Chelitalo

Chelitalo was an important port in Ancient Orissa, in northeast India, lying on the Chandrabhaga river in Konark.[1] In ancient times, the Chandrabhaga and Kushabhadra rivers were navigable, and may have been used for the shipping of huge blocks of stone for the construction of the Konark Sun Temple.[2]

The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang, who visited Orissa in the 7th century AD, described Chelitalo as a busy port. The port has been identified with Konark, Puri and (perhaps most likely) with the archeological site of Manikpatna.[3] By the 7th century AD the city was a noted seat of Mahayana Buddhism. Hiuen-Tsang described it as surrounded by strong and high walls, containing five great convents adorned with images of Buddha and Bodhisattva.[4] It was connected to Cuttack by roads and waterways.[5]

References

  1. Nihar Ranjan Patnaik (1997). Economic history of Orissa. Indus Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 81-7387-075-6.
  2. DR. BENUDHAR PATRA. "Antiquity of Arkakshetra Konark". HareKrsna.com. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  3. Kandarpa Patel. "MARITIME RELATION OF KALINGA WITH SRILANKA" (PDF). OHRJ, Vol. XLVII, No. 2. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  4. B. D. Panda (1992). The growth of academic library system. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 219. ISBN 81-7041-663-9.
  5. Ravi Kalia (1994). Bhubaneswar: from a temple town to a capital city. SIU Press. p. 68. ISBN 0-8093-1876-8.
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