Ancient ports history of Gujarat

Gujarat state is situated on the West Coast of India between Latitude 20o02’N and 24o41’N and
Longitude 68008’E and 74o23’E. On the basis of geographical features, Gujarat comprises three regions,
namely,

1. Gujarat region, runs north south and covers the central and eastern area of the state,
2. Saurashtra peninsular region and
3. Kachchha region.The state has about 1660 km long coastline along the Arabian Sea, the Gulf
of Khambhat (Cambay) and the Gulf of Kachchha in the west. The vast expanse of the Rann
area in the north is a unique feature as it remained under sea from about 9th BC to 15th AD
and is a dry salt encrusted plain at other times.

Fig. 1: Some of the ancient/historical ports of Gujarat

People have lived in Gujarat for hundreds of thousands of years and there are many traces of primeval
life here. Archaeologists have discovered ruins of port towns, which existed in the 3rd or the 2nd
millennium BC indicating that marine trade was prevalent then. Gujarat had trade relations with many
countries in those days. Gujarat’s relations with other countries were weakened after the abandonment
of cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Little is known of the inhabitants of the times gone by except
what can be gleaned from the artefacts left behind by them. Trade and navigation, both oceanic and
riverine, again grew tremendously in the Mauryan period which extended from 321 to 180 BC. The
Arabian Sea was mainly used for the purpose of maritime trade. Thus, Gujarat is known for its
navigation from ancient times and had established trade links with ancient countries like Sumer,
Phoenicia, Rome, Egypt, Arabia, Iran, East Africa, Lanka, Brahmadesh, Malaya, Java, Sumatra, China
etc.

Fig. 2: Mosaic of IRS imagery of Gujarat region

Historical information about the ports of Gujarat is found in Mahabharat, Harivansh Purana, Bhagvat and
in Matsaya Purana. It is mentioned in Harivansh Purana that the prosperity of Yadavas was due to the
sea trade. Kautilya has mentioned in his ‘Arthashstra’ that the main occupation of people living on the
coastline was navigation. The ancient Greek and Roman books refer to the names of many ports of
Gujarat, which were famous during that period. Greek author Galazy has written in his book ‘Batiyas’
about the shipping of Kachchha (c.150). Greek author Peryaksa has described the shipping of Kachchha
in circa 246. The author of the ancient African book ‘Tibu-tib’ has appreciated the strongly built Kachchhi
vessels, which used to sail up to Africa in those days.

A book which was written after the Solanki period named ‘Nabhi Nandan Jinoddhar Prabandh’ mentions
about Gujarat: “Residents of this region are small traders doing trade at ports and hence prosperous.”

At present, along the coastline of Gujarat, there are about 38 ports. Out of these one is an important
major port Kandla in Kachchha district, 11 ports are medium or second grade ports and 26 are small
ports. It is believed that Gujarat had a longer coast line in ancient times. Historical information shows
that there were 84 ports in Gujarat during the medieval period. There were 62 ports in Saurashtra as
late as 1842. It is also mentioned in the literature that ships from 84 different ports from various
countries having different flags on them used to visit Mandavi port in Kachchha before hundred years.
Figure 1 shows some of the ancient and historical ports of Gujarat. Figure 2 shows a mosaic of IRS
imagery over Gujarat. Table shows ancient and historical ports of Gujarat mentioned in literature.

Fig. 3: A boat coming from Tharad and a prominent citizen receiving a guest.

As per historical evidence, Saurashtra was an island in the 2nd millennium BC. Kachchha also was an
island up to 18th century AD and ships were plying in the present Rann area. It is found from literature
that Thirpur Nagar, the present Tharad of Banaskantha district, was a prominent Hindu and Jain centre
from the Rajput period onwards. A picture in one of the manuscripts written by Kalyansevak
Dhanyakumar shows Tharad as a port, (Figure 3). There are some scattered references to navigational
activities during the Solanki period also. Siddharaj Jaysinh visited Varahi of Santalpur taluka,
Banaskantha district in a chariot and handed over the chariot to the mahajana of Varahi town to take
care and went to Sanchor by ship and boat from Varahi (Prabandh Chintamani). It is said that the old
name of Varahi was Fabava or Fabavah (port). There was a flourishing wooden shipbuilding industry in
Gujarat at Mandavi, which played a significant role in shaping the destiny of nations, which ventured
across the seas to extend their influence. Historical evidences show that the Rann of Kachchha was once
a Gulf and was suitable for shipping and up to the seventh century ships were plying in this area. Figure
4 shows that in the 8th century BC, the Rann area was part of the sea or the Gulf of Kachchha. Around
6th BC, during the Buddha period, Bharuch was a prosperous port. Trade relations were established with
the Middle East countries. Ships were plying in the Gulf of Khambhat for centuries.
Fig. 4: Rann of Kachchha as a part of the Arabian Sea (8th to 6th century BC)

