Al Masudi, Arab Traveller and Historian

Born in Baghdad, Al Masudi was a famous Arab traveler and historian who came to Malabar on the Western coast of India in 915-16 in the course of his visit to several countries and regions in the world. He compiled his travel account and geographical notes in his historical compendium Muruj-al-Zahab wa al-Ma-adin al-Jawahir (Meadows of Gold and Mines of Precious Stones).

Masudi is aptly known as 'Herodotus of the Arabs'.

We can get a fair amount of information about Western India from his work.