The northern division of Jambudípa. Its boundaries are nowhere explicitly stated in Páli literature. It has been suggested (See Law, Early Geog. of Bsm., pp.48ff) that Uttarápatha was originally the name of a great trade-route, the northern high road which extended from Sávatthi to Takkasilá in Gandhára, and that it lent its name - as did the Dakkhinápatha - to the region through which it passed. If this be so, the name would include practically the whole of Northern India, from Anga in the east to Gandhára in the north-west, and from the Himálaya in the north to the Vindhyá in the south. According to the brahmanical tradition, as recorded in the Kávyamímámsá (p.93), the Uttarápatha is to the west of Prithudaka (Pehoa, about fourteen miles west of Tháneswar).
The chief divisions included in this territory are mentioned in the Páli literature as Kasmíra-Gandhára and Kamboja. This region was famous from very early times for its horses and horse-dealers (See, e.g., Vin.iii.6; Sp.i.175), and horses were brought down for sale from there to such cities as Benares (J.ii.287).
In Uttarápatha was Kamsabhoga, where, in the city of Asitańjana, King Mahákamsa reigned (J.iv.79). The Divyávadana (p.470) mentions another city, Utpalavatí.
According to the Mahávastu (iii.303), Ukkala, the residence of Tapassu and Bhalluka, was in Uttarápatha, as well as Takkasilá, the famous university (Mtu.ii.166).
There was regular trade between Sávatthi and Uttarápatha (PvA.100).
Anganika Bháradvája had friends in Uttarápatha (ThagA.i.339).