Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Haryanka Dynasty
Dynasty
Level 3
Dynastic phase
c. 544–413 BCE
Dynasty of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru.
- Capital
- Rajagriha
- Region
- East
- Duration
- 131 years
- Main period
- Mahajanapadas
- Part of
- Magadha
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Bimbisara Kingc. 544–492 BCEAnnexed Anga; patron of the Buddha.
- Ajatashatru Kingc. 492–460 BCEDefeated the Vajji confederacy; built Pataligrama fort.
- Udayin Kingc. 460–444 BCEFounded Pataliputra as capital.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 540 BCE | Bimbisara annexes Anga The first step in Magadha's expansion. |
Champa |
| c. 492 BCE | Ajatashatru becomes king of Magadha Early Buddhist and Jaina writers credited Magadha’s rise to ambitious kings — Bimbisara, Ajatashatru and Mahapadma Nanda are the best known — and their ministers. Magadha’s capital was then the fortified hill town of Rajagaha (Rajgir). |
Rajagriha |
| c. 483 BCE | First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha | Rajgir |
| c. 468 BCE | Ajatashatru defeats the Vajji confederacy | Vaishali |
| c. 460 BCE | Pataliputra becomes Magadha's capital Magadha’s capital moved from Rajagaha to Pataliputra (present-day Patna), which commanded routes of communication along the Ganga. NCERT dates the move to the fourth century BCE. |
Pataliputra |
📚 Recommended reading on the Haryanka Dynasty
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
📄 Research papers
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
The Basis of Ancient Indian History (I)
Kosambi's method: reading ancient Indian history through how people produced and lived, with evidence from the field.
🕸 Connections 14 links
Explore connections full screen ↗Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.
🗂 Era 1
- Ancient IndiaPart of this era
⏳ Periods 1
- MahajanapadasBelongs to this period
🏛 Kingdoms & empires 1
- MagadhaA phase of
👑 Rulers 3
- Bimbisara 544–492 BCERuled it
- Ajatashatru 492–460 BCERuled it
- Udayin 460–444 BCERuled it
⚔ Events 5
- Bimbisara annexes Anga c. 540 BCEHappened in it
- Ajatashatru becomes king of Magadha c. 492 BCEHappened in it
- First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha c. 483 BCEHappened in it
- Ajatashatru defeats the Vajji confederacy c. 468 BCEHappened in it
- Pataliputra becomes Magadha's capital c. 460 BCEHappened in it
📄 Research 1
- The Basis of Ancient Indian History (I) D. D. Kosambi · 1955Research on this topic
📚 Books 2
- Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8) NCERTRecommended reading
- Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12) NCERTRecommended reading
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Haryanka Dynasty for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Magadha ★
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Gandhara
Northwest · c. 1,200–518 BCE
Overlap: 26 years
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Kosala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–460 BCE
Overlap: 84 years
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Kashi
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–500 BCE
Overlap: 44 years
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Vatsa
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–400 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Assaka / Asmaka
Deccan · c. 700–350 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Vajji / Vrijji Confederacy
East · c. 600–468 BCE
Overlap: 76 years
Malla
Gangetic Plain · c. 600–400 BCE
Overlap: 131 years
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Northwest · c. 518–330 BCE
Overlap: 105 years