Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.69

c15.69

As he entered India, Megasthenes was struck by this Royal Road leading from the Frontier to Pāṭaliputra down which he must himself have travelled in prosecution of his mission. It is stated to have been constructed in eight stages, the distances between which were measured up to the Hyphasis (Beas) by Alexander's survey officers named Baeto and Diognetus, while the distances from the Hyphasis to the Ganges are supposed to have been measured for Seleukos Nikator by Megasthenes and other Greek visitors. These stages are thus described: 1 From Peukelaotis (Sans. Pushkalāvatī, the capital of Gandhāra, modern Charsadda) to Taxila. 2. From Taxila across the Indus to the Hydaspes (Jhelum) 3. Thence to the Hyphasis (Beas) near the spot where Alexander erected his altars. 4. From the Beas to the Hesidrus (Satlej). 5. From the Satlej to the Iomanes (Jumna). 6. From the Jumna via Hastināpura to the Ganges. 7. From the Ganges up to a town called Rhodopha (said to be Dabhai near Anupshahar). 8. From Rhodopha to Kalinapaxa (probably Kanyākubja or Kanauj). 9. From Kanauj to Prayāga at the junction of the Ganges and the Jumna. 10.