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.