Ports and Port Towns of Early Odisha Text, Archaeology and Identification PDF
Ports and Port Towns of Early Odisha Text, Archaeology and Identification PDF
Ports and Port Towns of Early Odisha Text, Archaeology and Identification PDF
IDENTIFICATION
Author(s): Benudhar Patra
Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress , 2013, Vol. 74 (2013), pp. 54-63
Published by: Indian History Congress
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Proceedings of the Indian History Congress
Early Odisha or Kalinga being situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal
in ancient times played an important role in the maritime history of
India. Its long coast line was studded with a number of excellent port
and port-towns which are not only referred to in texts but are also
corroborated by archaeological excavations and explorations. Ports
were a prerequisite for overseas trade and commerce and as such
attracted the attention of the mariners and traders. Odishan coast in
ancient times flourished with many ports and anchorages which
naturally grew up at strategic points. Around the ports, towns developed
as a consequence of brisk trade. In fact, the ports were the centres of
life of the people in commercial, cultural and political fields. They
served as the medium of export of not only trading articles but also of
culture and civilization. Tamralipti, Che-li-ta-lo/ Manikpatna,
Khalkattapatna, Palur, Dosarene, Barua, Kalingapatnam, Pithunda etc.,
are some of the ports and port-towns of early Odisha, and in the present
paper, an attempt has been made to analyse and identify them in the
light of data as reflected in texts and archaeology.
According to the Shilpashastra , there are two types of sea ports ;
namely, pattana and dronimukha . This categorisation is made on the
basis of the nature of the location of ports. Pattanas were situated on
the sea coast where cargos were loaded and unloaded while
dronimukhas were situated near the confluence of the river and sea..
Early Odisha had both types of ports. It is believed that people from
different parts used to come by land and river route to the nearest port,
then made a coastal voyage to different big ports, and thence made
voyage to different foreign countries, especially to the countries of
South-East Asia.
Tamralipti
Of all the ports of ancient Odisha, beginning fitom the north, the first
and foremost was the port of Tamralipti. From this port there was a
regular sailing of vessels which either proceeded along the coasts of
Bengal and Burma (Myanmar), or crossed the Bay of Bengal and made
a direct „voyage to Malaya Peninsula and to the East Indies and Indo-
China and beyond.1 This port was the gateway for the daring sailors,
Khalkattapatna
The excavation at Khalkattapatna (Lat. 19° 51' 13" N and Long. 86°
02' 40" E) in Puri district by the Excavation Branch IV of the ASI
Che-li-ta-lo - Manikpatna
Che-li-ta-lo was another important sea-port of ancient Odisha. The
reference of Che-li-ta-lo for the first time appears in the accounts of
Hiuen-Tsang in the 7th century CE. Hiuen Tsang15 says that it was
situated to the south-east of the Wu-Tu (Odra) country and that it was
near the shore of the ocean and was above twenty li (5 miles) in circuit.
The city was naturally strong and contained many rare commodities. It
was a thoroughfare and resting place for sea going traders and strangers
from distant lands. Near the city were five Buddhist monasteries close
together with lofty structures and very artistic images. Seng-ka-lo
(Ceylon or Sri Lanka) was at a distance of 20,000 li (5000 miles) from
this place. On calm nights one could see the brilliant light emanating
from the pearl on the top of the tope over Buddha's tooth relic in Sri
Lanka from this place.
Apheterioki
Ptolemy32 refers to an apheterion (point of departure), immediately to
the south of Paloura (Palur), where ships bound for Khryse (the Malaya
Peninsula) ceased to follow the littoral and entered the high seas.
Geritii33 has identified the apheterion of Ptolemy with the modern
Gopalpur, just a little below the mouth of the river Rushikulya in
Ganjam district of Odisha. The apheterion of Ptolemy, however,
evidently could be none other than Mansurkota near Gopalpur. Gopalpur
in ancient times was known as Mansurkota.34 Like Palur the
geographical location of the present village Mansurkota indicates its
suitability to be a port.
Dosarene
Sonapur
Sonapur was another important sea port of ancient Odisha. It lies in
Lat. 19° 6' N and Long. 84° 47' E on the sea coast in Ganjam district of
Odisha where river Bahuda enters into the Bay of Bengal, 20 km away
Barua
Kalingapatnam
Kalingapatnam (Lat.l8°0'20" N and Long. 84°0' 7"E) was also a very
important port of Kalinga or ancient Odisha. It was situated at the
mouth of the river Vamsadhara in the modern Srikakulam district of
Andhra Pradesh. The name Kalingapatnam itself means the city of the
Kalingans, who earned reputation for their activity on the east coast.
