Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi visited South India in the 1440s.
Between the years 1400 and 1800, a significant number of travelers who journeyed to India documented their experiences in Persian travelogues. During the same period, Indian travelers who ventured to Central Asia, Iran, and the Ottoman Empire also occasionally recorded their encounters. These writers were inspired by the works of earlier travelers like Al-Biruni and Ibn Battuta and had often read their writings. Notable among these writers were individuals such as Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi, who explored south India during the 1440s, Mahmud Wali Balkhi, who undertook extensive travels in the 1620s, and Shaikh Ali Hazin, who arrived in north India in the 1740s. Some of these authors held a deep fascination for India, with Mahmud Balkhi even adopting a temporary sanyasi-like lifestyle. Conversely, individuals like Hazin were disappointed and even repelled by their experiences in India, having anticipated a more hospitable reception. The majority of these travelers perceived India as a land filled with marvels and wonders. |
