Which is the Oldest Road in India?

India is known to have one of the oldest road networks in the world. It is so old that some roads in India have connected cities, kingdoms, and empires for thousands of years. Traders, travellers and kings, all have travelled these roads. 

However, do you know which road is considered the oldest in India? Well, this road is more than 2,300 years old which was established during the time of one of India’s first great empires. The names have been changed over the centuries, rebuilt by different rulers but still stands today. 

Here is everything you need to know about the oldest road in India and its interesting history. 

Which is the Oldest Road in India? 

The oldest road in India is the Grand Trunk Road. It is one of the oldest and most significant transportation routes in the world. The origins of the road can be traced back to the Mauryan Empire where Chandragupta Maurya ruled the nation in the 3rd century BCE. 

It was during his rule that a royal road was built that connected Pataliputra, which is modern day Patna, to Takshashila, which is present day Taxila located in Pakistan.

Later Ashoka who was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya improved the road further. It was during the rule of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century that this road underwent a major expansion and it was improved.

He extended this road from Sonargaon in Bengal to the Indus river and named it Sadak-e-Azam. Later on many Mughal rulers including Jahangir added further improvements like brick built rest houses and stretches of trees. 

It was during the British rule that this road was renamed to Grand Trunk Road and became a complete highway for trade in the 1830s. 

Why is Grand Trunk Considered the Oldest Road in India?

Many historians and archeologists have several reports and reasons that declare this road as the oldest. First is that there is a written historical evidence in ancient Sanskrit texts and works of Panini that mentions the route known as Uttarapatha long before the Mauryan Empire existed. 

There are Buddhist texts and Indian epics like the Mahabharata that have mentioned this northern route which shows that people were using the path even before it was constructed properly. 

Secondly, Greek records also support the history and shows that Megasthenes, who visited the Mauryan court wrote in details about the royal road and how it was managed. Moreover archaeological findings along the route such as old rest houses, wells, and milestones show that there was continuous development along this road. 

Interesting Facts About the Grand Trunk Road

Here are some interesting facts about the Grand Trunk road that describes its fascinating history: 

• The road once connected major trade and power centers like Patliputra, Varanasi, Delhi and Lahore which helped the merchants travel the long distances.