Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t8.5

v1.c7.s2.t8.5

Shravasti has been referred as one of the richest cities of Buddha’s era. It was connected with all the other five largest cities through trading routes. The route from Shravasti to Rajgriha was the most famous and frequented. According to Buddhist Sanskrit text, Divyavadan, this commercial route passed through the ancient cities of Setatya, Saket, Kapilavastu, Kushinagar, Pava, Bhagnagar and Vaishali. It had to cross River Ganges for which boats were arranged by either Licchavis of Vaishali or the rulers of Magadh during the time of Ajatshatru. Another commercial route that connected Shravasti with Paithan (Pratishthan/ Pishtapuram) was the illustrious capital of Satvahana empire in southwest India. This touched the cities of Saket, Kaushambi, Vidisha, Gonaddha, Ujjain and Mahishmati.