Q. Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of
(a) Samudragupta
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Kumaragupta I
(d) Skandagupta
Correct Answer: (b) Chandragupta II
UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper's Solution
Explanation :
Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya), who ruled the Gupta Empire from approximately 380 CE to 415 CE. Fa-hien traveled to India around 399 CE and stayed until about 414 CE. His primary objective was to collect Buddhist scriptures and visit sacred Buddhist sites. Fa-hien’s detailed accounts provide valuable historical insights into the social, religious, and economic conditions of India during the Gupta period.