Vol. 9, Issue 11, Part D (2023)

Ancient Indian water and land routes and the trade related to Gupta period, we have to depend heavily on foreign literature. Related information is available in Jain, Buddhist and Sanskrit literature. Mr. Silvalevi has thrown a lot of light on Indian geography and various routes on the basis of Indian literature. Ancient Tamil literature also throws a lot of light on the early centuries of the Christian era. Information about ancient trade routes and the systems related to them is also available from Brihatkatha written by Gunadya in the first century of Christ. Information about trade routes, lifestyle and their classification is available in ancient grammar literature and economics. Mahaniddes, while explaining the Atthakavagga, says that while enduring a lot of hardships, he roamed around in the places like Gumba, Takkol, Takshashila, Kalamukha, Maranpaar, Vesung, Berapatha, Jab, Tamil, Veg, Suvarnakoot, Tamraparni, Saupara, Marukachchha, Gangana, Yon, Paramayon, Marukantar, Ajapath, Sankupatha Vettadhar etc. but he did not find peace anywhere.

In Milindapanha also, details and information about trade routes are available on geographical basis. It is written in it that Maharaj, like a rich sailor, he paid the tax of the ports and sailed his ship in the seas and visited Vanga, Tukkol China Sauvir, Alsand Kolpattan, Suvarnabhumi and various other ports. The names of the ports are mentioned in Digvijayaparva of Mahabharata. Starting from Indraprastha, he reached Paithan via Mahismati through Madhura-Malwa route and after that he reached Shurparaka. In Sagardweep, he defeated the Klechch kings, Nishads, Purushadas and Kalamukhas. Bhima also conquered Bengal in his conquest and travelled to Tamralipti and Sagardweep. Thus we see that till this time, the waterways of Marukchch and Sagardweep through Tamralipti were known. Antaravis were familiar with the names of Rome and Yavanpur and also knew how to go to the Mediterranean Sea through the Red Sea.