Krishna కృష్ణా
The old port district of Machilipatnam (Bandar), where Kalamkari block-printing, the Bandar laddu and a 17th-century trading history meet the sea at Manginapudi. Kuchipudi — the village that gave the classical dance its name — is here too.
Born in Krishna
Bandar Laddu
Machilipatnam's laddu — coarse gram-flour boondi fried in ghee, bound with sugar syrup and pressed into a dense, crumbly ball with a distinctly caramel note. GI-tagged, and the town's most famous export after Kalamkari.
Kuchipudi
One of India's eight classical dance forms, born in the village of Kuchipudi and codified by Siddhendra Yogi in the 17th century as a dance-drama tradition performed by Brahmin men. Vempati Chinna Satyam reshaped it into the solo and ensemble form seen on stages worldwide today. Its signature is the tarangam, danced on the rim of a brass plate.
Machilipatnam Kalamkari
The block-printed cousin of Srikalahasti's pen work, made in Pedana near Machilipatnam with hand-carved teak blocks and vegetable dyes. Its floral and Persian-influenced motifs were once exported from the Bandar port to Europe and Persia. GI-tagged.
Famous people
Pingali Venkayya
Designer of the national flag · 1876–1963
The Machilipatnam agriculturist and geologist who designed the tricolour flag adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1921, the basis of the national flag.
Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Singer and composer · 1922–1974
The defining voice of Telugu film music for three decades and the composer of hundreds of scores; his Bhagavad Gita recording is still played in temples across the state.
Vempati Chinna Satyam
Kuchipudi guru · 1929–2012
Reshaped Kuchipudi into a classical solo and ensemble form, founded the Kuchipudi Art Academy in Madras and trained generations of dancers.
Getting to Krishna
Machilipatnam station is the terminus of a branch from Vijayawada (70 km); Vijayawada airport is nearest.
In Machilipatnam
Coastal Bhojanam
Restaurant · Robertsonpet, Machilipatnam
Konaseema Tiffins
Restaurant · Koneru Centre, Machilipatnam
Seshachala Beach Resort
Hotel · Koneru Centre, Machilipatnam
Vamsadhara Hospital
Hospital · Chilakalapudi, Machilipatnam