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Question

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?

The correct answer is

7

Understanding the Road Trip from Kohima to Kottayam

The question asks for the minimum number of Indian States one must travel through by road when going from Kohima in Nagaland to Kottayam in Kerala. We need to include both the starting state (Nagaland) and the ending state (Kerala) in our count.

Finding a Likely Minimum Route

To find the minimum number of states, we need to identify a plausible road route that connects Kohima in the North-East region of India to Kottayam in the South region while crossing the fewest possible state borders. Road travel involves passing through consecutive states.

A typical route connecting the North-East to South India would generally involve moving west or south-west from the North-East, passing through the narrow corridor connecting the North-East to the rest of India, and then heading south along major highways.

Tracing the States on a Possible Route

Let's trace a likely route starting from Kohima and heading towards Kottayam:

  1. Start in Nagaland (Kohima is in Nagaland).
  2. Travel from Nagaland into Assam (moving west/south-west).
  3. Travel from Assam through the connecting corridor into West Bengal.
  4. Travel south from West Bengal into Odisha.
  5. Continue travelling south from Odisha into Andhra Pradesh.
  6. Travel further south from Andhra Pradesh into Tamil Nadu.
  7. Finally, travel from Tamil Nadu into Kerala (Kottayam is in Kerala).

Counting the States

Based on this plausible road route, the states we would travel through are:

  • Nagaland (Origin State)
  • Assam
  • West Bengal
  • Odisha
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Kerala (Destination State)

Let's count the states in this list:

Nagaland (1) + Assam (2) + West Bengal (3) + Odisha (4) + Andhra Pradesh (5) + Tamil Nadu (6) + Kerala (7) = 7 States.

This route passes through a total of 7 states, including the starting point (Nagaland) and the destination point (Kerala). It is difficult to find a shorter route (in terms of the number of states crossed) that connects the far North-East to the far South, as one typically needs to cross the connecting corridor and then move southward through the eastern/southern parts of the country.

Therefore, the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, including the origin and the destination, is 7.

The sequence of states could generally follow: Nagaland -> Assam -> West Bengal -> Odisha -> Andhra Pradesh -> Tamil Nadu -> Kerala.

Revision Table: Kohima to Kottayam Travel

Step Journey Segment State Entered/Traversed Total States Counted So Far
1 Start Point Nagaland 1
2 Travelling West/South-West Assam 2
3 Through Corridor West Bengal 3
4 Travelling South Odisha 4
5 Continuing South Andhra Pradesh 5
6 Moving Further South Tamil Nadu 6
7 Reaching Destination State Kerala 7

Additional Information: Indian Geography and Road Networks

India is a vast country with a complex road network, including National Highways and State Highways, connecting different parts of the nation. Planning a road trip across multiple states requires understanding the geographical layout and the primary routes connecting major regions.

  • North-East India: This region is connected to the rest of India by a narrow strip of land often called the "Chicken's Neck" or Siliguri Corridor, located in West Bengal. Any road travel from the North-East to the rest of India must pass through this corridor.
  • South India: Reaching South India from the eastern parts usually involves travelling through states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu before entering states like Kerala or Karnataka.
  • Minimum States: Finding the absolute minimum states requires considering all possible routes and border crossings. However, the primary national corridors dictate the most likely paths for long-distance travel across regions. The route identified (Nagaland -> Assam -> West Bengal -> Odisha -> Andhra Pradesh -> Tamil Nadu -> Kerala) is a standard sequence covering the geographical progression from the North-East to the South via the eastern coast.

The question asks for the minimum number of states including the origin and destination, making the count straightforward once a plausible route is established.

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Important Questions from India - Size and Location

  1. Consider the following pairs: Famous place Region 

    1. Bodhgaya Baghelkhand 

    2. Khajuraho Bundelkhand 

    3. Shirdi Vidarbha 

    4. Nasik (Nashik) Malwa 

    5. Tirupati Rayalaseema 

    Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  2. India is regarded as a country With "Demographic Dividend". This is due to

  3. A state in India has the following characteristics: 

    1) Its northern part is arid and semiarid. 

    2) Its central part produces cotton. 

    3) Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops. 

    Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics ?

  4. A particular State in India has the following characteristics : 1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover. 3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes Protected Area Network in this State. Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?

  5. With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements : 

    1. The country's total geographical area under the category of wetlands is recorded more in Gujarat as compared to other States. 

    2. In India, the total geographical area of coastal wetlands larger than that of wetlands. 

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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