Bodhgaya has mentioned many periodical sea voyages in the life of citizens of North India. This reference can be used to assert that North Indian merchants used sea routes for trading during that period. At many places in Ramayana, references of loaded ships in the mid of sea are given. Ancient Buddhist literature also contains ample evidence of sea trade by merchants which were very well fitted out and able to make long voyages.
During Alexander’s attack on Khastriya republic, citizens of this state gifted to his army ship having 30 oars. Strabo has written that Mauryans had a monopoly in the art of building ships, Jatakas contain several allusions to masted ships. It is evident from Jatakas, that during this period such big ships were there which could accommodate 1000 passengers/animals along with seven caravans.
It is mentioned in Milindpajah that Indians made voyages to Bengal, Malaya Plateau, China, Gujarat, Kathiawar, Alexandria, Coromandal – Coast and eastern islands of Indonesia, Java and many more faraway places through ships which made the shipowners very rich.
