Maritime heritage in and around Chilika Lake, Orissa: Geologicalevidences for its decline

摘要

Chilika (also Chilka) lake is the largest brackish water body in India. Archaeological explorations and excavations around the Chilika lake region have brought to light the habitational remains of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic period onwards, datable to the 3rd millennium BC. The archaeological findings embody the fact that well-known ports of the bygone era such as Manikapatna on Chilika coast, Palur on the extreme south and Che-li-ta-lo had close contacts with Africa, Ceylon, China and Southeast Asian countries. Further, a text of the 10th century AD mentions about the maritime activities of the lake and ships, which used to ply to the Southeast Asian countries from Chilika. Similarly, Soran, Nairi, Pathara and other villages around the lake have had glorious navigational traditions. The ports located around Chilika lake had played a significant role in spreading the Indian culture to other countries. However, subsequent changes in the hydrodynamic regime caused the formation of sand bars, spits and altered sedimentation pattern, which eventually caused a decline in maritime activities in the Chilika region.