Marine trade had also flourished during the rule of Kshatrapa and Gupta kings. The capital of Maitrak
kings, Vallabhi, was also a very prosperous port town during those days. The waters of the Gulf of
Khambhat were not far removed from its gates and the city thus had sea communications. The former
seaworthiness of the place is testified by the buoy that guards the entrance to the town even today and
also by the copper plates found from different places during excavation. At present, the town is
approximately 35 km away from the present seacoast and is completely landlocked. It is believed that
the first vessels having sail were built at Kanakpur, Madhuvati and Bhadravati in Gujarat. As per saying,
it is known that the speediest sail vessels were built in Samvat eighth century at Kanakpur. All these
places are landlocked today.

Fig. 5: Soil marks in the IRS data of Gujarat

Thus, it is clear from ancient literature, historical artefacts and sayings found in the Gujarati language,
that there were ancient ports in parts of Gujarat which are now so landlocked that it is difficult to believe
that these places were prosperous port towns in the past. Scientifically also, it is unbelievable as it has
been shown that the sea level has risen in the past and the ports have been submerged. This may be so
at some places in the world and at certain places in India, but at many places in Gujarat and India, it
appears that the sea has receded and the old ports are landlocked today. Tamralipti on the east coast
and Vallabhi, Gundi-Koliak, Hathab, Kathivadar, Sonrai, Rander, Vartej, Khakhrechi, Vavania, Kuntasi,
Desalpur-Guntaligadh, Benap, Padan, Tharad, Mavsari, Bhadreswar, Rayan, Khari Rohar, Nagara,
Modhera, Zinzuwada, Kodadha, Amarapur, Kamboi on the western coast of Gujarat are the few
examples of well land locked ancient ports. The study of the buried ports forms a fascinating subject in
the maritime history of a country. Remote sensing provides both basic and confirmatory data about the
ancient ports mentioned in the literature. Thus, remote sensing can unfold some of the mysteries, which
are at present unsolved. The solution lies in charting the changes, whi ch have occurred over time. This
task can be accomplished through remote sensing and it offers a unique opportunity to reconstruct a
nation’s cultural setting besides throwing new light on our history.

Remote Sensing and Archaeology

Archaeology is a science of the human past and its spread over space and through time. Remote sensing
provides a snapshot perspective that iindispensable in today’s study of mankind. The utility of remote
sensing is mainly for reconstructing historical geography as it provides confirmatory scientific evidences
for the same, such as location and spread of palaeo-channels, palaeo-mudflats, settlements and
agricultural area, etc. Aerial photographs were first used in 1921 for archaeological applications in North
America. This marks the birth of archaeological applications of remote sensing. Remotely sensed data
can be used for addressing problems associated with various types of site discovery, site prediction,
preliminary reconnaissance and mapping of sites. The data can also be used for confirmatory evidences.
The obvious significance of the information of remote sensing to the archaeologists is the problem of site
discovery. Unfortunately, although the use of various forms of remote sensing data, primarily aerial
data, has proven valuable as a means of site detection in other countries, archaeologists in India have
not used remote sensing data for this purpose due to various constraints. Aerial data are generally not
available of the required area and even if they are, their use is prohibited for general purposes for
defence reasons. To get aerial photography done in India is a difficult task. To get the permission to fly
over coastal areas itself is difficult. Further, even after getting the necessary permission from the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aerial survey itself is time consuming. On the other
hand, multi-date satellite data is easily available. Satellite data can successfully be used for
archaeological applications. However, applications of orbital remote sensing data for archaeological uses
have been limited in India.

reference: https://www.geospatialworld.net/article/ancient-ports-of-gujarat/