Which of the following was NOT a major political center of Magadha Empire?

Kabul

The Mauryan Empire was characterized by five major political centers - the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centers of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali, and Suvarnagiri. As evident from the inscriptions of Asoka, the same message was engraved across these regions, spanning from present-day North West Frontier Provinces of Pakistan to Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and Uttarakhand in India. The question arises - could such a vast empire have functioned under a uniform administrative system?

Historians have increasingly realized that this was unlikely due to the diverse nature of the regions encompassed by the empire. The topography of Afghanistan significantly contrasted with the coastal plains of Orissa, making it challenging to maintain uniformity in administration.

It is speculated that administrative control was strongest in areas around the capital and the provincial centers. The strategic selection of these centers played a crucial role in governing the empire effectively. Taxila and Ujjayini were located along significant long-distance trade routes, while Suvarnagiri, named "the golden mountain," likely served as a vital resource for accessing the gold mines of Karnataka.