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 8173870756. http://books.google.ca/books?id=1AA9W9_4Z9gC&pg=PA121. 
2. ^ DR. BENUDHAR PATRA. "Antiquity of Arkakshetra Konark". HareKrsna.com. http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/06-08/features1035.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-24. 
3. ^ Kandarpa Patel. "MARITIME RELATION OF KALINGA WITH SRILANKA". OHRJ, Vol. XLVII, No. 2. http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Journal/Journal2/pdf/ohrj-017.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-24. 
4. ^ B. D. Panda (1992). The growth of academic library system. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.. p. 219. ISBN 8170416639. http://books.google.ca/books?id=P3fvOXLk8okC&pg=PA219. 
5. ^ Ravi Kalia (1994). Bhubaneswar: from a temple town to a capital city. SIU Press. p. 68. ISBN 0809318768. http://books.google.ca/books?id=F2YSPiKbmHkC&pg=PA68.