatter than the Western Coastal Plain.
• It is a coast of emergence, with wide plains, deltas and lagoons.
• The Kaveri delta, called the "rice bowl" or "granary" of South India, lies here.
• It receives most of its rain from the north-east (retreating) monsoon in October to December, unlike most of India.
• It is often hit by tropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal.
• Important cities and ports: Chennai, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Ennore (Kamarajar Port).
• Historic coastal sites: Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), whose Shore Temple is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Danish settlement of Tharangambadi (Tranquebar).

Divisions of India's coastline:

• West coast (north to south): Kathiawar and Kutch coast (Gujarat), Konkan coast (Maharashtra and Goa), Kanara or Karnataka coast, and Malabar coast (Kerala).
• East coast (north to south): Utkal coast (Odisha), Northern Circars (Andhra Pradesh), and Coromandel coast (Tamil Nadu).

Key differences:

• West coast: narrow, with backwaters, lagoons and estuaries, and fast-flowing short rivers.
• East coast: wide, with large deltas formed by rivers such as the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Malabar Coast lies along Kerala and is known for its backwaters (kayals).
• ✗The Konkan Coast stretches from Daman to Goa.
• ✗The Northern Circars is the coastal strip of Andhra Pradesh between the Mahanadi and Krishna deltas.