Which one of the following foreign travellers was physician to Prince Dara Shikoh who also wrote 'Travels in the Mughal Empire'.

The correct answer is Francois Bernier.

Key Points

• Francois Bernier (1656-1668)
  • He was a French physician and traveller.
  • He was in India from 1656-1668
  • He visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan.
  • He was physician to Prince Dara Shikoh and later was attached to the court of Aurangzeb
  • ‘Travels in the Mughal Empire’ was written by Francois Bernier.
  • The book mainly talks about the rules of Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb.

Additional Information

• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605 – 1689) was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveller. He visited India during the reign of Shahjahan. Travels in India by Jean Baptiste Tavernier, clearly states that Tavernier identified the diamond mining sites in India very clearly.
• Nicolo Conti was an Italian merchant. He visited India during the reign of Deva Raya I of Vijayanagar.
• Marco Polo was a European traveller. He visited Southern India during the reign of Rudramma Devi of the Kakatiyas.