Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Nanda Dynasty
Dynasty
Level 3
Dynastic phase
c. 345–321 BCE
Rich, powerful dynasty overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya.
- Capital
- Pataliputra
- Region
- East
- Duration
- 24 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
- Mahapadma Nanda Kingc. 345–329 BCECalled 'destroyer of all Kshatriyas' in the Puranas.
- Dhana Nanda Kingc. 329–321 BCELast Nanda, overthrown by Chandragupta.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 345 BCE | Mahapadma Nanda founds the Nanda dynasty Mahapadma Nanda rose to prominence in Magadha and founded the Nanda dynasty. He unified many smaller kingdoms, extended his rule across parts of eastern and northern India and issued his own coins. |
Pataliputra |
📚 Recommended reading on the Nanda 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.
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📄 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 10 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 2
- MagadhaA phase of
- Anuradhapura Kingdom 437 BCE – 1017Existed at the same time (24 years)
👑 Rulers 2
- Mahapadma Nanda 345–329 BCERuled it
- Dhana Nanda 329–321 BCERuled it
⚔ Events 1
- Mahapadma Nanda founds the Nanda dynasty c. 345 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 Nanda Dynasty for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Magadha ★
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Overlap: 24 years
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 24 years
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Overlap: 24 years
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Overlap: 15 years
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Overlap: 24 years
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Northwest · c. 518–330 BCE
Overlap: 15 years
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 24 years