3/9/24, 11:56 AM Ports of Ancient India (Ancient Ports) - UPSC

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ART AND CULTURE

Ports of Ancient India (Ancient Ports)

Ports of
Ancient India State Salient Features
The oldest port in India. The remains of the port city of
Lothal were discovered in 1954 and were excavated by the
Lothal Port Gujarat Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The excavations led to
the discovery of a mound, a township, a marketplace as well
as the dock, cementing the existence of the port in Lothal.
Muziris port had played a significant role in connecting the
region with the Persians, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians,
the Greeks, the Egyptians and the Roman Empire. While
Muziris Port Kerala spices, particularly black pepper, were the key item exported
from the Muziris port, other commodities shipped include
semi-precious stones, diamonds, ivory and pearls, among
others. The goods arrived at Muziris from over 30 countries
were mostly textile, wine, wheat and gold coins etc.
Poompuhar, also known as Puhar or Kaveripattanam, is
Poompuhar believed to be the Port town of Chola Empire. Situated in the
Port Tamil Nadu mouth of the Kaveri River. The port witnessed the Indian
merchants trading their commodities, mostly spices, with
other Asian countries as well as Arabs.
Arikamedu Puducherry Arikamedu, is known as the port of Podouke in historical
Port documents. It finds mentions in Tamil poems of the Sangam
period. Arikamedu was a Chola port dedicated to bead
making and it was the only port city in the region to have ties
with Romans. In addition, textiles, terracotta artefacts, plants,
spices and jewellery were also shipped from the Indian port
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Ports of
Ancient India State Salient Features
to Roman ports and other eastern destinations. The discovery
of several antiquities of Roman origin helped archaeologists
to draw the history of the ancient port Arikamediu
Located in the region that comes under the current state of
Gujarat and at the mouth of the river Narmada. Bharuch was
also known as Bharukaccha and Barygaza to the merchants
Bharuch Port Gujarat from around the world. Bharuch had established trade
relations with Arabs, Greeks and Romans, Africans, Chinese
and Egyptians. Bharuch was a terminus for a number of land-
sea trade routes and goods were trans-shipped there to send
abroad utilising the monsoon winds.
Sopara was an ancient port town and the capital of the
ancient Aparanta. The site of this ancient town is located
near the present day Nala Sopara (Mumbai). In ancient
times, it was the largest township on India’s west coast,
trading with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Cochin, Arabia and Eastern
Sopara Port Mumbai Africa. The Mahabharata and the Puranas state that the
Śūrpāraka was reclaimed from the sea for the dwelling place
of Parashurama and it became a tirtha for this reason. The
finding of the relics in a stupa and the rock edicts (the
fragments of the 8th and 9th major rock edicts) of Ashoka in
1882 prove the importance of this port town from the 3rd
century BCE to the 9th century CE.
Calicut, also known as Kozhikode, was also one of the
busiest ports and trading centres. Located on the coast of
Arabian Sea, this west coast port was an important trading
Calicut Port Kerala port especially for spices including pepper, cloves and
cinnamon. It began to grow as a notable trade centre under
the Chera regime. While textiles and spices were the
commodities travelled from Calicut, goods such as Chinese
Ceramics and European pots came in return.
Tuticorin Port Tamil Nadu Tuticorin also known as Thoothukudi. Thoothukudi was ruled
by several dynasties including the Pandyas and the Cholas in
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Ports of
Ancient India State Salient Features
the past, often using it as their important seaport. The most
important trade in this region included fishery and pearl.
Nirppeyarru Tamil Nadu Ancient port located in Tamil Nadu. Equated with modern
Mahabalipuram.
Tondi Port Tamil Nadu Important port during Pandya dynasty. Located in Tamil
Nadu.
Korkai Port Tamil Nadu Important port of Pandya dynasty located in Tamil Nadu.
Motupalli Andhra Important port of Kakatiya Dynasty located in Andhra
Pradesh Pradesh
There are evidence of its existence mainly during
Machilipatnam Andhra Satavahana period. It was known by the names like Masula
Pradesh and Bandar. It saw flourishing Sea trade. Major trade item
was Muslin Clothes.
Tamralipti was located on the eastern coast near the
confluence of the Bay of Bengal and River Ganga. Tamralipti
was related to trade routes and frequented by traders,
travellers and pilgrims. The Dudhpani rock inscription of
Udaymana of eighth century CE contains the last record of
Tamralipti as a port of ancient South Asia. In the map of the
Tamralipti West Greek geographer Ptolemy, Tamralipti appears as Tamalities.
Bengal Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang calls the town Tan-mo-lih-ti
(te). These textual references have led scholars to identify
Tamralipti as one of the most important centres of trade and
commerce of early historic India. It has also led to the belief
that Tamralipti had emerged as a thriving urban settlement in
this period and had multidirectional links with different
geographical regions of South Asia.
Pulicat Port Tamil Nadu Important
Coast.
port during the reign of Vijayanagar kings on East

Barbaricum near Ancient port near Karachi in Indus Delta. Important for Indo-
Karachi Roman trade in ancient times.
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Q. Which one of the following was very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom? [2017]
(a) Kakinada
(b) Motupalli
(c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
(d) Nelluru
Ans: (b)

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