Machilipatnam

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Machilipatnam

[[File:|250x250px|frameless|center]]

Settlement type City
Country India
State
District
Subdivision

Machilipatnam (Template:IPA), also known as Masulipatnam, Masulipatam and Bandar (Template:IPA),Template:Sfn is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district.[1] It is also the mandal headquarters of Machilipatnam mandal in Machilipatnam revenue division of the district.[2][3] The ancient port town served as the settlement of European traders from the 16th century, and it was a major trading port for the Portuguese, British, Dutch and French in the 17th century.Template:Sfn

Etymology

During the 17th century, it was known by the names Masulipatnam, Masulipatam,[4] Masula and Bandar (Bandar translates to 'port' in Persian language).[5]Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The port town in the ancient times was also referred with the name Maesolia.[4][6]

History

File:Masulipatam mg 8557.jpg
View of Masulipatam in 1676

The town has existed since at least the 3rd century BCE (Satavahana period) when, according to Ptolemy, it was known as Maisolos. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea calls it Masalia in the 1st-century BCE.[7] The port is on the southeastern, or Coromandel Coast, of India. At the mouth of the River Krishna on the Bay of Bengal, the Masula port saw flourishing sea trade.Template:Citation needed

Muslin was traded by ancient Greeks from the town and the word muslin originated from the name Maisolos.[8] Muslin was an important source of income for the town, being a favourite of Roman traders for domestic consumption. Several Roman coins were found during excavations of Buddhist towns near Machilipatnam.[9]

The town served as the primary sea port for the Kingdom of Golkonda. It was an outlet for textiles produced in the Godavari Delta. It was a major source of income for the kingdom, and contributed to its immense prosperity in the 1620s and 1630s.Template:Sfn

By the end of the 17th century, the port city had fallen into decline. This coincided with the Mughal conquest of Golkonda. However, mismanagement prior to the conquest may have also been a factor in the city's decline.Template:Sfn

Salabat Jung, the son of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I, who was indebted for his elevation to the throne to the French East India Company, granted them in return for their services the district of Kondavid or Guntur, and soon afterwards the remainder of the Circars. The Circars were captured by the British from the French in 1759 and were returned to the Nizam. However Masulipatnam captured by the British during the Siege of Masulipatam was retained by the East India Company.[10]

The town was the district headquarters of the then, Masulipatnam district and now to the Krishna district, which was formed in 1859 in the composite Madras state.[3]Template:Sfn

Geographical area

Machilipatnam city is at Template:Coord on the southeast coast of India and in the east coast of Andhra Pradesh.[11] The city has an average elevation of 14 meters (45 feet).[12]

Climate

Machilipatnam (city) gets most of its annual rainfall due to the southwest monsoon. It has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with hot summers and moderate winters. The hottest months are between April and June. The average normal rainfall in the district is Template:Convert and Machilipatnam is vulnerable to high surges of the sea due to cyclones. The 1864 Machilipatnam Cyclone claimed to have killed at least 30,000 people. The 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone crossed the coast near Nizampatnam and took approximately 10,000 lives. As the storm approached the coast, gale winds reaching 200 km/h lashed Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. A storm surge, 5 meters high, inundated the Krishna estuary and the coast south of the city (Bandar).

On 8 December 2004, a high capacity S-Band Doppler cyclone warning radar was installed, commissioned and made operational at the city[13] by the German manufacturer Gematronik. With the installation of the radar, it is hoped the state will be better equipped to track cyclones. The facility will monitor the 960 km long coastline of the state.[14]

Template:Weather box

File:Musalipatam Mschilipatnam port in 1759.jpg
Masulipatam port in 1759

Template:Historical populations

Demographics

Template:As of census, Machilipatnam had a population of 2,32,000. The total population constitutes 1,13,286 males and 1,18,714 females — a sex ratio of 1047 females per 1000 males. 13,778 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 7,076 are boys and 6,702 are girls. The average literacy rate stands at 83.32% with 130,173 literates, significantly higher than the state average of 67.41%.[15][16]

