Maritime Heritage of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

First published in 2015, Maritime Heritage of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha offers a detailed exploration of the maritime traditions of these coastal regions. Divided into two parts, Part I of the book covers the maritime heritage of coastal Andhra Pradesh, its physical environment, coastal and near-shore waters, ancient, medieval, colonial and modern ports, navigational hazards, modern coastal navigation landmarks, boat forms, seamen and their voyages and maritime trade emanating from these ports. The work relied extensively on archival research and field trips of over a decade.

Part II of the book covers the maritime heritage of Odisha based on field studies of the area in three seasons. Gopalpur, Puri, Konarak, and Baleshwar were visited during the field visits apart from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sisupalgarh, Palur and the lake ferry port, Rambha. Many archaeological excavations were also visited to gather direct information. This book is a must read for scholars of Indian maritime history, history of Indian navigation, historical geography, and South Asian studies.

Shri B Sukumar and Smt Ahalya Sukumar, retired scientists of the Resources Analysis Division of the Centre for Earth Science Studies, Kerala.

Late Professor B. Arunachalam will be fondly remembered for his scholarly contributions to Indian Geography, especially in the field of Geomorphology and Cartography and for opening new vistas of academic collaboration and research in the professional field of history of Indian navigation.

About the Maritime History Society:

The Maritime History Society (MHS), an academic initiative of the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy was established on 12 May 1978 by the late Vice Admiral MP Awati with a vision to promote the study of India’s maritime history. MHS has grown into a leading research organisation dedicated to exploring the country’s rich maritime heritage and naval legacy. As part of its academic mission, MHS undertakes a wide range of activities including publication of scholarly books, hosting seminars, lectures, workshops and curating maritime-themed museums, exhibitions and heritage projects including the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat. The Society also maintains a well- curated gallery with over 2,000 artefacts, a reference library and digital presence featuring blogs and display of artefacts. Its collaboration with Talyor and Francis under the Routledge Revival series further extends its educational outreach. We hope that these publications will inspire a new generation of researchers and scholars, contributing to a deeper understanding of India’s rich maritime past and naval legacy.