The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang), often called the “prince of pilgrims”, visited India during the reign of which Indian ruler?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to early medieval Indian history and Buddhist pilgrimage accounts. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) was a Chinese monk who travelled extensively across India in the 7th century CE, documenting the political and religious conditions of the time. His accounts are a major source of information about Buddhism and the Indian subcontinent in that period. Knowing under which ruler he visited India is crucial for chronological understanding.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The pilgrim is Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang), called the “prince of pilgrims.”
• We are asked to identify the ruler in whose reign he visited India.
• Options: Harsha, Chandragupta II, Dharmapala, Devapala.
• We assume standard dating of rulers and travellers used in history texts.

Concept / Approach:
Hiuen Tsang came to India in the 7th century CE and spent several years travelling and studying, including time at Nalanda. During this period, northern India was largely under the rule of King Harsha (Harshavardhana), who ruled from around 606 to 647 CE. Chandragupta II belonged to the earlier Gupta period, while Dharmapala and Devapala were Pala rulers of a later period. Therefore, the timeframe of Hiuen Tsang's journey aligns with the reign of Harsha.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Hiuen Tsang visited India in the first half of the 7th century CE. Step 2: Remember that Harshavardhana (Harsha) ruled northern India roughly between 606 and 647 CE. Step 3: Note that Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) ruled earlier in the 4th–5th century CE during the Gupta age. Step 4: Recognise that Dharmapala and Devapala were Pala kings from the 8th–9th centuries CE. Step 5: Match the 7th-century timeframe of Hiuen Tsang with Harsha and select him as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Hiuen Tsang’s own travelogue, often called “Si-yu-ki” or “Records of the Western World,” mentions King Harsha and describes his court, administration and patronage of Buddhism. Standard Indian history books summarise these accounts under the chapter on Harsha, clearly tying the pilgrim’s visit to Harsha’s reign. The other rulers listed belong to different centuries and dynasties, making them inconsistent with Hiuen Tsang's travel period and confirming Harsha as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b (Chandragupta II) ruled during the Gupta golden age, around two centuries before Hiuen Tsang's time. Option c (Dharmapala) and option d (Devapala) were Pala rulers who came much later and are instead associated with another Chinese pilgrim, I-tsing (Yijing), who visited in a later period. Thus, the chronological mismatch rules out these options for Hiuen Tsang's visit.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to mix up different Chinese travellers—Faxian, Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing—and their corresponding Indian rulers. Students sometimes incorrectly pair Hiuen Tsang with Gupta rulers or Pala emperors due to confusion between these travellers. To avoid this, remember a simple mapping: Faxian – Gupta period; Hiuen Tsang – Harsha; I-tsing – later Pala rulers and Nalanda's later phase.

Final Answer:
Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of King Harsha (Harshavardhana).