Governance

Civic administration

Machilipatnam Municipal Corporation is the civic body of the city. It was constituted as a municipality in 1866 and was upgraded to corporation from special grade municipality on 9 December 2015.[17][18] It covers an area of Template:Convert under its jurisdiction. The present commissioner of the corporation is Sampath and the municipal chairperson is Motamarri Venkata Baba Prasad.[19]

Machilipatnam Urban Development Authority is the urban planning authority, headquartered at Machilipatnam.[20]

Politics

Machilipatnam is a part of Machilipatnam (Assembly constituency) for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Kollu Ravindra is the present MLA of the constituency from the Telugu Desam Party.[21][22] The assembly segment is also a part of Machilipatnam (Lok Sabha constituency), which was won by Balashowry Vallabhaneni of Janasena Party.[23]

Economy

File:Machilipatnam lighthouse from Manginapudi Beach.jpg
Lighthouse near Manginapudi Beach

Machilipatnam is known for its handloom industry, which produces Kalamkari textiles exported to United States and other Asian countries.Template:Citation needed

Other notable local industries are boat building and fishing.[24] Machilipatnam was a trading base for the Europeans in the 17th century and known for minting copper coins, exporting diamonds, textiles etc., through the port.[25]

The AP state government is taking measures to bring back the glory of the former port city. On 7 February 2019, it has started construction of a deep seaport and associated industrial corridor under the Machilipatnam Area Development Authority.[24][26]

Culture

Art and handicrafts

Machilipatnam Kalamkari is a handcrafted dyed block-painting of a fabric.[27] It is performed at the nearby town of Pedana and was registered with geographical indication from Andhra Pradesh.[28] Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti styles are the only existing Kalamkari style works present in India.[29]

Dance

Kuchipudi, a popular Indian Classical Dance form, originated at Kuchipudi, 25 kilometers from Machilipatnam.[30]

Cuisine

The city is well known for a sweet known as Bandar Laddu and Bandar Halwa.[31] Almond Milkshake is also largely famous in Machilipatanam which are Mostly centred in Koneru Centre. Bandar Biryani is delicious, which is made by Shia Muslims in Moharram rituals .

Religious worship

File:Chilakalapudi Temple.jpg
Panduranga Swamy Temple, located in Chilakalapudi, Machilipatnam, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India

There are many religions with worship centers in and around the city, such as Panduranga Temple at Chilakalapudi, Agastheeswara Temple etc. Dattashram is a pilgrimage site on the coast and home to ancient Shiva and Datta temples. Manginapudi is popularly known as "Datta Rameswaram" due to the consecration of 12 wells for bathing (recalling those at Rameswaram).[32]

Shia Muslims

Machilipatnam is home to the largest Shia Muslim population in the entire state of Andhra Pradesh. The city hosts more than a hundred Astanas/Imambargahs (which are places for Moharram rituals). The famous chest beating ceremonies happen on Ashura in the Koneru Centre circle, attracting thousands of mourners and visitors from other religions. There are Imambargahs that are more than 600 years old, such as the Zari Astana, Baraimam Astana, Naqla Astana, and others. The Baraimam Alam is taken out for procession through the streets of Machilipatnam, a night before Ashura. and the Krishna district police offers a dhati (cloth) to the Alam. Hundreds of Shia Muslims from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and Visakhapatnam visit the Chehlum Astana for the 17th Safar of the Islamic calendar, where Hazrat Abbas's Arabaeen attracts thousands of mourners from across South Asia.

Tourism

Manginapudi Beach is on the coast of the city.[33] Machilipatnam also has the ruined buildings built by the Europeans who settled here.[34][35]

Transport

The city has a total road length of Template:Convert.[36] The National Highway 65 connects Machilipatnam to Pune via Hyderabad, Suryapet and Vijayawada. NH 216 from Kattipudi to Ongole, passes through the city.

