The narrow west coastal plain stretches from Rann of Kachchh in the north to Kannyakumari in the south, with an average width of 65 kilometres. It's fairly narrow in the centre, and it's a little border in the north and south. It can be classified into the following sections based on relief and structure:

1. The Kachchh Peninsula:

The peninsula of Kachchh was bordered by oceans and lagoons. The material brought by the Indus River, which used to flow through this area, later filled these seas and lagoons. As a result, the island became a part of the mainland, resulting in the formation of a rather broad plain. It is treated as a unique entity by some researchers who do not believe it to be part of the west coastal plain. Other geographers believe Kachchh and Kathiawar to be part of the Peninsular Plateau because Kathiawar is composed of Deccan Lava and the Kachchh area contains tertiary rocks. According to them, the genuine West Coastal Plain stretches over 1600 kilometres between Surat and Kannyakumari. However, the reality is that it is primarily a plain area located near India's west coast. As a result, it should be considered part of the West Coastal Plain.

Because there is a lack of rain and running surface water, the work of the wind is felt everywhere, resulting in arid and semi-arid landscapes. The most distinctive physiographic features are coastal sand dunes, sandy plains, and bare rocky highlands.

A vast level salt-soaked plain runs all the way north of Kachchh. The Great Rann is who you're looking for. The Little Rann, its southern continuation, sits on the shore and to the south-east of Kachchh. The Great Rann is around 320 kilometres long and 160 kilometres wide, with a total size of about 21,500 square kilometres. It rises barely a few metres above sea level and is flooded during the rainy season by the Banas and Luni Rivers. Some areas are submerged beneath the water level and are flooded during high tides. The majority of the area is made up of salt-encrusted black silt that has been sun-baked. The monotony of the generally level plain is broken by a few spots of high terrain that are covered in grass.

2. The Kathiawar Peninsula:

To the south of the Kachchh is the Kathiawar Peninsula. The Little Rann and Nal Basins surround it on the east and north sides. The average elevation is under 200 metres. The Mandav Hill highland is in the centre, with little streams flowing in all directions. The highest point, Mt. Girnar (1,117 m), is thought to be volcanic in nature. The Gir Range is found in the Kathiawar peninsula's southern region. It is known for being the home of the Gir lion and is shrouded in lush forests.

3. The Gujarat Plain:

The Gujarat Plain is located east of Kachchh and Kathiawar, and it slopes west and south. It's almost as though Indo-Gangetic conditions had made their way into the Peninsula. The plain, which is formed by the rivers Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, and Sabarmati, encompasses the southern half of Gujarat as well as the Gulf of Khambhat's coastal sections. This is a low plain with no more than 150 metres of elevation. The eastern section of the plain is built up of sediments and is suitable for agriculture, while the majority of the plain along the coast is covered in windblown loess, resulting in a semi-arid landscape. During high tide, a network of saline marshes near the shore is prone to flooding.

4. The Konkan Plain:

The Konkan Plain is located to the south of the Gujarat plain and stretches for around 500 kilometres from Daman to Goa, with a width ranging from 50 to 80 kilometres. Cliffs, shoals, reefs, and islands in the Arabian Sea are all examples of marine erosion. Mumbai was once an island, but parts of the sea between the mainland and the island were reclaimed to connect the two. The Ulhas' Thane Creek, which runs through Mumbai, is a significant embayment that provides an excellent natural harbour on the island's southern side. The Konkan Coast, south of Mumbai, includes a succession of small bays and coves nestled between protruding headlands and sand beaches. Behind the alluvial coastal zone, there are a series of parallel mountains rising to 450-600 m, where rivers such the Vaitarni, Ulhas, and Amba run parallel to the shore before crossing it transversely. Some lateritic hillocks climb to a height of 100 metres above sea level.

5. The Karnataka Coastal Plain:

The Karnataka Coastal Plain stretches for around 225 kilometres from Goa to Mangalore. The plain is narrow, with an average width of 30-50 kilometres and a maximum of 70 kilometres near Mangalore. Numerous spurs jutting from the Ghats span the plain's middle section. At 140N latitude, where the Ghats crest is barely 13 km from the sea, these spurs reach so near to the coast that the lowland's breadth is reduced to 5-7 km. The spurs, which run like ridges near the Ghats, reach heights of around 600 metres. Streams that originate in the Western Ghats down steep hillsides and form waterfalls in some areas. The Sharavati creates a magnificent cascade known as Gersoppa (Jog) Falls, which is 271 metres high, when it descends such a steep hill. On the seashore, the marine terrain is particularly distinct.

6. The Kerala Plain:

Between Mangalore and Kannyakumari, the Kerala Plain, commonly known as the Malabar Plain, stretches for about 500 kilometres. This plain is substantially wider than the Karnataka plain, stretching over 96 kilometres in some parts. It is a low-lying plain with a maximum height of 30 metres. The presence of lakes, lagoons, backwaters, spits, and other water bodies is a distinctive feature of the Kerala coast. The backwaters, also known as Kayals in the local community, are shallow marine lagoons or inlets that run parallel to the coastline. The greatest of these is the Vembanad Lake, which is 75 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide, with a 55-kilometer spit. Kochi is located near the mouth of the river that flows into the sea. Canals have linked this and numerous other lagoons to create good inland waterways that stretch from the mouth of the Ponnani in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south.