First Map Creator of India

We study the map of our country to become familiar with the location of different states, industries, agricultural produces, minerals, and other important demarcations. Have you ever thought about who created the first map of India? Having such information helps us become aware of the various resources available in our county. Hence, we bring this general knowledge content to update our students on the underlying information like ‘Who produced the first map of India?’ However, before jumping straight into answering the question of who made the first map of India, let us first go through the history of the first map of India. 

History of First Map

Historically speaking, many of the travelers and philosophers have said about who produced the first map of India. It is quite unsure to tell specifically who made the first map of India. Different people, philosophers, travelers provide different concepts about its maker. Hence, to truly understand who created the map of India we need to dig into the history of our land. 

Mentioned below are some famous men who created the Indian Map at different times. 

1. Eratosthenes

2. Ptolemy

3. William Lambton and George Everest

Eratosthenes Justification of Making India’s Map

Going back to 300 BC when India was ruled by the Greek ruler Alexander the Great. At that time, Alexander ordered his Greek mathematician named Eratosthenes to prepare a map of India. The map which was prepared by Eratosthenes looked similar to the diagram below -

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Ptolemy Justification of Making Indian Map

After the Greek Period in India, Ptolemy came to India. The map was that time created by Ptolemy who was better than the Eratosthenes, but the picture seemed weird, the map carved by Ptolemy is shown as below:

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William Lambton and George Everest Justification of Making the Map of India

Then came the time of the 18th century where the Britishers started the rule our country. During that period, in the year 1757, in the Battle of Plessey, the Britishers finally defeated the ruler of Bengal named Siraj-Ud-Daula. After the Britishers conquered Bengal, they sat in the Bengal administration and thereby went about in the state to collect the taxes. But they did not know the border area of Bengal this caused problems for the Britishers, hence they decided to make the map of India. For this work, they appointed a geometry expert named "Jack William Lambton", who previously worked in the British Army.

William Lambton

William Lambton started his work of making the Indian maps from the southernmost region of India, where the state of Madras lies. He used a very simple technique called the "simple triangle method" for this. He continued his work for 18 long years consecutively but in vain. He could not even make one-third of the Indian Map. After this, he retired from his job and George Everest took his place and he continued his work in place of him.  

George Everest

George Everest made the entire Indian map. He reached the Himalayan region which was located in the northern part. With the expansion of the Himalayas in Nepal and in the Tibetan region, he decided to enter and measure the height of Mount Everest but he was not allowed to enter Nepal as they feared that the British would occupy their country just like they did with our country, India.

Thus, George Everest measured the height of Mount Everest using his own simple techniques of trigonometry. The measure which was made by George Everest was approximately 99.75% accurate. This worked wonders. For this reason, the world’s highest peak is named after George Everest. 

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James Rennell: The First Maker of Indian Map 

James Rennell was a leading British geographer of his period. Rennell in his studies has constructed the first near to accurate map of India. He in his studies has made his map and illustrated the same in the Bengal Atlas (in the year 1779), which is a work of great importance for the British strategies which was used in ruling the Indian subcontinents and to harness administrative interests via this.

Who Created the First Geographical Map of the Earth?

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The first geographical map of the earth was created by Maharshi Veda Vyasa, who was also the writer of Mahabharata. The entire map is illustrated back thousands of years ago in the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata, it is mentioned that when you look down at the earth you can view the earth as a rabbit and two Peepal leaves.
  

Did You Know? 

Who made the Second Map of India?

The Map of India was made the second time by a French cartographer. The second map was drawn in the year the 1720s, which was crafted around 600 years after the first map was done. 

James Rennell produced the first map of India because Robert Clive had asked to do so as he thought that the control of a larger territory should know how does the country looks like when it is occupied. 

Who is known as the Father of Map?

Rennell is known as the father of map. It is said he made the first accurate map of Bengal which is the inch to five miles which is as well as the accurate outlines of India that served as the Surveyor-General of Bengal. Rennell is also known as the Father of Oceanography.