In the Mauryan period, 'Yatravetana' was a tax levied on:

In the Mauryan period, "Yatravetana" was a tax levied on pilgrims.

About Yatravetana:

• "Yatra" means a journey or pilgrimage, and "vetana" means payment or fee.
• It was a tax collected from pilgrims who visited religious places, or who travelled for pilgrimage.
• It is mentioned among the sources of revenue in the Arthashastra.
• Religious places were important centres where many people gathered, and the state collected revenue from them.

Other Mauryan taxes:

• "Bhaga": the king's share of the crops.
• "Bali": an additional levy.
• "Udakabhaga": water tax for irrigation.
• "Shulka": customs and tolls on goods.
• "Vartani": a road toll or cess.
• "Hiranya": taxes paid in cash.
• "Senabhakta": levies for feeding the army.
• "Vishti": forced labour.

Revenue from different sources:

The Arthashastra divides the sources of revenue into seven main heads, such as forts (cities), countryside, mines, gardens, forests, cattle and roads (trade routes).

Mauryan economy:

• The state controlled many economic activities, such as mining, forests, salt and the manufacture of weapons.
• It also ran workshops for spinning and weaving, which employed widows and other women.
• Trade was regulated by officials, and merchants paid taxes and tolls.

Pilgrim taxes in later history:

• The pilgrim tax was collected by many later rulers, including the Mughals; Akbar abolished the pilgrim tax in 1563.
• The British East India Company also collected a pilgrim tax at Puri, Gaya and other places, until it was abolished in 1840.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Farmers paid bhaga (share of the produce).
• ✗Merchants paid customs (shulka).
• ✗Forest-dwellers provided forest produce.