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Gurjara-Pratihara Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 730 CE – c. 1036
Dynasty that checked Arab expansion and ruled north India from Kannauj.
- Capital
- Kannauj (from c. 816)
- Region
- North
- Duration
- 306 years
- Main period
- Tripartite Struggle
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Nagabhata I Kingc. 730 CE – c. 760 CEResisted Arab invasions.
- Vatsaraja Kingc. 780 CE – c. 800 CE
- Nagabhata II Kingc. 805 CE – c. 833 CECaptured Kannauj.
- Mihira Bhoja Kingc. 836 CE – c. 885 CEPeak of the empire.
- Mahendrapala I Kingc. 885 CE – c. 910 CEPatron of Rajashekhara.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 738 CE | Arab advance checked in Rajasthan Nagabhata I and the Chalukyas of Gujarat halt Arab expansion. Arab expansion east of Sindh was halted for centuries. |
Rajasthan |
| c. 816 CE | Nagabhata II captures Kannauj Kannauj becomes the Pratihara capital; climax of the tripartite struggle. Kannauj became the Pratihara capital. |
Kannauj |
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire
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Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
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An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
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History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 287 years
Pallava Dynasty ★
South · c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE
Overlap: 167 years
Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★
West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Overlap: 306 years
Pala Empire ★
East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161
Overlap: 286 years
Rashtrakuta Empire ★
Deccan · c. 753 CE – c. 982 CE
Overlap: 229 years
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Overlap: 188 years
Ghaznavid Empire ★
Northwest · c. 977 CE – c. 1186
Overlap: 59 years
Western Ganga Dynasty
South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000
Overlap: 270 years
Kamarupa
Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140
Overlap: 306 years
Maitraka Dynasty
West · c. 475 CE – c. 776 CE
Overlap: 46 years
Pandya Kingdom (First Empire)
South · c. 590 CE – c. 920 CE
Overlap: 190 years
Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
Deccan · c. 624 CE – c. 1075
Overlap: 306 years
Karkota Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 625 CE – c. 855 CE
Overlap: 125 years
Turk Shahis
Northwest · c. 665 CE – c. 822 CE
Overlap: 92 years
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Central · c. 675 CE – 1212
Overlap: 306 years
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Overlap: 306 years
Tomaras of Delhi
North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152
Overlap: 300 years
Abbasid Caliphate — Sindh province
Northwest · c. 750 CE – c. 854 CE
Overlap: 104 years
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Overlap: 286 years
Chera Perumals of Makotai
South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124
Overlap: 236 years
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Overlap: 236 years
Hindu Shahis
Northwest · c. 822 CE – c. 1026
Overlap: 204 years
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Overlap: 205 years
Habbarid Emirate
Northwest · c. 854 CE – c. 1011
Overlap: 157 years
Utpala Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 855 CE – c. 1003
Overlap: 148 years
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Overlap: 96 years
Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189
Overlap: 63 years
Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 1003 – c. 1171
Overlap: 33 years