The city's bus station is owned and operated by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.[37][38] The station is equipped with a bus depot for storage and maintenance of buses.[39]

Machilipatnam railway station is a 'B–Category' and 'Adarsh station' under the jurisdiction of Vijayawada railway division.[40] It is the terminal station of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam branch line that connects Howrah-Chennai main line at Template:Rws.[41]

Machilipatnam port was damaged by a giant ocean wave on 1 November 1864.[25] Since then, there were many efforts to build a new port. Navayuga Engineering Company Limited is in the process of building a deep water port at Gilakaladinne of the city.[42]

The nearest International airport is Gannavaram, Vijayawada (63 kms).

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided, and private schools of the School Education Department of the state.[43][44] Krishna University is located in Machilipatnam.

Notable natives

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mandals in East godavari district. aponline.gov.in. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Krishna District Mandals. Census of India. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 District Census Handbook – Krishna. Census of India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 A manual of the Kistna district, in the presidency of Madras{{#if:Mackenzie|, Mackenzie}. Lawrence Asylm Press, Madras(1883)
  5. ↑ Machilipatnam Growth May Trigger Off Reverse Migration. The New Indian Express(2 April 2015). Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. ↑ The rise and fall of Maesolia port. The Hindu(8 August 2015). Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  7. ↑ The Great Stupa at Nagarjunakonda in Southern India, p. 187
  8. ↑ Periplus, Point 62; http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/periplus.asp Template:Webarchive
  9. ↑ Buddhist Monks and Monasteries of India: Their History and Their Contribution to Indian Culture by Sukumar Butt, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1988, p. 132
  10. ↑ Template:EB1911
  11. ↑ redirect to /world/IN/02/Machilipatnam.html.
  12. ↑ overview1758. Columbia University.
  13. ↑ Weather Radar Network of India Meteorological Department. India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Andhra Pradesh News: Modern cyclone warning system for Machilipatnam(2004-05-08).Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named population
  16. ↑ Literacy of AP (Census 2011). Official Portal of Andhra Pradesh Government. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  17. ↑ Masula, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram upgraded into corporations. The Hindu(10 December 2015). Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  18. ↑ Population Glitch for Masula to Turn into Corporation(20 February 2015). Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  19. ↑ Machilipatnam info. Machilipatnam Municipality. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  20. ↑ State constitutes Machilipatnam Area Development Authority(2 February 2016). Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  21. ↑ MLA. Government of AP. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  22. ↑ Machilipatnam Assembly 2014 Election Results. Elections.in. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  23. ↑ MP (Lok Sabha). Government of AP. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 A port all at sea. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 The rise and fall of Maesolia port(8 August 2015). Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  26. ↑ MADA to expedite work on deep-sea port project. The Hindu(6 February 2016). Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  27. ↑ Kalamkari back in demand. The Hindu(25 October 2010).
  28. ↑ State Wise Registration Details of G.I Applications. Geographical Indication Registry. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  29. ↑ Kalamkari: Craft of the matter. mid-day(24 August 2015). Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  30. ↑ Kuchipudi Village – Dance Village Of Andhra Pradesh, Goyal, Anuradha. Inditales(2017-03-02). Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  31. ↑ In search of Bandar Laddu. The Hindu(13 April 2013). Retrieved 12 July 2015. Vani sweets, near to the Koneru center and RK sweets, near to the bus stand are famous in the city
  32. ↑ History.
  33. ↑ Manginapudi Beach. Andhra Pradesh Tourism. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  34. ↑ Monuments face utter neglect in Bandar Fort. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  35. ↑ Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh: The tenuous link between the present and the past - The Hindu. The Hindu(2023-07-05). Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  36. ↑ Details of Roads in Each ULB of Andhra Pradesh. Commissioner and Directorate of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department - Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  37. ↑ Bus Stations in Districts. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  38. ↑ RTC takes a low blow from Laila. The Times of India(21 May 2010). Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  39. ↑ Depot Name. APSRTC. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  40. ↑ Vijayawada Division – a profile. Indian Railways. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  41. ↑ Machilipatnam Railway Station. India Rail Info. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  42. ↑ G.O. on development of Machilipatnam deep water port. Department of Ports. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  43. ↑ School Education Department. School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  44. ↑ The Department of School Education - Official AP State Government Portal | AP State Portal. www.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  45. ↑ Medical Personalities in Chennai - chennaibest.com. 50.6.66.190. Retrieved 2017-10-22.

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