Machilipatnam, also known as Masulipatnam, is a city in the Krishna district. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the headquarters of Machilipatnam mandal in Machilipatnam revenue division of the district. The ancient port town served as the settlement of European traders from the 16th century, and it was a major trading port for the British, Dutch and French in the seventeenth century.