Page 1 of 7
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 160
Trade and Trade Roots of Kashmir as gleaned from Rajatrangni.
1. Javid Ahmad Mantoo. 2. Dr.Vishwajeet Singh Parmar
Ph.D.Research Scholar. Assistant Professor
S.O.S in A.I.H.C. and Archaeology, Vikram University, Ujjain (M.P).
Abstract
The objectives of this paper are multi dimensional depending upon the nature and
problems which were faced in ancient Kashmir. For the economic conditions of
Early Kashmir we are solely dependent upon the literary sources both indigenous
as well as the foreign. Rajatrangni gives us ample evidence regarding the
conditions of the people, their agriculture, industry and trade. This research paper
is also an attempt to analyze the development of trade and trade roots throughout
the ancient period.
Key words: trade, trade routes, import, export, Kashmir, Vitasta.
Introduction
During the ancient times regarding the strategic position of Kashmir in terms of
trade and commerce, the valley plays a very imperative role. The valley has a wide
range of geographical borders connected with other south-Asian countries like,
India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and central Asia. However we have comparatively
insufficient knowledge regarding the early trade of Kashmir. According to the
chronicler (kalhana) there were many regular prearranged markets (hatta) in the
Page 2 of 7
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 161
ancient city of pravarapura. The royal families in other towns were also engaged
in internal trade of the valley.1 the ancient town of the valley Narapura where the
Markets were kept full of supplies clearly depicts the idea of populace of valley
regarding the association of markets with large towns.2
The various cities and towns of the valley seems to have developed a wonderful
commercial business from remote past, there principal items of commerce were the
different kinds of clothes, food grains, saffron, iron implements, bronze and copper
utensils and other daily used articles of life. Some of the commercial centers which
were famous in valley during ancient times comprises of cities like Parihaspura,
Jayapura, Puranadisthana, Awantipura Huskapura and Surapura as they
attained the highly admirable position during their times. Sale of cattle, clothing
was mainly done in the city of Samkarpattana. The Kamalatta market was founded
by queen Lalitaditya in the vicinity of Srinagar.3
As far the internal trade was concerned it was carried both by land and sea.there
are ample evidences of the inland trade routes from the description of the Chinese
traveler Hsuen-Tsang. During the visit of valley, the pilgrim entered the valley
from the Baramulla ancient Varramullah pass and went straight to various other
destinations of the valley like, Huskapura and later on to the capital city of
Paravapura (Srinagar).the route to the south comprises of the (pan-nu-tso) modern
poonch.4
sea routes were also used for the commercial purposes all along the river
Vitasta(Jhelum) as the evidence of boats used from the remote past in the valley
may be presumed that they were employed for carrying commercial goods from
Page 3 of 7
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 162
one end of the country to the other. Most of the towns and cities of ancient valley
were flourished upon the banks of Vitasta.
After the conquest of Kushanas, Kashmir occupies a very prominent position both
in internal as well as external trade of their times. The trade flourished as it is
Evident from the regular commercial contacts with countries of central Asia,
possibly some sort of commercial relations also existed between the India, and
valley from remote past. Kalhana also describes the relation of leh with valley in
terms of political and cultural alliance.
There are various references regarding the ancient trade routes, which lead the
valley of Kashmir to other neighboring countries. The indigenous as well as the
accounts of foreign traveler’s gives us ample information about the chief routes
through which commercial activates were carried out through the early period.the
routes like Varamullah to Gandhara where from Chinese pilgrim Hsuen-Tsang
entered Kashmir during the period 7th century C.E. same route was followed by ou- kong from Gandharea to valley during the mid 8th century C.E. however Kalhana
also proved the authenticity of the route in his chronicle (Rajatrangni) as he
describes, that the same route was used by the king Samkaravarmana during his
expedition against the urasa.
5 most probably it is to believed that these routes were
also used by the merchants and traders during and after the Kushsna age.
Some of the reliable sources also mentions the route from northern shore of vular
lead to the Indus, as this is conceded as the second pass of the valley leading to the
Baltistan.(po-lio). Generally the Chinese travelers have followed this route during
their visit to the valley, prominent among them are like, Fa-Hien (399.C.E),
