[Solved] Mathura: Cotton Textile Hub in Hiuen Tsang's Account

During Hiuen Tsang tour in India most famous city for the production of cotton clothes was-

[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Foreign travelers' accounts provide specific geographic details about industrial specialization and commercial hubs in ancient India that might be missing from indigenous texts.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang), who visited India in the 7th century, recorded that Mathura was pre-eminent for the production of fine cotton fabrics. The city was a renowned center for specialized textiles known as 'Shataka'.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Mathura's strategic location on major trade routes facilitated its growth as a manufacturing hub for high-quality garments.

Logic 2: While Varanasi (Option A) was famous for silk and Pataliputra (Option C) for administration, Mathura held the repute for cotton during this specific era.

Logic 3: The demand for Mathura’s textiles extended both to domestic markets and international trade networks via the Silk Road.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What kind of fabric was Mathura specifically known for in ancient texts?"

Mathura was famous for a special kind of fine cotton cloth called 'Shataka'.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Mathura's role as a textile center underscores the continuity of urban industrial prosperity in North India despite political shifts from the Kushans to the Harsha period."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Hiuen Tsang 2