Travelers in Ancient India
Travelers in Ancient India
Introduction: Purpose of Travelling to Ancient India
● India, with its diverse culture, wealth, and knowledge systems, attracted numerous
foreign travellers.
● Trade routes, including the Silk Route, made India a key destination for merchants,
diplomats, and scholars.
● Travelers came to:
○ Explore economic opportunities like trade in spices, textiles, and gems.
○ Document social, religious, and political systems.
○ Spread religions like Buddhism.
○ Forge diplomatic relations and alliances.
○ Learn about philosophy, medicine, and astronomy.
Below is a comprehensive list of travellers, their countries, their purpose of travel, and their
impact on Indian history.
Traveller Country of Period of Impact and Contribution
Origin Visit
Megasthenes Greece 4th Century Wrote Indica, described Mauryan
BCE administration under Chandragupta
Maurya.
Fa-Hien (Faxian) China 5th Century Documented Buddhist practices and
CE social conditions during the Gupta
period.
Hiuen-Tsang China 7th Century Provided detailed accounts of Harsha’s
(Xuanzang) CE reign and Buddhist monasteries.
I-Tsing (Yi Jing) China 7th Century Recorded Buddhist learning centres
CE and trade routes in India.
Ptolemy Egypt 2nd Century Provided geographical accounts of
(Greece-Roma CE India, documenting trade routes and
n influence) ports.
Pliny the Elder Rome 1st Century Described Roman trade with India and
CE luxury goods imported from the
subcontinent.
Ktesias Persia (Greece) 5th Century Provided the first Greek account of
BCE India, focusing on Indian customs and
flora.
Dionysius Greece 2nd Century Sent as an ambassador to the Mauryan
BCE court, mentioned Indian diplomacy.
Ma Huan China 15th Century Recorded maritime trade and Indian
CE coastal towns.
Megasthenes (Greece) – 4th Century BCE
● Sent by Seleucus I to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
● Wrote Indica, a significant source on the Mauryan administration.
● Describes the capital Pataliputra, the social system, and agricultural practices.
● Impact: His observations provide one of the earliest glimpses of Indian society and
governance.
Fa-Hien (Faxian) (China) – 5th Century CE
● Travelled during the reign of Chandragupta II (Gupta dynasty).
● Documented Buddhist monasteries, religious practices, and social customs.
● Praised the peaceful governance and the absence of capital punishment in Gupta India.
● Impact: His records are valuable for understanding the spread of Buddhism and social
conditions.
Hiuen-Tsang (Xuanzang) (China) – 7th Century CE
● Travelled during the reign of Harshavardhana.
● Spent time at Nalanda University and documented Buddhist practices and
monasteries.
● His book Si-Yu-Ki details the political, social, and religious life of India.
● Impact: His work gives a comprehensive account of North India in the 7th century.
I-Tsing (Yi Jing) (China) – 7th Century CE
● Travelled to India and Southeast Asia to document Buddhist texts and practices.
● Spent time at Nalanda University and described trade routes and seaports.
● Impact: His writings reveal international connections and intellectual exchanges.
Ptolemy (Egypt) – 2nd Century CE
● A geographer and astronomer, he documented trade routes, cities, and rivers.
● His work Geographia offers insights into the maritime trade networks between India
and the West.
● Impact: Provided a geographical understanding of India, aiding trade and
exploration.
Pliny the Elder (Rome) – 1st Century CE
● Wrote about luxury goods such as spices, pearls, and textiles imported from India.
● Noted the Roman demand for Indian goods and the drain of gold to India.
● Impact: His observations highlight India's role in global trade.
Ktesias (Persia) – 5th Century BCE
● A Greek physician at the Persian court, he documented Indian plants, animals, and
customs.
● His accounts are semi-mythical but provide early Greek impressions of India.
● Impact: His work reflects India's allure and exoticism for the Greeks.
Dionysius (Greece) – 2nd Century BCE
● Sent as an ambassador to the Mauryan court.
● Recorded diplomatic practices and the political influence of the Mauryan empire.
● Impact: His observations reveal the importance of diplomacy in ancient India.
Ma Huan (China) – 15th Century CE
● A Chinese voyager who accompanied the famous admiral Zheng He.
● Documented coastal towns, maritime trade, and Indian customs.
● Impact: His writings provide valuable insights into India's maritime trade networks.
The Significance of Ancient Travelers in India
● Travellers like Megasthenes, Fa-Hien, and Al-Biruni offer invaluable insights into India’s
political systems, culture, and economy.
● Their writings reveal India’s influence on global trade, religion, and science.
● These accounts also highlight cross-cultural exchanges between India and other
civilizations, fostering mutual learning and cooperation.
