In ancient Indian history, Pushkalavati served as the capital of which of the following kingdoms?

Introduction / Context:
Ancient India was divided into many famous kingdoms and mahajanapadas, each with its own capital city and cultural identity. Knowing which capital belonged to which kingdom is a common theme in history and general-knowledge exams. Pushkalavati is one such important ancient city, and identifying the kingdom it represented helps you locate it correctly in the historical geography of the Indian subcontinent.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The city in question is Pushkalavati.
• The options list the kingdoms of Magadha, Kashi, Gandhara and Kosal.
• We assume basic awareness of where these kingdoms were located in ancient India.
• The question asks specifically which ancient kingdom had Pushkalavati as its capital.

Concept / Approach:
Gandhara was an ancient kingdom situated in what is now parts of northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Its well-known cities included Taxila and Pushkalavati. Pushkalavati is usually identified with a site in the Peshawar Valley area, making it part of the Gandhara region. By contrast, Magadha was centred in modern Bihar, Kashi was associated with Varanasi on the Ganga, and Kosal lay around the region of present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. Since Pushkalavati belongs geographically to northwest India and not the eastern Ganga plain, the correct kingdom is Gandhara.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Gandhara was located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, in present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. Step 2: Remember that Pushkalavati is often mentioned along with cities like Taxila as part of Gandhara's urban network. Step 3: Note that Magadha, with capitals like Rajagriha and Pataliputra, was situated in eastern India, not in the northwest. Step 4: Recognise that Kashi (Varanasi) and Kosal were Ganga valley regions, again far from the Gandhara area. Step 5: Eliminate the options that clearly relate to eastern India and retain Gandhara as the only matching kingdom for Pushkalavati. Step 6: Conclude that Pushkalavati was the capital of the kingdom of Gandhara.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical and archaeological studies of Gandhara repeatedly mention Pushkalavati as one of its chief cities and, in some phases, as its capital. Buddhist and other ancient texts connect Gandhara with the northwestern routes to Central Asia. Maps in standard history textbooks typically locate Pushkalavati near the Peshawar region, well within the Gandhara cultural zone. No credible source identifies Pushkalavati as the capital of Magadha, Kashi or Kosal, confirming Gandhara as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Magadha: Its capitals included Rajagriha and Pataliputra in eastern India, not Pushkalavati in the northwest.
• Kashi: Centred on Varanasi along the Ganga, with a different historical and cultural background.
• Kosal: An important kingdom around present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh, associated with cities like Shravasti and Ayodhya, not Pushkalavati.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Pushkalavati with Taxila or mix up Gandhara with Magadha because both are frequently mentioned in ancient Indian history. Another pitfall is memorising only the better known capitals and overlooking lesser-known ones like Pushkalavati. To avoid such errors, remember a simple association: Pushkalavati and Taxila belong to Gandhara, while Pataliputra belongs to Magadha and Varanasi to Kashi.

Final Answer:
Pushkalavati was the capital of the ancient northwestern kingdom of Gandhara.