Machilipatnam Port

News: The historic port of Machilipatnam is revived again after being a dead dock town for ages.

About Machilipatnam Port

• Location: It is a port city located at the mouth of the River Krishna on the Bay of Bengal in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It was also known as Masulipatnam or Bandar or Masuala in ancient times.
• Ancient existence: The port’s existence dates back to at least the Satavahana period (3rd century BCE), mentioned as Maisolos by Ptolemy and as Masalia in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE).
• Medieval era: Under Qutb Shahi rule (16th–17th centuries), it became the principal port for the Kingdom of Golkonda, exporting textiles from the Krishna-Godavari delta.
• European era: It was also one of the first places where the East Indian Company set up a factory in the country, in the early 17th century.
• Economic importance: It was a vital center for trade with ancient Rome, Persia, China, Southeast Asia, and later, European traders. The port specialized in exporting:
  • Muslin (fine cotton cloth, for which the word “muslin” is derived)
  • Spices, textiles, diamonds, turmeric, sugar, elephants, and other goods.
    • It is known for its handloom industry, which produces Kalamkari textiles.
  • Decline
    • The port lost prominence to Madras (Chennai) due to changing British colonial trade policies and siltation
• Current development: A modern Greenfield Port is under rapid construction at Manginapudi, near Machilipatnam.

Port Cities of Ancient India