Machilipatnam

Machilipatnam (also called Masulipatnam) is one of Andhra Pradesh’s oldest port towns, located on the Krishna River delta along the Bay of Bengal. Its coastal position helped it grow early as a trading point linking inland Andhra with maritime routes across the Indian Ocean. Over centuries, the region passed under major South Indian powers such as the Satavahanas and later dynasties that supported agriculture and temple culture in coastal Andhra. By the medieval period, Machilipatnam’s importance increased under the Kakatiyas and then the rulers of the Deccan, as the town served as a gateway for goods moving between the interior and the sea.

From the 16th century onward, Machilipatnam became internationally famous for its fine textiles—especially painted and printed cottons (often called “Masulipatnam kalamkari”), which were exported widely to Persia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The Portuguese were among the earliest Europeans to trade here, followed by the Dutch and the English, who established factories and competed for control of the lucrative cloth trade. Under the Qutb Shahis of Golconda, the port continued to thrive as a commercial centre.

In the colonial era, the port’s role gradually declined due to silting, changing trade patterns, and coastal storms, but the town remained an important administrative and cultural hub. Today, Machilipatnam is known for heritage, crafts, and its long maritime history.