Manikpatna

Manikpatna, also spelt Manikapatna, is an archaeological site on the Odisha coast near Brahmagiri, which lies close to the left bank of the Bhargavi, at the north-eastern end of Chilika Lake. It has been identified with Chelitalo, a medieval port that the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang wrote about.

The finds point to long and wide-ranging trade. Chinese celadon and porcelain from several centuries turned up here, along with rouletted greyish-white pottery, knobbed ware and amphora pieces from Roman trade, and sherds from Burma, Siam and Arabia. A Sri Lankan coin from the reign of Sahassa Malla dates to the 11th or 12th century AD. The neighbouring village that gives the site its name recalls Manika, a milkmaid who in legend sold curd to Jagannath and Balabhadra as they passed. The village temple, Bhabakundalesvara, has a Shiva linga of black chlorite as its presiding deity.