Ghantasala

TIER 2. Mandal 2011 population 40,098; 22 settlements. REVENUE DIVISION CONFLICT: the Wikipedia mandal page says Vuyyuru revenue division, but https://krishna.ap.gov.in/new_mandals/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machilipatnam_revenue_division both place Ghantasala in MACHILIPATNAM revenue division. Government source preferred. | ALSO: ANCIENT TRADING PORT. Village in Krishna district about 21 km west of Machilipatnam, identified with the Kontakossyla of Greek geographers. It was a flourishing Indo-Roman trade town; 226 Roman coins, amphora handles, Arretine ware sherds and Roman glass have been recovered, with the port's most flourishing period placed c. 100 BCE-200 CE. Site of the Ghantasala Maha Chaitya, a Satavahana-era Buddhist stupa. Documents long-distance maritime trade in the Krishna delta long before the historic Komati merchant networks.