Question map
If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination ?
Explanation
The shortest route from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala) passes through the following states: Nagaland-Assam-West Bengal-Odisha-Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu[1]-Kerala, which totals **7 states** including both the origin and destination.
Starting from Kohima in Nagaland (northeast India) and traveling to Kottayam in Kerala (southwest India), the road route must traverse the eastern Indian states before moving down the southeastern coast. The path necessarily includes Assam (to exit the northeast), West Bengal (the major transit state), Odisha and Andhra Pradesh (along the eastern coast), Tamil Nadu (at the southern tip), before finally reaching Kerala.
This represents the minimum number of states that must be crossed when traveling by road between these two cities, as geographical constraints and the Indian road network do not permit a shorter route through fewer states. Any alternative route would either be geographically impossible or would require passing through additional states, making 7 the optimal minimum.
SourcesPROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Mental Map' challenge, not a current affairs question. It tests your visualization of the 'Chicken's Neck' corridor and the East Coast alignment. Success depends on identifying 'Gatekeeper States' (Assam, West Bengal) rather than memorizing highway numbers.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Explicitly states the shortest route from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala).
- Lists the sequence of states traversed: Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil (truncated in source).
Defines Nagaland as one of the seven North‑Eastern states and notes territorial disputes with neighbouring Manipur — implying regional adjacency relationships matter for routing out of Nagaland.
A student can use a map to identify which neighbouring North‑Eastern state(s) (e.g., Assam or Manipur) provide road links from Kohima toward the rest of India.
Notes Nagaland was formed from territory taken out of Assam, which implies historical—and therefore likely geographic—proximity/bordering between Nagaland and Assam.
Combine this with a map to infer Assam is a likely transit state between Nagaland and the rest of India for a minimal‑state route.
States that road density is very low in the states of North‑East India, suggesting fewer direct inter‑state highways originate inside Nagaland and that routes will generally exit the North‑East via better‑connected neighbouring states.
Use this to focus on exiting Nagaland quickly into a better‑connected state (e.g., Assam) when seeking a minimal‑state road route to Kerala.
Lists NH‑44 as the long Srinagar–Kanyakumari north–south national highway (and other long NH routes), indicating major national highways link the far north to southernmost India including Kerala.
A student can look at a highway map to see where a route exiting the North‑East (likely via Assam) can join NH‑44 or other long NHs to proceed south to Kottayam, minimizing detours into extra states.
Identifies Nagaland and Kerala as distinct states with notable characteristics (e.g., Christian population figures), confirming both endpoints are in different, well‑defined states.
Use a political map to place the two endpoints and then trace the shortest inter‑state corridor between them to count intervening states.
- [THE VERDICT]: Applied Mapping Sitter. Solvable if you visualize the political map; impossible if you rely on rote text.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Political Map of India > State Adjacencies & The 'Chicken's Neck' (Siliguri Corridor).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these specific adjacencies: 1) Assam touches all other NE states + West Bengal. 2) Telangana does NOT touch Odisha (separated by AP/Chhattisgarh). 3) UP touches 8 States + 1 UT. 4) Chhattisgarh touches 7 states. 5) Andhra Pradesh does NOT touch Kerala.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize capitals. Practice 'Virtual Road Trips'. Pick two random distant capitals (e.g., Jaipur to Ranchi) and count the minimum states. Always identify the 'Choke Points' first.
The problem names Kohima (capital of Nagaland) and Kottayam (in Kerala); recognizing these as states/locations is a prerequisite to any route analysis.
High-yield for UPSC geography questions that require mapping place-names to states or regions. Helps narrow routing possibilities and understand regional constraints (e.g., northeast vs. south). Practice by memorising state capitals and regional groupings.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 14: The State Legislature > New States added since 1950 > p. 293
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > Terrorism in North-eastern India > p. 55
Long-distance NH corridors (NH44, NH66) define major north–south road links that are relevant when planning cross-country routes minimizing intermediate states.
Understanding major NH routes helps infer likely state sequences for long road journeys and eliminate implausible routes. UPSC often asks about transport corridors, NH numbering and their connectivity; learn through NH route tables and map practice.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Table 12.1 > p. 7
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Roads > p. 1
Route planning across many states typically relies on national highways; knowing the road categories clarifies which roads enable interstate through-routes.
Useful for questions on transport infrastructure, inter-state connectivity and logistics. Knowing the hierarchy and major lengths helps reason about probable routes when exact maps are unavailable.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Roads > p. 1
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Table 12.1 > p. 7
Logical Sibling: What is the minimum number of states to travel from Gandhinagar (Gujarat) to Kohima (Nagaland)? (Answer: 7 or 8 depending on the MP/UP route choice, testing the central breadth of India).
Use the 'Mandatory Gate' method. 1) Nagaland is landlocked by Assam (Count=2). 2) Assam is landlocked by West Bengal (Count=3). 3) Now you are in the mainland. To get to Kerala (South), you must go down the coast: Odisha -> Andhra. (Count=5). 4) Andhra doesn't touch Kerala, so you need one buffer (TN or Karnataka). Total = 5 + 1 buffer + 1 destination = 7.
Internal Security (Mains GS3): The 'Chicken's Neck' (West Bengal corridor) identified in this route is India's biggest strategic vulnerability. In war, cutting this narrow strip isolates 7 states (Nagaland included) from the mainland.