Tamralipti ports was in use for the north Indian trade during the Gupta Period. Tamralipta, this port was located in the present day town of Tamluk, in Midnapur, West Bengal. The name 'Tamralipta' comes from tamra or copper, which was mined nearby at Ghatsila in Singbhum district of Bihar and exported through this port. Interestingly, even today, almost 2500 years later, these copper mines are active and copper is mined by Hindustan Copper Limited, a PSU company. Tamralipti or Tamralipta means 'coated with copper.