Besides being a port for quite sometime, it was the capital city of
Kalinga. With the passage of time the port has been silted up. The
discovery of pottery, large-sized brick walls, glazed tiles etc., through
archaeological excavation conducted here (in 1928), proved beyond
doubt that the site was a fortified city or a capital right from c. 2nd
century BCE up to the early medieval times. The subsequent
excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India from 1977-79 in
the stupa mound (supposed to have existed opposite to the old port)
revealed that the settlement of this area must have taken place in 300
BCE.43 The findings of Roman coins from the excavated site suggests
that Kalingapatnam had contact with ancient Rome.
Pithunda
NOTESAND REFERENCES
1 . R.C. Majumdar, Hindu Colonies in the Far East, Calcutta, 1963 (rpt.
2. A. Cunningham, The Ancient Geography of india , Vol. I, Delhi, 199
3. M. Chandra, Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient Indiay New Delhi, 1
7. Epigraphia Indica , Vol. II, New Delhi (ASI), 1984 (rpt.) pp. 344-345.
8. B. Das, 'Kalinga and Outside World', Journal of Historical Research , Vol. XXVI,
No. I, Aug. 1983, pp. 24-25.
9. The Kathasaritsagara or Ocean of the Streams of Story, C.H. Tawney (tr.), Delhi,
1968 , Vol.1, pp.85, 87, 92,139, 329, 334; Vol.11, pp. 248, 265 and 342.
10. Indian Archaeology-A Review , 1985-1986, (ASI), Delhi, p. 56.
11. Ibid., p. 59.
12. Ibid.
13. B.K. Sinha, 'Khalkattapatna: A Small Port on the Coast of Orissa', in: B.U. Naya
and N.C. Ghosh (eds.), New Trends in Indian Art and Archaeology , Vol.11, New
Delhi, 1992, p. 428.
14. Ibid.
15. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, T. Watters, Vol. II, Delhi, 1961, pp. 193-194
16. A. Cunningham, op. cit., p. 430.
17. On Yuan Chwang's' Travels in India , op. cit., p. 194.
18. Ibid, p. 195.
19. K.S. Behera, 'Maritime Contacts of Orissa: Literary and Archaeological Evidence',
Utkal Historical Research Journal, Vol.V, 1994, p. 66.
20. Researches on Ptolemy's Geography of Eastern Asia, G.E. Gerini, New Delh
1974, pp. 47 and 743.
21. Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy, p. 69; R.C. Majumdàr, The Classic
Accounts of India, Calcutta, 1981, p. 367.
22. D.C. Sircar, Select Inscriptions Bearing on Indian History and Civilization, Vol
I, Calcutta, 1956, pp. 233-234.
23. Researches on Ptolemy's Geography of Eastern Asia , op. cit., p. 743.
24. The Jatakas ór Stories of the Buddha's Former Births , E.B. Cowell (ed.) New
Delhi , 2002, Vol. II, No. 276, p.252; Ibid, Vol. Ill, no.301, pp. 1-5; Ibid, No. 408,
pp. 228-232; Ibid, Vol. IV. No. 479, pp. 142-148.
25. V.S. Sukthankar et al. (ed.), Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva, XXIII, p. 708.
26. R.C. Majumdar, The Classical Accounts of India, Calcutta, 1981, p. 343.
27. Dathavamsa, B.C. Law (ed.), Lahore, 1925, No. VII.
28. S. Levi, Indian Antiquary , 1926, pp. 98-99.
29. Cf. G. A. Grierson (ed.), Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. IV, Delhi, 1973, p. 650
30. Commerce and Navigation of the Erythraean Sea, J.W. McCrindle (tr.), Amsterdam
1973, p. 145.
31. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, op. cit., p. 197.
32. Researches on Ptolemy's Geography of Eastern Asia, p. 743.
34. T.J. Maltby, The Ganjam District Manual , Madras, 1918, p. 31.
35. Commerce and Navigation of the Erythraean Sea , p. 145;
36. Ibid ; The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , W.H. Schoof, New Delhi, 2001, p.
37. Ancient India as Described by Ptolemy , pp.67 and 68.
38. M. Chandra, Sarthavaha , Patna, 1953, p. 120.
39. B. Srivastava, Trade and Commerce in Ancient India , Varanasi, 1968, p. 94.
40. On Yuan Chwang's Travel in India , op. cit., p. 197.
41. T.J. Maltby, op.cit, p.34.
42. Ibid.