The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s2.1

c8.s2.1

From Kalinga the Chinese pilgrim proceeded about 1800 or 1900 *li*, or from 300 to 317 miles,§ to the north-west to the kingdom of *Kiao-sa-lo*, or *Kosala*. The bearing and distance take us to the ancient province of *Vidarbha*, or *Berár*, of which the present capital is *Nágpur*. This agrees exactly with the position of Kosala as described in the *Ratnávali*, and in the *Váyu Purána*.* In the former, the king of Kosala is surrounded in the *Vindhyan* mountains, and in the latter it is stated that *Kusa*, the son of Rama, ruled over Kosala, at his capital of *Kusasthali*, or *Kusávati*, built upon the Vindhyan precipices. All these concurring data enable us to identify the ancient Kosala with the modern province of Berar, or Gondwâna. The position of the capital is more difficult to fix, as Hwen Thsang does not mention its name; but as it was 40 *li*, or nearly 7 miles, in circuit, it is most probably represented by one of the larger cities of the present day. These are Chânda, Nâgpur, Amaravati, and Elichpur.