Question map
Which one of the following travelogues has given an insight on the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq ?
Explanation
Ibn Battuta’s Rihla is the primary travelogue providing detailed insights into the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. A 14th-century Moroccan scholar, Ibn Battuta reached Sind in 1333 and traveled to Delhi, where he was appointed as the qazi (judge) by Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq [3]. His work, titled 'Tuhfat al-anzar fi gharaaib al-amsar wa ajaaib al-asfar' (commonly known as the Rihla), documents the Sultan's reputation as both a generous patron and a ruler capable of cruelty [3]. In contrast, the other options belong to the Mughal era: Francois Bernier and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier visited during the 17th century, particularly during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb [4]. Niccolao Manucci was also a 17th-century traveler associated with the Mughal court. Thus, only Ibn Battuta's account serves as a contemporary source for the Tughlaq dynasty [1].
Sources
- [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers > 2.1 An early globe-trotter > p. 118
- [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers > The child sati > p. 137
- [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers > 5. Ibn Battuta and the Excitement of the Unfamiliar > p. 126
- [4] https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666192/