🐘 1. Land Routes
India’s inland trade routes connected urban centers to rural areas and stretched far beyond its borders.
- The Silk Road: India was linked to Central Asia and China via the Silk Road. Goods traveled overland through the northwestern passes (Khyber, Bolan) into Bactria and Persia.
- Uttarapatha: An ancient highway connecting Pataliputra (modern Patna) to Taxila and further to Central Asia.
- Dakshinapatha: A southern route linking northern India with the Deccan and Tamil kingdoms, facilitating regional trade.
⚓ 2. Maritime Routes
Ancient Indians were skilled sailors and navigators, and their maritime trade thrived from early times.
- Indus Valley Ports: Lothal and Dholavira were key ports connected to the Persian Gulf.
- Eastern Sea Routes: From the Bay of Bengal, traders reached Southeast Asia—today’s Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
- Western Sea Routes: From Gujarat and Kerala ports, ships traveled to Arabia, Egypt, and East Africa.
