Key Facts about Machilipatnam

About Machilipatnam:

• Machilipatnam, also known as Masulipatnam, is a coastal city in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The city is nestled on the southeastern or Coromandel Coast of India.
• It was a flourishing port and a prominent trading centre during the medieval period, attracting traders from various parts of the world.
• The city is also famous for its handloom industry, particularly for its Kalamkari art.
• • Kalamkari is a traditional hand-painted or block-printed textile art showcasing intricate designs and motifs.
• History:
  • The city of Machilipatnam came into existence in the era of the Satavahana Kings in the 3rd century B.C.
  • During that period, the city was known as Maisolos and Masalia.
  • They used this port as the gateway for their sea trade.
  • It was famous for Muslin, a thin, plain-weave cotton cloth. Perhaps, this was the reason why it was referred to as Masalia or Masulipatnam.
  • During the year 1478, the place of Machilipatnam came under Muhammad Shah Bahamani II.
  • Later in 1515, Sri Krishna Devaraya defeated the king, after which the city was captured by Orissa kings like Golconda King and Quli Qutb Shah.
  • But at the same time, European traders, particularly Portuguese and Dutch, established their trade centers near the port.
  • Thereafter, the British came to the port by locating their factory in 1611.
  • Masulipatam was the first British trading settlement on the Bay of Bengal.
  • The Masulipatnam Fort was built by the Dutch in the 17th century.
  • From 1686 to 1759, the city was held by the French and Dutch, until it was finally ceded to the British, who captured the city and fort from the French in 1759.
  • With the entrance of foreign traders and frequent wars and disasters, Machilipatnam could not grow further.
  • In the year 1779, the city had to confront a major cyclone in which almost 20,000 people were killed and the Dutch factory got damaged.