THE SEAFARING STORIES OF ODISHA THROUGH FOLKLORE By Commander (Dr) Kalesh Mohanan & Lt Cdr Anupama Thapliyal Naval History Division Ancient Sea Voyages of Odisha…

The Odisha coast's geography is uniquely suited and conducive for maritime trade, with natural harbours and deltas facilitating establishing and setting up ports. The presence of rivers and abundant water, such as the Ganges, Mahanadi and Godavari, allowed for efficient transportation of goods from inland areas, bypassing the need for land-based trade routes. The availability of precious and semi-precious stones from the western Odisha mountains made them valuable commodities to trade. During medieval times, some of India's most operational ports were located along the coasts of Odisha, including Tamralipti, Chandraketugarh Nanigaina, Katikadarma, Kannagara, Salihundam, Dharanikotam situated in present-day West Bengal, Puri, Cuttack, Konark and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

The maritime history of the coasts in India is a complexity woven with the threads of trade, adventure, commerce and cultural exchange. These harbours were gateways for international trade and crucial travel methods for vibrant internal trade along the Indian subcontinent. The periodicity of the monsoon winds dictated the flow of maritime activity. The routes chosen by the traders are very well documented in 'Periplus of the Erythrean Sea' a Roman-era text on trade routes and in the accounts of Chinese Buddhist monks who traversed these seas in pursuit of sacred knowledge.

Ships from the port of Tamralipti heading to Southeast Asia would often stop at either Sri Lanka or the Andaman-Nicobar Islands to pick up supplies.  Travellers said the journey from Tamralipti to the Nicobar Islands was covered in a month. From there, the ships would navigate the open waters towards Sumatra. Upon reaching Sumatra, they had three options: sail down the coast of Sumatra, all the way to Java and Bali; engage in trade along the Sumatran coast; they could traverse the narrow Malacca Strait, venturing northward towards Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Japan, or southward towards Borneo, renowned for its coveted spices, a trade secret fiercely guarded by Indian merchants.

These voyages were fraught with danger, with storms and shipwrecks ever-present threats. However, Indian merchants had cordial relationships with the locals and often settled in the region. Many earned the favour of local rule.