One of the earliest mentions of Bharat_varsha is in

Key Points

• The Hathigumpha inscription is one of the earliest mentions of Bharat_varsha.
• This inscription is found in the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Odisha, India.
• It was inscribed by King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty in the 2nd century BCE.
• The inscription provides valuable insights into the history, culture, and political landscape of ancient India.

Additional Information

• Ptolemy's Writings
  • Claudius Ptolemy was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and astrologer.
  • His work 'Geographia' is a significant source of historical geography and cartography.
  • Ptolemy's writings provide valuable insights into the ancient world's understanding of geography.
• Fa Hien's Writings
  • Fa Hien, also known as Faxian, was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the early 5th century CE.
  • His travelogue 'A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms' documents his journey and observations of the Buddhist sites in India.
  • Fa Hien's writings are a critical source of information on early Indian Buddhism and its practices.
• The Ajanta Caves
  • The Ajanta Caves are a complex of rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments located in Maharashtra, India.
  • The caves date back to approximately the 2nd century BCE to 480 CE.
  • The Ajanta Caves are renowned for their exquisite murals, sculptures, and architectural significance.