The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang, who visited India in the seventh century, studied at which famous ancient university?

Introduction / Context:
Hiuen Tsang, also written as Xuanzang, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, traveller and scholar who visited India during the reign of Harsha in the seventh century. His detailed travel account is a major source for understanding the political, religious and educational conditions of India at that time. One of the key facts asked in exams is the famous institution where he studied while in India. This question tests whether you can correctly associate Hiuen Tsang with the ancient university of Nalanda in present day Bihar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the place of study of Hiuen Tsang in India.
• Options list important ancient centres of learning such as Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramshila.
• We assume standard historical accounts followed in school and competitive exam books.
• Nalanda is known to have attracted many foreign students, including Hiuen Tsang.

Concept / Approach:
Ancient India had multiple famous universities. Taxila was a renowned centre earlier, especially during the Mauryan and pre Mauryan times. Nalanda rose to prominence later, especially under the Gupta and subsequent dynasties. Hiuen Tsang visited India in the seventh century, long after the peak period of Taxila. Historical records and his own writings mention that he spent several years studying and teaching at Nalanda. Therefore, the approach is to match his time period and personal account with the correct institution among the options given.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Hiuen Tsang came to India during the seventh century and travelled widely. Step 2: Remember that his main purpose was to obtain authentic Buddhist scriptures and study Buddhist philosophy in depth. Step 3: Connect this with Nalanda, which was at that time a major international centre for Buddhist learning. Step 4: Note that Taxila was historically important but belonged to an earlier period and was not his main centre of study. Step 5: Select Nalanda as the correct answer because it is consistently mentioned as the place where he studied and also taught.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most history textbooks clearly say that Hiuen Tsang spent around five to six years at Nalanda. He described its large number of teachers and students, the strict rules for admission and the high standards of debate and scholarship. Nalanda is also associated with other famous scholars such as Dharmapala and Shilabhadra, whom Hiuen Tsang mentions. There is no similar detailed record of him studying at other universities. This repeated evidence confirms that Nalanda is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A: Taxila was an ancient university but was important in an earlier era and is not recorded as his main place of study.
• Option C: Vikramshila was founded later under the Pala dynasty and does not match the time of Hiuen Tsang visit.
• Option D: Valabhi was another centre of learning in western India but is not famous as his primary institution.
• Option E: Pushpagiri, if identified, was also a different centre and not the one he is best known for attending.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse ancient universities because they learn the names together without linking them to time periods and key personalities. Taxila and Nalanda are especially mixed up. A simple way to remember is that Hiuen Tsang equals Nalanda and Megasthenes is associated with the Mauryan court at Pataliputra. Always tie travellers to specific rulers or institutions to avoid confusion. Mapping these details on a timeline can also strengthen your memory for exam questions.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Nalanda.