The Kos Minar literally means a tower marking the distance of a kos. They are
medieval milestones that were erected on the main highways across the empire to
mark the distance. Such structures served as beacons for caravans. Explaining
the purpose of the kos minars Arif Qandhari writes that travelling to and fro
goes on day and night and these minars guide them travellers from losing their
way or getting off the route. Also with the help of these minars the travellers
could compute the distance they had traversed.