Did the Vikings ever really reach India?

You might have seen in Netflix’s ‘Vikings’ in a later episode when Ragnar is entering Kattegat, and heard a merchant speaking Hindi. 

Or perhaps in the new series ‘Vikings: Valhalla,’ a new character named Stigr claims he has been to India. He even shows an idol of a god, talks about learning hand-to-hand combat in India, acquiring Ayurvedic items, and displays the symbol ‘Om’. 

But do you think it’s true? Did the Vikings ever really reach India?

Let’s delve into the historical evidence. The Vikings, known for their extensive exploration and trade networks, primarily operated within Europe, the North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. 

Their longships enabled them to reach far-flung destinations, from North America to the Middle East. But what about India?

Viking trade routes were vast, stretching from their homelands in Scandinavia to the far reaches of Europe and into the Middle East. 

They traded fur, amber, iron, and walrus tusks for goods like silver, silk, and spices. 

Archaeological finds in Viking graves and settlements have uncovered artifacts from the East, suggesting indirect connections to India through intermediaries.

More than 80,000 Arab silver dirhams have been found in Gotland, Sweden, indicating the Vikings’ robust trade with the Islamic world, which had well-established trade links with India.

Historical texts from the Islamic Golden Age mention the vast trade networks that extended to Viking territories. 

While these texts do not explicitly state Viking voyages to India, they highlight the interconnectedness of these regions through trade. 

Goods from India would have reached Viking hands via the Islamic and Byzantine intermediaries.

Although we lack direct evidence of Vikings in India, the presence of Indian goods in Viking settlements is undeniable. 

These items traveled through complex trade networks involving Arab and Persian merchants who had direct access to Indian markets

While direct Viking presence in India is not documented, the cultural and technological exchanges facilitated by trade were significant. 

Indian goods, knowledge, and possibly even cultural influences permeated through the layers of intermediaries before reaching Viking society.

So, while the idea of Vikings traveling directly to India and learning its ancient arts makes for a captivating storyline in ‘Vikings: Valhalla,’ historical evidence suggests otherwise. 

The Vikings’ connection to India was likely indirect, facilitated by the extensive and intricate trade networks of the medieval world. Vikings were part of a global trade network that connected them to many distant lands, including India. 

However, their contact with India was through intermediaries, making direct Viking presence in India highly unlikely.