List of Ancient Janapadas and Mahajanapadas
The Janapadas and Mahajanapadas represent the state system of 600BC. The processes of emergence of Mahajanpadas were initiated by certain important economic changes and the consequent socio-political developments witnessed during the period. Here, we are giving the list of Ancient Janapadas and Mahajanapadas for better understanding of the ancient ruling style and monarchical condition.
Source: www.facts-about-india.com
List of Ancient Janapadas and Mahajanapadas
| Janapadas & Mahajanapadas |
Capital |
Location |
| Anga |
Champa |
Modern districts of Monger and Bhagalpur in Bihar. |
| Magadha |
Earlier Rajgriha, later Patliputra |
Covered the modern districts of Patna, Gaya, and parts of Shahabad. |
| Malla |
Capitals at Kusinara and Pawa |
Covered the modern districts of Deoria, Basti, Gorakhpur and Siddarthnagar in eastern UP. |
| Vajji |
Vaishali |
Situated north of the river Ganga in Bihar. |
| Kosala |
Sravasti |
Covered modern day districts of Faziabad, Gonda, Bahraich of eastern Uttar Pradesh. |
| Kashi |
Varanasi |
Located in the region around Varanasi (modern Banaras). |
| Chedi |
Shuktimati |
Covered present day Bundelkhand region. |
| Kuru |
Indraprastha |
Covered modern Haryana and Delhi. |
| Vatsa |
Kaushambi |
Covered modern districts Allahabad, Mirzapur. |
| Panchala |
Ahichhatra(Uttara Panchala) and Kampilya( Dakshina Panchala) |
Covered the area of present western UP up to the east of river Yamuna up to Kosala janapada. |
| Matsya |
Viratanagara |
Covered the areas of Alwar, Bhartpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan. |
| Sursena |
Mathura |
Covered the area around Mathura. |
| Avanti |
Ujjaini and Mahishmati |
Covered the western India (modern Malawa). |
| Ashmaka |
Potana |
Situated in the southern part of the India between the rivers Narmada and Godavari. |
| Kamboja |
Capital at Rajapura in modern-day Kashmir |
Covered the area of Hindukush (modern Hazara districts of Pakistan) |
| Gandhara |
Taxila |
Covered the western part of Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. |
In the above list of Ancient Janapadas and Mahajanapadas symbolize amalgamation of a large number of rural and urban settlements, considered 16 in number in 600 BC, though different texts give different numbers.