Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Kosala
Mahajanapada
Level 2
c. 1,100–460 BCE
Powerful kingdom of Prasenajit, absorbed by Magadha.
- Capital
- Shravasti / Ayodhya
- Region
- Gangetic Plain
- Duration
- 640 years
- Main period
- Mahajanapadas
Approximate extent.
📚 Recommended reading on the Kosala
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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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Kosala for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Early Vedic Communities ★
Northwest · c. 1,500–1,000 BCE
Overlap: 100 years
Magadha ★
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Overlap: 240 years
Chalcolithic Cultures
Central · c. 3,000–700 BCE
Overlap: 400 years
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Overlap: 640 years
Gandhara
Northwest · c. 1,200–518 BCE
Overlap: 582 years
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Overlap: 640 years
Videha
East · c. 1,100–600 BCE
Overlap: 500 years
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Overlap: 640 years
Later Vedic Polities
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–600 BCE
Overlap: 400 years
Kashi
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–500 BCE
Overlap: 500 years
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Overlap: 540 years
Vatsa
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–400 BCE
Overlap: 540 years
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Overlap: 540 years
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Overlap: 340 years
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Overlap: 340 years
Anga
East · c. 700–540 BCE
Overlap: 160 years
Assaka / Asmaka
Deccan · c. 700–350 BCE
Overlap: 240 years
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Overlap: 240 years
Vajji / Vrijji Confederacy
East · c. 600–468 BCE
Overlap: 132 years
Malla
Gangetic Plain · c. 600–400 BCE
Overlap: 140 years
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Northwest · c. 518–330 BCE
Overlap: 58 years