The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t6.1

c6.s3.t6.1

Hwen Thsang describes the town of *Mo-yu-lo*, or *Máyura*, as situated on the north-west frontier of Madâwar, and on the eastern bank of the Ganges.* At a short distance from the town there was a great temple called "the gate of the Ganges," that is, *Gangá-dwára*, with a tank inside, which was supplied by a canal with water from the holy river. The vicinity of *Gangá-dwára*, which was the old name of *Haridwára*, shows that *Máyúra* must be the present ruined site of *Máyápura*, at the head of Ganges canal. But both of these places are now on the western bank of the Ganges, instead of on the eastern bank, as stated by Hwen Thsang. His note that they were on the north-west frontier of Madâwar seems also to point to the same position; for if they had been on the western bank of the Ganges, they would more properly be described as on the north-eastern frontier of Srughna. I examined the locality with some care, and I was satisfied that at some former period the Ganges may have flowed to the westward of Mâyâpura and Kankhal down to Jwâlapur. There is, however, no present trace of any old channel between the Gangâdwâra temple and the hills; but as this ground is now covered with the houses of Haridwâr, it is quite possible that a channel may once have existed, which has since been gradually filled up, and built upon. There is therefore no physical difficulty which could have prevented the river from taking this westerly course, and we must either accept Hwen Thsang's statement or adopt the alternative, that he has made a mistake in placing Mayûra and Gangâdwâra to the east of the Ganges.