The secret trade routes of ancient Odisha

Historical Odisha, called Kalinga in early records, was not only a land of influential kings, amazing temples and colourful artworks, but was also an important centre of exchange and maritime trade. Nestled along the eastern coastline of India, Odisha’s strategic location makes it the gateway to Southeast Asia.

While many are familiar with Odisha’s cultural and spiritual richness, few know about the secret and sophisticated trade routes that once crisscrossed this land – routes that linked inland cities to coastal ports, and from there to distant kingdoms in the Bay of Bengal. Those exchange networks, hidden in forests, rivers and mountain passes, shaped the backbone of ancient Odisha’s prosperity and global connections.

Odisha’s coastline, stretching along the Bay of Bengal, played a key role in shaping the dynamics of its transformation. Ports such as Tamralipti, Palur, Manikpatna and Chelitalo have now been not only centres of transformation, but also agents of cultural exchange. These ports served as launchpads for sea voyages to distant lands like Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Cambodia, as well as China.

What makes Odisha’s exchange routes particularly attractive is the secrecy with which some of them operate. To protect their business interests and precious shipments, buyers and sailors often choose less conspicuous ports and hidden river mouths to stay away from pirates and rival kingdoms. Oral traditions and historical folklore reveal secret docking web sites and secret shipping routes, used especially during times of political unrest or invasion.

Odisha’s geographical location, which has rivers like the Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarani, along with dense forests and mountainous terrain, created natural corridors for exchange caravans and boats. Merchants often used the river routes to transport goods from the interiors of the state places like Dhenkanal, Angul and Kalahandi—to the coastal areas.

The forested region trails and riverbanks became well-worn routes for commodities such as ivory, iron, spices, textiles and precious stones. Those inland routes, even if no longer grand highways, were deliberately kept low-profile to minimise the risk of raids and maintain the secrecy of exchange practices. Temples and local shrines often served as resting points or markers on these paths, indicating a close relationship between exchange and religion. The role of Buddhist and Jain monasteries

One of the most missed but important aspects of Odisha’s secret alternate routes was the role played by spiritual centres. Ancient Odisha was a flourishing centre of Buddhism and Jainism, with sites such as Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri serving as study and cultural facilities. These monasteries were often located on major exchange routes and served as resting places and information centres for traders.

The clergy, being travellers and students themselves, had information on safe routes, climate patterns and remote markets. In many cases, they provided refuge and guidance to buyers, especially those dealing in religious artifacts, manuscripts or herbal medicines. This community of religious places essentially became part of a well-maintained transformation machine that supported both trade and cultural change.

Kalinga’s reputation as a maritime location is well documented in both Indian and foreign sources. Ancient inscriptions and travellers’ bills attest to Kalinga’s merchants who sailed to distant South-East Asian countries. The famous Bali Yatra competition in Odisha, celebrated with grandeur in places such as Cuttack, is a living memory of trade missions to those faraway places.

At some point in this festival, humans would sail small boats into the water, symbolising historical journeys. These journeys were no longer random journeys – they were carefully thought-out journeys along maritime exchange routes best known to experienced sailors and navigators. They took high-value commodities such as silk, spices, elephants, medicinal herbs and even artisans to foreign courts, and in return brought foreign gadgets, strategies and inventions that enriched the local tradition.

With the decline of local kingdoms and the rise of new powers with the Mughals and later the British, many of those secret routes either became obsolete or were absorbed into the larger colonial network. Changes in exchange dynamics, silting of rivers, deforestation and shifting political facilities, all contributed to the disappearance of those once-bustling routes. What remains today are scattered archaeological remains, legends and traditional information passed down through generations. In recent years, researchers and historians have begun to discover more evidence of those hidden trade routes, adding to Odisha’s important position in historical worldwide commerce.

The alternate routes of ancient Odisha no longer tell the story of mere financial business ventures, but of a civilization that had mastered the art of connectivity long before the current infrastructure came into existence. From riverine paths to quiet forest trails and unknown sea routes, these networks formed the lifeline of a region that later extended to distant coastlines. When we rediscover this lost chapter of records, it becomes clear that Odisha was no longer a peripheral location, but a primary participant in ancient international monetary and cultural exchanges. Discovering those forgotten routes is not always just an academic quest – it is a journey to the hidden genius of our ancestors.