Overview
Major port in Bengal; maritime trade with Southeast Asia.
Tamralipta (port polity)
Port polity at modern Tamluk on the Rupnarayan River. Premier hub for Indo-Roman and Southeast Asian maritime trade. Integrated into Mauryan eastern administration but retained its port identity. No individual rulers are securely attested in contemporary sources; the polity is known from Chinese pilgrim accounts (Faxian, 5th CE; Xuanzang, 7th CE) and archaeological evidence.
Territory Phases
Tamralipta300 BCE – 300 CE
Major ancient port polity of the Suhma/Vanga region. Capital at modern Tamluk on the Rupnarayan River. Key hub for maritime trade with Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and China. Integrated into Mauryan eastern administration but retained its port identity. Copper from Chota Nagpur, silk, indigo, and textiles were major exports.
Sources
- Chakravarti, R. (2001) Coastal Trade and Voyages in Konkan
- Ray, H.P. (2003) The Archaeology of Seafaring in Ancient South Asia