Chelitalo was an important port in Ancient Odisha, in northeast India, lying on the Chandrabhaga riverinKonark.[1] In ancient times, the Chandrabhaga and Kushabhadra rivers were navigable, and may have been used for the shipping of huge blocks of stone for the construction of the Konark Sun Temple.[2]
The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang, who visited Orissa in the 7th century AD, described Chelitalo as a busy port. The port has been identified with Konark, Puri and (perhaps most likely) with the archeological site of Manikpatna.[3] By the 7th century AD the city was a noted seat of Mahayana Buddhism. Hiuen-Tsang described it as surrounded by strong and high walls, containing five great convents adorned with images of Buddha and Bodhisattva.[4] It was connected to Cuttack by roads and waterways.[5]
