Foreign travellers

Ibn Batutah: African traveller, came to India in Sept 1333; was sent as Sultan Mohammad Shah Tughlaq's ambassador to China in July 1342.

Shaikh Azari: The poet of Isfarayin in Khurasan Shaikh Azari, and Maulana Sharf-ud-din Mazandarani came to the court of Ahmad Shah (1422-1435), the Bahmani ruler of Bidar.

Althanasius Nikitin: Travelled the Bahmani kingdom during the years 1470 to 1474 in the reign of Mohammad III great grandson of Ahmad Shah.

Nicolo Conti: An Italian traveller, visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Deva Raya I (around 1420).

Abdur Razzak: An envoy from Persia, visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Deva Raya II.

Duarte Barbosa: Was present in India during the period 1516-1518.

Domingo Paes: A Portuguese, travelled Vijayanagar Empire. 

Mauhan: Visited Bengal in A.D. 1406.

Barthema: Came to India during the early part of the 16th century (1503 - 1508)

Leeds: An Englishman; entered Akbars court as a jeweller. 

Ralf Fitch, Newbery and Beeds: They visited Akbar's court at Fatehpur Sikri in 1585.

Terry and Willian Finch: Visited Jahangir’s court.

Peter Mundy: An English merchant-traveller, visited India during Shah Jahan's reign in about 1630 - 1632.

Tavernier: Visited India six times during the reign of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb and wrote his work "Six voyages".

Manucci: Witnessed the reign of five Mughal emperors from Shah Jahan to Farrukhsiyar (I658-1717). He served in the army of Dara Shikoh and Raja Jai Singh and saw Shivaji during Jaisingh's campaign against the former.

Bernier: Served in Aurangzeb's retinue.

Gemelli-Careri: The Italian Physician who visited India during the reign of Aurangzeb, saw him in 1695, when he was 77 years old.

Francisco Pelsaert: He was the Chief of the Dutch factory at Agra in the time of Jahangir. 

European Travellers During Mughal Period

  • Father Anthony Monserrate: He came during Akbar’s reign. His travellogue contains description of Akbar's court, his personality and also description of many cities.
  • Ralph Fitch: Came during Akbar's reign. First European who wrote about dress and customs of Indians.
  • William Hawkins: Came during Jahangir’s period. He was given the title of Khan by Jahangir.
  • John Jourdain: Came during Jahangir's reign. He described Agra in detail.
  • Nicholas Downton: Came during Jahangir’s reign. Praised Sati system.
  • Sir Thomas Roe: He was given a firman byJahangir which assured the British of similar hospitality.
  • Edward Terry: He was a chaplain: described Mughal coins and camp.
  • Pietro-della Valle: Came during Jahangir’s reign. He was an Italian.
  • Francisco Paelsart: Came during Jahangir's reign. He was a Dutch Factor.
  • Jean Baptist Travernier: Came during Shah Jahan’s region. He was a diamond merchant.
  • Peter Mundy: Describe the famine during Shah Jahan’s reign.
  • Rancois Bernier: Described the war of succession and execution of Dara.
  • Manucci: He joined Dara's entourage.
  • William Noris: He was envoy of East India Company to‘ Aurangzeb's Court. 

Related Questions

1. Who among the following Mughal rulers was Ignorant of the art reading and writing ? -- View Answer

2. Revenue system during Akbar's reign was in the hands of : -- View Answer

3. The East India Company was founder in London during the reign of : -- View Answer

4. Which of the following Rajput dynasties did not surrender to Akbar ? -- View Answer

5. The mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was borrowed from the system in : -- View Answer

6. Which of the following is wrongly matched with his contemporary Mughal king? -- View Answer

7. The capital of the Mughal Empire was shifter from Agra to Delhi by : -- View Answer

8. Chand Bibi, who ceded Berar to Akbar, was the ruler of : -- View Answer

9. In the Mughal administration, military recruitment was being locked after by : -- View Answer

10. The king generally considered to be the greatest ruler of Kashmir in the 15th century was : -- View Answer


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4. Post Mauryan Period
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6. The invasion of Arabs
7. Mughal Empire
8. Advent of Europeans
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Related Articles

1. Akbar
2. Aurangzeb
3. Babur
4. Humayun
5. Jahangir
6. Mughal Administration
7. Mughal Culture
8. Shah Jahan
9. The Sur Empire (Sher Shah)