Had fully prepared to go to China, then how did Babur suddenly turn towards India and change history.
Babur India: Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur. The ruler who laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India. His father, Umar Sheikh Mirza, was a descendant of Timur, and his mother, Qutlugh Nigar Khanum, was related to the Mongol lineage of Genghis Khan.
In 1526, Babur defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, and established the Mughal Empire. With Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat, the Lodi dynasty came to an end. But did you know that Babur initially wanted to go to China? Then how did he change his mind and come to India? Let us find out.
‘He had a habit of writing a diary’
According to HistoryExtra, historian Margaret MacMillan said, ‘He was a very unique personality. He was an emperor who had a habit of writing a diary. Even if you look at past centuries, there is no other ruler who had a habit of writing a diary.’ This diary is called the Baburnama.
Babur was born in 1483 in Andijan, Uzbekistan. At the age of 12, he became the ruler of a small principality in Fergana. His father died after falling from a balcony.
There was the grief of losing his father. But his uncle opposed him to seize his power and kept trying to snatch it away. Consequently, Babur’s early life was spent on the battlefield. He recorded the entire account of his life in his diary.
Why did Babur want to go to China?
In the early part of his reign, Babur dreamed of capturing Samarkand. But he kept struggling. He achieved victory many times. However, Samarkand remained a dream. There came a time when he wanted to leave everything and go to China. He had even made preparations for it.
If Babur had turned towards China, the history of the Mughal Empire would have been written differently.
But then Babur came to India
But suddenly Babur changed his intention to go to China and turned towards Afghanistan. In 1504, he captured the city of Kabul. Then he also took control of Kandahar.
By this time, Babur had captured a large empire. Then he looked eastward to expand his rule. That is when he thought of coming to India, and then he faced Ibrahim Lodi’s army at Panipat. After this, Babur entered the regions of North India, and the foundation of the Mughal dynasty was laid.
Andijan
Andijan is a historic city in eastern Uzbekistan, located in the Fergana Valley, and is known as the birthplace of the 15th-century Mughal emperor Babur. It was a key stop along the ancient Silk Road and has a rich history of trade and culture, though much of the old city was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1902. Today, Andijan is a major industrial and agricultural center, with sites like the Babur Literary Museum honoring its famous native son.
Fergana
Fergana is a city in eastern Uzbekistan, located in the fertile Fergana Valley, a historically significant region along the ancient Silk Road. Founded in 1876 as a Russian colonial outpost called Novy Margelan, it later became a key center for cotton production and trade. Today, Fergana is known for its Soviet-era architecture, tree-lined streets, and its role as a cultural and industrial hub in the valley.
Samarkand
Samarkand is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, with a history spanning over 2,500 years. It served as a major hub on the Silk Road and flourished under the rule of Timur (Tamerlane) in the 14th century, who made it his capital and adorned it with magnificent architectural wonders. Today, the city is renowned for its stunning Islamic architecture, including the Registan Square, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, and Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Kabul
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is one of the oldest cities in the region, with a history dating back over 3,500 years. It has been a vital crossroads on the Silk Road, influenced by empires such as the Persian, Greek, and Mughal, and served as the capital of various Afghan dynasties. Despite enduring decades of conflict, the city remains a cultural and economic hub, known for its historic gardens, bazaars, and landmarks like the Darul Aman Palace.
Kandahar
Kandahar is a historic city in southern Afghanistan, believed to have been founded by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE. It served as the first capital of the Afghan Empire under Ahmad Shah Durrani in the 18th century and is a major cultural and economic hub. The city is also known for its ancient citadel, the Shrine of the Cloak, and its role as a center of trade along the Silk Road.
Panipat
Panipat is a historic city in Haryana, India, famously known as the site of three pivotal battles that shaped the course of Indian history, including the 1526 Battle of Panipat which established the Mughal Empire. The city also witnessed the 1556 battle where Akbar secured his rule, and the 1761 conflict that marked the decline of the Maratha Empire. Today, Panipat is an important industrial and textile hub, while its historical monuments and museums preserve the legacy of these decisive wars.
India
India is a vast and diverse country in South Asia, known for its rich cultural heritage and ancient history dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 BCE). It has been a crossroads of major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam and Sikhism, and was ruled by powerful empires like the Maurya, Gupta, and Mughal dynasties before becoming a British colony. India gained independence in 1947 and is now the world’s most populous democracy, celebrated for its vibrant traditions, languages, and landmarks such as the Taj Mahal.
China
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, with a recorded history spanning over 3,500 years. It is home to iconic cultural sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army, reflecting its imperial past and rich traditions. Today, China blends its ancient heritage with rapid modernization, making it a unique cultural and historical destination.
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