Rise and Growth of Pundravardhana: A Study on 5th Century B.C.E to 5th Century A.D
Author:
Gourab Dutta
Ph.D Research Scholar,
Department of History
Raiganj University,
Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur,
West Bengal, India
Email: gourabdutta83@gmail.com
Abstract:: The process of urban evolution in ancient India is a captivating journey over time,
unveiling the complex process of how human settlements transformed from small villages into
cities or towns of considerable size. The journey basically began with small agricultural
settlements that gradually gained prominence due to several factors such as trade, governance
and cultural exchange. In this context, an attempt has been made to delve deep into the urban
condition of North Bengal in ancient times. The region of northern part of undivided Bengal was
popularly known as Pundra or Pundravardhana or Pundranagara in so many ancient sacred
and mythological texts. Both the literary and the archaeological sources ascertain the fact that,
since the Mauryan period Pundravardhana was an important administrative unit as well as a
very prosperous city that gained momentum in subsequent Gupta period and beyond. The present
article discusses the ontological-geography of Pundravardhana, its aboriginals and the process
of its emergence as an important urban settlement in ancient times
Key Words:Gupta period, Maurya Age, North Bengal, Pundravardhana, Vedic age etc.