← Explore on the interactive map

Mughal Grand Trunk Road

Type Object Region South Asia Time 1671–1680

The Grand Trunk Road was the main artery across the South Asian subcontinent, repaired and extended by successive Mughal emperors from Kabul to Benga…

Timeline

  1. 1671–1674Agra to Kabul section · IndiaUnder Aurangzeb the northwestern section of the road was a strategic corridor for moving troops to suppress frontier rebellions; armies, artillery, and supplies were rapidly redeployed along it, with roadside sarais providing lodging, horse changes, and provisions.
  2. 1674–1678Lahore to Delhi section · South AsiaThe core section (Delhi to Lahore) was the most prosperous commercially, with official relay stations every few kilometers and market towns every few dozen kilometers, where cloth, spices, metals, and agricultural products converged; Mughal tax collection and information transmission also relied on this network.
  3. 1678–1680Entire length of the Mughal Grand Trunk Road · PakistanAurangzeb's government placed the roadside relay stations under official administration, with local governors responsible for road repairs and security; the road's communication system (fast post relays) allowed the capital to obtain frontier intelligence within days, making it a key infrastructure pillar of Mughal administrative integration.

Sources