Ancient ports of Kalinga

Abstract

The ancient Kingdom of Kalinga mentioned in the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela (1st century B.C.) extended from the mouths of the Ganges to the estuary of Godavari river on the East Coast. Ptolemy (100 A.D.) mentions that Paluru (District Ganjam), Konark, Puri (both in district Puri) and Kosambi (district Balasore) were flourishing Ports. Besides the inscriptions and other archaeological finds the Brahmanda Purana (10th century A.D.) also refers to the ships in the Chilka Lake and those which plied between Kalinga and south east Asian countries. Nanda Raja, is said to have attacked Kalinga with the intention of getting access to the sea for the landlocked Kingdom of Magadha (Bihar). The ancient texa Artha Sastra (3rd-4th century B.C.) refers to Magadhan trade. The exports from Kalinga included elephants, cotton, salt and silk. The inscriptions of the Sailendra dynasty found in the Malayan Archipelago refers to overseas trade between Kalinga and south Asian countries. The rise and decline of Kalingan Ports and their contribution to the development of overseas trade and spread of Indian culture are highlighted