Grand Trunk Road, Ancient trade route from Bangladesh to Afghanistan.
The Grand Trunk Road is a route in South Asia that runs through India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, linking several major cities. It stretches roughly 2500 kilometers (1550 miles) and passes through plains, river valleys and hilly terrain.
Established during the Maurya dynasty in the 3rd century BCE, this road served trade and transport across the Indian subcontinent. The Mughals expanded the network in the 16th century, adding rest houses and wells for travelers.
Along many stretches, roadside tea stalls and food vendors serve travelers just as their ancestors did for centuries. Truck drivers and pilgrims share these rest stops, keeping alive a tradition of hospitality that has always defined life along the route.
Many sections of the route now form part of larger national highways and can be heavily trafficked, especially near cities. Travelers should expect varying road conditions and changing signage across different countries.
Rudyard Kipling described this road in his novel Kim as a place where one could see all of India in a single journey. Some old milestones and rest stops from the Mughal era still stand along the modern highway.
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